Students who are nearing graduation are often nervous about starting their first LPN job. This is normal; everyone gets new job butterflies. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to prepare for your new career. Today, the Phoenix Home Care team will share a few tips from our experienced nursing team that will help you get ready for your first week as an LPN.
Take Advantage of Orientation
Most nursing organizations will begin your first day with orientation or training. There will undoubtedly be times you go over details you already learned in nursing school, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention! There will be specific details that your new company does in a different way than you may have learned in school. Oftentimes, this is because of the specialty services they offer. Not every task is cookie cutter as a nurse!
So, listen carefully to your team, ask lots of questions when you are unsure about your duties, and get information about things like benefits and vacation days. When you are trying to get settled into your new role, every bit of information helps.
Observe the Details
You will likely be assigned a mentor to assist you when you first start. While you certainly want to ask them relevant questions, closely observing them is a great way to learn. Many new LPNs find themselves asking questions incessantly because of nervousness, and this will often distract you from watching how things operate at your new job. If you feel like you are asking too many questions, take a step back, take a deep breath, and refocus on the work your mentor is doing.
Not only will you learn how specific tasks are carried out, but you can also learn a lot about the culture of your workplace. Are the nurses formal with one another or more casual? These are important distinctions you can pick up on to quickly acclimate to your new LPN job.
Remember That Nursing School Doesn’t Teach You Everything
The reality is that nursing school will only teach you the fundamentals of your career. The majority of the information you will need to thrive in your position will be learned on the job. Too often, recent nursing graduates will show up to their first LPN job feeling like they know everything. Confidence is great, but make sure it doesn’t turn into pridefulness. Don’t let pride be an obstacle to your improvement. Be a sponge for knowledge and advice from the veteran nurses around you!
Start Your Nursing Career at Phoenix Home Care
If you are interested in working for a company as passionate and dedicated as you are, contact the team at Phoenix Home Care today. You can call our team at 888-830-2388 or visit our careers page for more information.
