Being a Nurse: A personal guide from graduation to revalidation

By Lauren Philpott

Packed full of personal accounts, hints and tips to help student nurses and newly qualified nurses as they progress from graduation to revalidation.

Being a Nurse will help both student nurses and newly qualified nurses in their progression from graduation to revalidation.

It takes a special sort of person to be a nurse and starting a new career can be a daunting prospect for anyone – this book will prepare you for the transition from student to registered nurse and help you make the most of your time as a newly qualified nurse. The book provides advice to new starters on dealing with the challenges of being a nurse. It covers important topics such as:

• first-day nerves
• the value of teamwork
• how to avoid burnout
• coping with a bad day
• how to know when you’re ready to progress.

The author takes a jargon-free, supportive approach that aims to help you develop your confidence as a nurse so that you in turn can offer the best care for your patients.

Lauren Philpott recently qualified as a registered nurse and has drawn on her own experience to write “the book I wish I’d had”. In the words of one reviewer, “it’s like she’s taking you by the hand and helping you through the transition that she went through herself”.


From reviews:

“Being a Nurse is a great resource for anyone starting out in their nursing careers. It offers sensible down to earth advice, drawing on the author’s real life experience of what it is like to work as a Registered Nurse for the first time. The author tackles some really challenging topics, such as dealing with difficult situations/people, burnout, having a bad day (and importantly how to get over it!) as well as emphasising the many positives that nursing brings. She takes the new graduate through their nursing journey, from the first day on the job, to developing in confidence and how to work towards revalidation, taking a pragmatic, yet very readable approach. This would make a great gift for any soon to graduate or recently qualified nurse.”
Liz Williams, Assistant Professor, Year 2 Clinical Skills, University of Nottingham

“What I like about ‘Being a Nurse’ is that it is a first-hand guide to being a newly registered nurse; it gives helpful information about all those things you didn’t learn about when you were a student nurse. To name a few; annual leave, revalidation, finding your role within the team and CPD.
...The content of ‘Being a Nurse’ is written in such a way that it very much feels like an informal chat with Lauren herself, and this makes for a comforting read. Its easy layout is set with bullet points and ‘top tip’ sections which can help you easily summarise each chapter. There are also quotes of real-life situations and cases, which always helps put theory ideas into reality. Although Lauren is a children’s nurse, the topics discussed in the book are easily transferable to other branches of nursing.
I would recommend this book to any student nurses, especially students about to qualify.”
Online review from Diary of a Chief Nurse Junior Fellow

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lantern Publishing
• Release date: Jun 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781908625540

Lauren Philpott

Lauren Philpott qualified as a registered children’s nurse in 2014. She initially rotated between a children’s ward and Special Care Baby Unit before resuming a permanent position on a general children’s ward for six years. In 2020 she decided to step into education, and now delivers simulation based education to a variety of healthcare professionals.

Book preview

First day nerves

So you’ve completed your training and are about to set out into the big wide world of nursing. Firstly – congratulations! You survived your life as a student nurse, and you’re only going to get better. As a newly qualified nurse you’re probably feeling every single emotion all at once – relief, nerves, excitement, anticipation, absolute terror – I certainly did. It’s a big step, but it’s not as scary as you think it might be.

Nursing is such a rewarding job, which I’m sure you know as you’ve successfully completed your training. Whichever field you are in, you’re about to commence a really wonderful vocation. You might have some tough times ahead, but if you can remain positive and remember why you’re doing this, your career will thrive, and you with it.

This chapter will explore the important information you need to know as you set out in your wonderful new career. From your very first day, to your first experience of going it alone, there is so much to learn, and you’re in for a really great experience. This chapter will also highlight the differences and similarities between being a student nurse and a qualified nurse, what you can do if you have a shaky start to your new career and the importance of always remaining positive. It will then end with a Q and A section which will address some of the most common concerns felt by student nurses when setting out in your new role. Enjoy!

Your first days

When I qualified I moved 180 miles away from my home and family, starting out somewhere completely brand new. I remember walking to work and not feeling nervous at all – something which I found very strange! I arrived early and was introduced to the night nurses, they took me to the staff room for handover and it just went from there. At the start I felt completely lost – all I could do was fight the urge to run home and cry. I was in a strange place I had never been, on a ward that I was not used to with policies that were nothing like where I had trained. It was overwhelming at times and a little bit daunting, but it wasn’t as scary as I was worried it would be. There was a lot to get stuck in to and my colleagues were all so welcoming; by the end of the day it had become a positive experience.

Whether you’re returning to a ward you worked on as a student nurse or starting somewhere new, one important thing to remember is that no one is expecting too much from you right now. The only thing you have to do at the very start is settle in and your employer will do their utmost to make this as smooth as possible for you.

Here are some handy hints to remember on your first day:

Arrive early – you’ll instantly make a good impression if you are punctual.

Introduce yourself – this will provide a good first impression, and will help prevent you being called ‘the new nurse’.

Pay attention – there is a lot to take in, so pay attention. Don’t worry if you don’t remember everything, but if you focus on what you’re shown, you’re likely to remember a lot more.

Take it all one step at a time – it can be very overwhelming so don’t try and rush straight into things. Take everything at your own pace and just do what you can do.

Stay positive – always believe in the power of positive thought. If you have an optimistic outlook things will be a lot brighter.

Be proactive – in calmer moments (never say the word quiet!), check whether there are any cleaning or other day-to-day ward tasks that need to be completed, or simply spend time with your patients.

When I started working I kept a diary, and recently re-read it to remind myself how I was feeling during my first few days. At the end of my first day I’d written that I felt I hadn’t done very much; however, the nurse in charge informed me that she didn’t think she had either, and not to worry. Thinking back, I don’t remember this being a particular problem and it pales into insignificance amongst everything else, but it obviously felt important enough for me to have made a note of it.

During your first few weeks you might be offered a supernumerary period (where you are not counted in the staffing numbers) to ensure you adjust to your working environment; this period will be extremely valuable to you, so ensure you make the most of it. You can use this time to find your way around, get to grips with the way your ward runs, familiarise yourself with the paperwork and the local policies and procedures. Before you know it you’ll be managing your own patient workload and it will be like you’ve been working there forever.

If, however, you feel that you need longer to adjust, speak to your manager – please don’t be worried, they are there to help you. Below is a handy list of Dos and Don’ts to help you in your first weeks on the ward:

The first week for me was all about learning where everything was, the way the ward works and meeting new people. I didn’t have time to be worried as there was so much to do! I was not expected to take patients at the very beginning; I just had to settle in and get to know my new colleagues. Starting out can be very overwhelming but I don’t know anyone who didn’t feel welcomed into their new team (I know I certainly did).

Your first few days will probably be very busy sorting out the administration side of things (however, some employers like this all to be complete prior to starting your job). It might involve a meeting with HR to sort out your contract, your ID card and your uniform. Over the next few weeks you’ll have IT training, be orientated to the ward and hospital. There will be a Trust induction, probably some manual handling training, infection prevention and control training, conflict resolution training; basically you’ll do every study day under the sun, but you’ll be so glad of this.

If you are returning to a ward you worked on as a student you will know your colleagues, where things are kept, how the ward runs, local policies and so on. Overall this can be very beneficial to you, but that doesn’t make it feel any less intimidating. You might feel a little more protected; knowing the people you’re working with can feel like a safety net, especially if you got on well with them as a student nurse. This can help to build your confidence and make the transition that little bit easier, but this does not come without its challenges:

As a qualified nurse you might find that there is increased pressure from the start as your colleagues know how you worked as a student.

If your colleagues know that you work to a high standard it might be easy for them to forget that you’re new and they might already have very high expectations of you.

You may not get as much supernumerary time and be thrown in the deep end a little more, which suits some people more than others.

If you are in this situation and you are struggling, it is very important that you talk things through with your manager. Don’t worry if you are finding it difficult; it can be hard at the start and you need to do everything you can to ensure your experience is a positive one so that you can provide the best possible care for your patients.

Am I ready?

The step between student nurse and qualified nurse is a big one so it is perfectly natural to be worried, and it might take time to adjust. You might be surprised at just how quickly you adapt, but there is no shame in taking a little bit longer; confidence will come with time.

As a student nurse I remember a lecturer telling us that almost every student feels ready to qualify within the last six weeks of their final placement. I’m sure I felt this and in my final student days I was extremely sure that I felt ready; however, when beginning my first job I began to feel that maybe this wasn’t the case. It felt like a step backwards because I was in a new place and had to learn everything all over again, but I picked it up quickly and once I had got into the swing of things it felt extremely natural.

At the very start there might be things that you can’t do; for example, you may not yet have received your Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) PIN so you won’t be able to give patients their medications. During this time you might feel a little bit dependent on the other nurses, but there are lots of other things you can offer to do instead to help your colleagues and care for the patients. For example, if your colleague is administering medication to your patient, you can in turn do a set of observations on their patient. This way, instead of feeling like a burden to your fellow nurses, you’re being extremely helpful – it’s all about teamwork! This will help strengthen your relationship with your colleagues, and it will do wonders for your self-confidence too.

Nursing is a very caring profession so don’t worry that your colleagues will begrudge helping you – we all had to start somewhere! You’ll be getting used to doing things that you weren’t allowed to do as a student. This can be both exciting and scary, but don’t shy away from them. Learning new skills is a key part of nursing and you should make the most of this period of development. People learn in a variety of ways; for example, some people like to jump in and ‘do’ straight away, whereas others prefer to talk it through and maybe watch before doing it themselves. Whatever your preferred learning style, remember – only do something if you feel ready.

Should I do it?

Although being thrown in the deep end can be really terrifying, with the right support it can have extremely positive results. Sometimes it takes being made to do a task to make you realise that you can do it, and it isn’t as scary as you might think. Some days this might come when you don’t want it, for example with a busy ward and short staffing, but other times you might feel like you are ready for a challenge. When appropriate, this is a great time to try – find someone who is happy to support you through it and give it a go. If there is a condition on the handover sheet that particularly scares you, ask if you can take that patient – it’s a great way to learn and with the right support it can be an extremely positive experience. Below is a flow chart to help you decide if you’re ready to try:

Going it alone

This aspect seems to be one of the scariest for newly qualified nurses – you might feel that you’re suddenly left to fend for yourself. You go from being supervised by a mentor to being given a great deal of autonomy almost overnight, so you’re bound to be worried. When you find yourself with your own patient workload you might feel an increased amount of pressure to ensure that you provide your patients with the best care possible. If this is you, please remember that although you haven’t got a mentor to report to, there will always be other nurses on shift to support you through your day. You will never be 100% on your own.

The NMC recommends that newly qualified nurses be given a period of preceptorship which usually lasts between six months and a year. During this time you’ll be allocated a ‘preceptor’ who will help you settle in and develop your skills and confidence – this will be expanded further in Chapter Six. This time of preceptorship, although officially lasting around six months, will in reality last around 2–3 years (in all honesty after three years I’m still not sure I’ve reached the end of my preceptorship period yet). You’ll be constantly learning and developing, but it is the development in these first few months that will make the biggest impact on your confidence and ability to provide the best patient care.

When I passed my driving test I remember my Grandad telling me that it is only when you’re driving on your own that you really learn to drive. I feel like this same rule applies to nursing – it is only when you start to do it alone that you truly learn how. The foundation that you get from university is brilliant, but when you start to work you will consolidate all of your knowledge and learn how to be a great nurse.

While some people are terrified at the thought of going it alone, others feel extremely liberated by the freedom. When you first qualify you might feel a great sense of empowerment because you’re finally carrying your own workload without a mentor shadowing you. Maybe you find that as a student you struggled to work well under the pressure of being watched, so it is easy to understand why you might feel better when you’re qualified. If that is you, that’s wonderful – you’re going to love your life as a qualified staff nurse.

If you are confident about your new role, that’s great, but be careful not to become cocky. That will go down badly with your colleagues and you’re more likely to make a mistake and risk patient safety. Remember that when you start you are a junior member of staff and that you must show respect for every other member of the multidisciplinary team. By respecting others you will earn their respect in return, and this will encourage a strong bond between you and your team. This will be expanded in the next chapter.

I still vividly remember the first time I was allowed to draw up medications on my own. I had spent two weeks completing the workbook my Trust had given me and had to do ten medications whilst being supervised by another qualified nurse, so I was eased in gently. That didn’t