How to Begin a Nursing Job

Beginning a nursing job requires planning and preparation. Attention should be focused on an individual's skills, experience, practice, the supervisor's expectations and the overall culture of the facility. According to the Harvard Business School, vocational and career transition experts emphasize that the first 30 to 90 days of a new job are the most important to a new worker's success or failure. Not unexpectedly, this period of time is often formally recognized as an employee's probationary period.

Things You'll Need

• Spiral notebook

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Instructions

• 1

  Dress appropriately as directed by the employee's supervisor or human resources manager. At larger facilities, individuals may be part of a group of new employees undergoing an orientation and will need to wear business attire. Other organizations require nurses who work with patients to dress in uniforms or scrubs. Psychiatric or community health nurses sometimes wear casual attire with a lab coat.

• 2

  Arrive early before the shift starts. This time gives an individual the opportunity to locate the nursing unit, the equipment rooms, the code carts, the nursing breakroom and meet co-workers.

• 3

  Display a courteous nature to all employees and patients to create a positive work atmosphere. Volunteer to help with any tasks during free time. According to a study published by the Bureau of Vocational Guidance at Harvard College, for every person who loses a job because of poor work quality, two more are fired because they can't work effectively with other people.

• 4

  Ask lots of questions, and use a small spiral notebook to record the new information. Make note of all telephone numbers and co-worker's names for the unit or department.

• 5

  Listen and learn about the unit's procedures, the professional dynamics, the culture of the institution and the subculture of the unit. Refrain from complaining or comparing how things were done at a previous job.