Transitioning from nursing school to the hospital floor is an exciting milestone that should fill new nurses with pride. But it’s normal to feel a bit nervous, too, as you start applying everything you’ve learned to real patient care situations. Here are three pieces of advice from new nurses who’ve recently been in your (comfy) shoes: Kadlec RN Residents Chayenne, Bethany, MaKayla, Elijah, and Jacky.

1. Embrace the fear (it’s normal!).

At Kadlec and the entire Providence family of organizations, our expectation isn’t that RN Residents arrive knowing everything there is to know. We’re here to walk alongside you while you grow, so if you’re feeling nervous, know you’re not alone. Most new nurses feel that way, and we’re committed to supporting you every step of the way. For example, Chayenne shares, “When I was brand new, I remember thinking, ‘Oh gosh… this is real.’” Resident Bethany agrees, saying, “I was scared and intimidated at first, but each day it gets easier.”

Nursing school gives you the essential foundation, but the realities of patient care mean you’ll continue learning every day. As MaKayla notes, “It’s surprising how much you’re still learning. You go to school for two years, and you’re still learning constantly. Just keep going because the path is very rewarding.”

Recognizing your feelings of trepidation is a sign of growth, and by embracing challenges, you’ll develop into a confident, capable nurse with our support.

2. Ask plenty of questions.

We foster an environment that encourages you to ask questions and seek support whenever needed, helping you feel confident as you navigate patient care.

Elijah says, “Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and be sure to ask in-depth questions. “All those questions benefit you later when you’re on your own.”

“I wanted to start somewhere I could get experience and feel comfortable doing it myself,” Allison says. “This is an environment where it’s okay to make mistakes. You’re learning as a whole unit, not just as a single person.”

By removing the stigma around asking questions, we accelerate your learning. Chayenne adds, “No one is limiting questions. Everyone is always willing to help.”

3. Work to build relationships (not just skills).

Nursing is a team sport. While you’re here to improve your clinical skills, your nurse residency is a great time to build that foundational support network you’ll lean on well beyond the following year.

Some residents are fortunate to already have connections before they start with us, such as Elijah, who went into nursing and chose to work at Kadlec because of his mom, an emergency department nurse here. Though Elijah prefers oncology nursing to the hectic ED, he likes that his mom is nearby for the occasional lunch and that she’s able to provide ongoing support. But he doesn’t just rely on his family connection; Elijah’s thankful to have created “awesome” bonds with his oncology team. “They’re an amazing bunch of people. They’re my favorite part about coming to work each day.”

Strong peer and unit support is the anchor that keeps RN Residents steady during stressful shifts and builds resilience. “I consider my unit family,” Chayenne says. “They’re always there for me.” Jacky agrees, saying, “If something is going on, nobody’s alone: someone always comes to assist you.”

Even if you’d like to move to a different hospital or care location after your residency, the connections you establish now will serve you later. Take advantage of any opportunity to build bonds with a more experienced nurse; not only will you learn new perspectives and styles of nursing, but you’ll also grow your network of potential references down the line.

Start your career with us.

The Kadlec RN Residency Program offers new graduate nurses a foundation of clinical, acute-care skills in a hospital setting to become an expert in their specialty. Nurses learn through a combination of classroom sessions, simulations and authentic patient experiences with the support of experienced preceptors/mentors. We provide an integrated, consistent support structure for mentoring, career guidance and development—to make sure our nurses are reliably prepared, inspired and challenged in their work.

We offer RN Residency opportunities in the following specialty units:

• Cardiac
• Clinical Decision
• Emergency Department
• Inpatient Oncology
• Intensive Care
• Labor & Delivery
• Medical & Progressive Care
• Neonatal Intensive Care
• Operating Room
• Pediatric
• Peri Anesthesia
• Resource Team – Float Pool
• Stepdown
• Surgical

If you’re looking for a place where you can grow, be supported and build real bonds for a solid foundation in nursing, check out our RN Resident openings.  

If you’re not ready to apply, sign up for our Talent Network so recruiters can reach you with the right opportunities.