What? First Semester of Nursing School is already over?!

By: Jae Kook Lim, University of Central Florida

THE TITLE SAYS IT ALL!! Last week, I finished my very first semester of Nursing school. I am still in disbelief that it has gone by so fast. Seems like yesterday, I was just attending the nursing orientation with 120 strangers. BUT, it’s over. My peers and I have finished all of our check-offs for the requirement. Those have got to be one of the most stressful things to do; not because of every step needed to be memorized but more of the fact that we were given only two tries to do it. I know couple peers from the past who were held back because of these check offs. Although I was nervous beyond anything, I told myself that everything was okay. These check offs are there to ensure that the future nurses know what they are doing, not to fail people purposely. Honestly, who wants to have an incompetent nurse taking care of them? I wouldn’t!

Tips for Student and New Nurses: Developing your critical thinking skills

I am smart – I mean “book” smart. From my first nursing degree in an associate program to end of my doctoral program – I’ve never gotten a B in any class. However, when I was in my undergraduate program, I was so overcome with fear that I wouldn’t be a good nurse. 

Why? 

Because although I’m book smart, I have no common sense! Heck, even my Dad still calls me an airhead!

You see, to be a good nurse, you need both – smarts AND a dose of common sense. This common sense I talk about can be considered “critical thinking skills” and I had to work to develop mine.

New Nurse Success Tip: The best predictor of competence

In my business, I spend a lot of time helping organizations successfully onboard new nurses. From their first interview, first day of work, and clinical orientation to independent, competent professional nurse, the question is always the same - "How do we help new nurses become competent and independently care for patients?" 

As a new nurse, you may be asking yourself the same question. 

What determines new nurse competence?

NEW NURSES UNDERSTANDING FLUID BALANCE. WHO’S AT RISK?

When the temperature heats up or during flu season, some patients are more at risk for dehydration.  Who’s at risk?  To answer this correctly, you need to understand how the body maintains fluid balance.

Question

Who has more water in their body – men or women; the elderly or babies?

To answer this question, you have to understand this…

GOT A NURSE BULLY PROBLEM? 3 TIPS FOR NEW NURSES

New nurses fear two things when they start their first job: Making a mistake and that the other nurses will eat them alive! Really. I’ve talked with many student and graduate nurses over the years and get asked the same question: “What do I do if the nurses are mean?

Unfortunately, they have every right to be worried.  

TIPS FOR STUDENT NURSES: THE POWER OF ELECTROLYTES

Nurses sometime underestimate the power of electrolytes. Although we learn about electrolytes is nursing school, we typically don’t carve out a lot of time for them like we do with the cardiac or respiratory system. Yet electrolytes are involved in every single muscle contraction, digestive process, and brain impulse!!

Understanding the role of electrolytes can help you understand every body system and chemical reaction needed to survive. It can also help you anticipate and prevent patient complications and provide high quality care.

As a student or new nurse, you MUST master electrolytes!