Your Nursing Survival Guide

6. That I wasn’t going to kill anyone!

8. It will be so difficult.

I was so anxious doing my first set of obs! Of course, I wanted to get everything perfect, but I think it helps to step back and think about what you’re doing. Stay calm, and remember that if you’re too nervous, you’re probably going to be a bit less accurate in what you’re doing. Try to relax, because by the end of the week (maybe even the shift) you’ll be so much more confident in your skills! Getting on the ward for the first time is the perfect time to consolidate all the skills that you’ve learned. Blood pressures, ECGs, handovers, there’s so much to do! But it can be all too easy to forget about some of the soft skills that we learn too. So, if you have a free moment, have a chat with some of your patients and check if they need anything. Sometimes, all someone wants is someone who’ll listen, and maybe a cup of tea. 7. A little kindness goes a long way.

You’ll see some really tough things. You might even see people die. You might cry. You might need to have forty minute showers each day when you get home so that you can make sense of everything you saw, like I did. But, in saying that…

9. It will be so much fun.

You will feel so empowered knowing that you are using the skills you’ve learnt, and knowing that even so early on, you’re already helping people and making a difference.

10. That this is what I’m meant to do.

It sounds corny, I know, but as soon as I actually got into the hospital and interacted with patients, other nurses, families, doctors, pharmacists, social workers and everyone else, I really knew that nursing was my calling. I cherished the patient interactions, I adored learning from the RNs and I was exhilarated by the problem solving I had to employ to navigate each of my days there.

1 glass of oats 1/2 glass of peanut butter 1/3 glass of honey 1 glass of coconut chips 1/2 glass of ground flaxseed 1/2 glass of mini chocolate chips 1 teaspoon of vanilla METHOD * Mix everything, let it rest for 1 / 2h and roll into a ball BRAIN BALLS Or any nut butter

GREEN HORNET SMOOTHIE 1 tablespoon of natural yogurt ½ pineapple 4 leaves of curly cabbage 1 handful of spinach leaves

1 glass of coconut juice 4-5 leaves of spearmint Lemon or zest

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