News :How to Make a Smooth Transition to a New Nursing Position
Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009
It can be tough to be the new kid on the block, a position nurses frequently find themselves in. Nurses who work for staffing agencies are regularly required to adjust quickly to new work environments. The basic skills are the same whether you’re learning a new hospital culture, getting to know a new homecare patient or assigned to a different hospital floor. Learning to transition smoothly to new nursing position and integrate successfully with the existing staff is an invaluable job skill.
The following tips will help you adapt quickly to new nursing assignments:
- Be professional. Arrive on time or a little early and don’t rush out the door at the end of your shift. Avoid awkward or controversial topics such as politics, religion, money, salaries, cultures and previous assignments or employers. Avoid participation in office politics or gossip.
- Be positive. A friendly, positive attitude will put new colleagues at ease and make for a more comfortable working environment. Make an effort to learn new colleagues’ names quickly. Focus on the positive and avoid negative, comparative or judgmental comments.
- Listen and learn. Spend more time observing and listening than talking when you’re new. Show respect for your new colleagues and their methodology by following established procedures without complaint. Learn through participation. If you’re unclear about procedures or responsibilities, ask. Demonstrate that you are open-minded, flexible and willing to learn. Establish your skills with the nursing team before suggesting any changes.
- Be a team player. Demonstrate your desire to work with your colleagues to contribute to the nursing team’s success. Ask for help when you need it, offer others a hand, and recognize help received. Take ownership of your mistakes and your accomplishments, but in doing so remember the adage: “Take the blame; share the glory.” Place personal contributions to the nursing team’s success in the context of the team’s collaborative effort.