A “First Day On The Job” Nurse Checklist

This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine.

Travel nurses have a lot of first days, so who better to consult for tips for your first day?

We talked to Dana Elmer, RN. She’s not only racked up plenty of frequent flier miles in her years as a travel nurse, she’s also put together a full-proof list of DOs and DON’Ts for your first day.

Here’s her checklist. Would you add any advice?

  1. Get an extra head start on your shift, always accounting for traffic. If you arrive early, you can walk around and get a feel for the unit.
  2. If necessary, check in with the human resources department before you go to the unit.
  3. Sign in.
  4. Introduce yourself to the management.
  5. Introduce yourself to the experienced nurse you’ll be shadowing that day. This nurse will give you an orientation.
  6. Introduce yourself to the rest of the staff.
  7. Find out the nurse’s mandatory paperwork requirements.
  8. Obtain information on the facility’s procedures and policies.
  9. Find out how lunch breaks are handled.
  10. Bring paper for note-taking or find out if the facility takes reports on printed-out patient summaries. If yes, obtain the printout report sheets.
  11. Work your day like you would at any other facility by assessing the patients, pulling medicines and sending them to tests and procedures.
  12. At the end of the day, give your report to the oncoming nurse.
  13. Breathe a deep sigh, reflect on the people you helped and go home to rest up for tomorrow.

What do you think? Share your tips in the comments section below.


This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine.

4 COMMENTS

Leave a Reply to Roslyn Lentz Cancel reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Top 10 Weirdest Things You’ve Ever Eaten for Lunch on the Job!

Everyone knows a nurse’s lunch break goes something like this: You take your lunch exactly at noon and relax for a full hour in...

11 iPhone Apps Every Nurse Should Download

Apple has compiled a list of its top 11 apps available in the App Store that are designed specifically for nurses. And knowing all...

New Microscope Helps Scientists See the Big Picture

A new microscope is giving scientists a clearer, more comprehensive view of biological processes as they unfold in living animals. The microscope developed at...