What is the hardest part you had to over come to becoming a successful nurse?

Dear Nadia, What a great question! I believe the hardest part for me was that the nurses I observed seemed to be so comfortable and confident in their care and I wondered if I would EVER feel the same way! I think there is just so much to learn and that can be overwhelming at times- Just know that you are building a foundation for other learning and that you can't magically overnight become a confident, skilled, knowledgeable professional- It takes time! You should expect it to take time and continue to learn. I love that I can still learn new things even after 30 years in the field of nursing, that's why I love this field so much. There is not a day that goes by that I don't learn about an improvement that can be made. Hang in there and remember that the body of knowledge started somewhere and that you need more than overnight to learn it.

The most difficult part in becoming a successful nurse, is utilizing the book knowledge in a practical application. Nursing school teaches you a great deal of information, but it is the process of implementing the knowledge into daily activities that can be difficult. As a medical-surgical nurse, you will need critical thinking skills to discern the safest care for your patients WHILE caring for their personal needs. While some activities are timed, such as medication administration, others are not, bathroom assistance or refreshment needs. Balancing these in a caring way, while still critically thinking regarding your nursing interventions can be difficult.

The hardest part I had to learn in nursing school was critical thinking & being able to think fast on your feet. On the floor, things can happen really fast & being able to put 2 and 2 together very quickly is definitely a must. Now, it takes some time & practice, it might not happen immediately especially when you're just starting to learn things but eventually things will add up & you'll be able to think quicker on your feet. Good luck!!