Tips for Landing the Nursing Job You Want
Getting a nurse job straight after graduation may not be straightforward. This is where tips for landing a nursing job come in handy. It could assist you in:
- Navigating the choppy waters of hunting for a new nursing job.
- While anticipating to start your first day at work.
- Demonstrating to employers that you’re a valuable candidate for the position.
Whether you’re a senior nurse searching for new employment or a fresher looking for a unique chance in nursing—you could take the time to learn and benefit from the following job-hunting tips. This post is all about tips for landing the nursing job you want.
How does the nursing job hunting process work?
Nurse job hunting involves a strategic and informed approach to applying for suitable roles at different employers like any other job hunt.
The process typically involves:
- First, you identify and select suitable employers to apply to or whose requirements meet your qualifications and experience.
- Then, you submit the applications to the healthcare facilities, clinics, private practice offices, or hospitals–as applicable to your resume.
- You either drop the application physically to the institution or via a job board or the company’s website.
- Next, the employer receives your application and processes it.
- Finally, the employer determines whether or not you are qualified for an interview and, consequently, the job role.
Once you’re done with the application process, you have to wait for a response from the employer. In the meantime, these tips could help you in your journey:
1 Leverage your orientation
Make the most of every learning opportunity that comes your way. Even experienced nurses participate actively in new staff orientations. However, if you don’t feel at ease functioning without your supervisor after your orientation or are unsure about particular situations or procedures, don’t hesitate to request a re-orientation by the staff education department.
2 Get the max from your mentor
Before every session, make a quick outline of what you want to discuss and prepare some questions you’d like to ask your mentor. Be accountable for your growth. Be open, honest, and willing to follow your mentor’s advice.
Expect to be challenged and pushed out of your comfort zone–this is how you develop skills. Expect to make mistakes–you will learn from them. Remember, your mentor is volunteering their time; try to see things from a new angle; your mentor may be of a different gender or culture; nevertheless, be respectful of difference.
3 Stay out of the dirt
Getting caught up in harmful relationships is easy when you’re new and attempting to fit in a working environment. However, steer clear away from such relationships. Instead, take a step back, assess the situation, and formulate a professional reaction.
Remember, relationships and situations inherently don’t force you to react in a certain way; your reaction to the situations and relationships that cause circumstances to change. Hence, always be accountable for your response.
4 Bond with your team
Being a team player can help prevent being mistreated as a new nurse. After work, grab a coffee or a drink at happy hour. Inquire about your coworkers’ hobbies (without becoming pushy or invasive!). Discover what you have in common with your coworkers and push the conversation toward your mutual interests: request advice or a second set of eyes on your work.
5 Be teachable
Make learning a lifelong commitment. In your new position, you will be surrounded by experienced nurses who have a wide range of expertise. Take in this information and put it to use as soon as reasonably practicable. The idea is to keep yourself open to learning no matter the source.
6 Keep your eyes open
Alertness is characterised as “a condition of vigilant attention, maximal physiological and psychological preparedness to act, and the ability to perceive and respond to danger.” Caring is an essential component of a nurse, and it comes with alertness. As activities are performed, the “watchful-ness” is constantly a part of the nurse’s thinking process. Nurses should, therefore, utilise alertness to protect patients by calculating risks, being prepared to act in various situations, and actively identifying clinical signals with health impacts.
7 Set priorities
Learn to assess which needs are the most pressing and look for ways to assign chores that your juniors can do, such as transporting a discharged patient. To identify new ways to do things, ask the senior workers on the floor how they handle a situation or discuss it with management. As a new employee, you typically have a much clearer picture of what is going on and question existing processes that may or may not be working.
8 Make friends in high and low places
Nobody does their work in a vacuum. Make friends with both the staff members and the management. Don’t assume you’re more important than…say, for instance, the maintenance crew, unit secretaries, or patient-care technicians. Interacting with nursing managers who establish policies will also assist you in avoiding the “us vs them” mentality.
9 Recharge your batteries
Getting a good night’s sleep after your shift is one of the simplest and most cost-effective strategies to de-stress as a nurse. It might be just what you need to recharge your batteries. Five minutes of aerobic activity can help you relax. Taking up a pastime, such as painting or cooking, might also help you de-stress. After a toxic shift, consider aromatherapy or a nice massage to restore your batteries.
10 Give your new position a fair shake
When upset or discouraged, don’t give up on yourself or the institution because you believe you have chosen the wrong job or vocation. Instead, take a moment, look for the positives, identify what is working for you, believe in your abilities, and look at the bigger picture. Share your concerns with someone you feel comfortable with.
Finally, a nurse is a patient’s caregiver who assists in managing physical needs, preventing illness, and treating health disorders. To accomplish this, they must examine and monitor the patient while also documenting any relevant information to aid in treatment decision-making. To be successful at your nurse job, acquire these tips and prove yourself.
