Nurses have traditionally been significant stakeholders in the medical industry. Historically, nurses played profound roles in war-time situations, and we can attribute thousands of saved lives to them. Moreover, during the recent pandemic, nurses pulled off monumental tasks and saved millions of lives.
Doctors too are highly essential in the healthcare industry; but, without nurses, doctors wouldn’t be able to focus on every case. The life of a nursing practitioner is far from easy. The shift into the real world for fresh nursing school graduates can be highly stressful and hard to cope with.
Fear not; it gets better with time! This article will guide nurses to excel in their field and provide the care that patients need. The road ahead will be emotionally and physically draining, but this is one of the most rewarding careers you can be part of and a career that rewards you if you give it your best. There’s always a lot of possible options around, if ever you’re in the area you can always look up rn jobs los angeles.
Never stop learning
We understand how stressful the job can be, but you will not grow if you don’t pursue your education alongside work. This is the medical sector, and you have to keep learning, educating yourself, and bringing yourself up with modern practices.
Other than aiding you in everyday practice, your academic achievement will only help you grow in your field and find better jobs. The good news is that it’s considerably easier to study alongside work compared to before.
You don’t have to worry about attending night school to gain certification; remote learning solves the issue. An online nursing masters is precisely what you need if you find it hard to juggle work and school. Come home, relax for a bit, and start your class. It’s still a fair amount of coursework, but at least you don’t have to drive to night school and come home late.
Practice empathy
Nurses deal with a fair number of patients every day. Doctors don’t always have time to see every patient, but nurses have to watch them throughout the day. Patients may be in pain, uncomfortable, and sometimes they’re scared.
They are in an unfamiliar environment, their health is failing them, and they’re all alone. Most times, they don’t have anyone to talk to other than the nurses on duty.
Sometimes nurses need to lend an ear to their patients. They need someone to talk to, and the nurses should be good listeners. Nurses should practice empathy and positive regard for ethical practice. If the nurses don’t care about their patients and see them as part of their job, they dishonor their pledge in nursing school.
Get fit
We cannot stress how important it is to get fit and healthy for a nursing career. It is not an easy job, and you will be on your feet for most of the day. Make sure you practice cardio, strengthen your legs, and stretch to ensure peak performance during your shift.
Besides pacing and not sitting, you will also have to help patients on and off their beds. Doing so requires immense amounts of strength. You can’t do this without working out and getting in shape.
It would be best if you did some light exercise after you got home from your shift.
Going to the gym maybe a bit too much to handle, so keep some light dumbbells, resistance bands, and a mat in a spare bedroom. If you can fit in a treadmill or elliptical as well, that would be great. Working out at home is considerably more manageable, and you can head for a shower and go to sleep right after.
Many people often downplay the benefits of a home workout. You would burn yourself out reasonably fast if you tried to go to the gym. Not only is it a great way to keep in shape, but with a nurse’s schedule, it’s the only way.
Socialize with the other nurses
Socializing is a significant part of a successful career. You work long shifts, are away from your family most of the day, and need to talk to people other than the patients. Not only do you act as each other’s support nets, but with a stressful job, they can provide you with liberating relief.
Moreover, it’s good to talk to people in the same field who understand the struggles. Your spouse or family members may not understand factors about your day, but your colleagues will.
Other than that, you can draw on them for support.
If you ever need help with complex patients, call one of your friends and ask them to assist you. These are simply norms of the hospital workplace that you should pick up on if you want to excel. Moreover, your seniors notice how well you play in a team. If you isolate yourself and don’t talk to anyone, chances are your supervisor/ manager will take notice.
No one wants a worker who doesn’t fair well with other people. Stay close to your colleagues, learn from them and form meaningful relationships. You don’t have to do this alone.
Conclusion
Nurses have one of the most challenging jobs in society, let alone the healthcare industry. These brave men and women deserve all the respect they can get for the work they do. Take the time out to thank the nurses in your life and consider doing something extra for them.
This article has looked at several factors that can help a nurse excel in their career. As important as it is to take care of the patients, personal development is also an essential factor. We hope that this article has helped you and wish you all the best.