The new nurse survival kit

Hop over to Pinterest and you will find oodles of fun ideas for new nurse survival kits . Filled with both the practical—compression socks, bandage scissors, high-performance pens, hair bands, gum/mints—and the playful, like statement water bottles, monogrammed caddies, gourmet snacks, and funky lanyards , there’s tons of ways to arm yourself with all that you’ll need for your first job.

But these items only scratch the surface of what a new nurse truly needs to survive.

Think about it—you’re only just coming up for air from the intensity that is nursing school. Landing your first job continues that adrenaline rush to some degree, but, let’s face it—nursing has changed over the past year and a half since the arrival of Sars-CoV-2. And today’s modern nurse must be prepared to equip themselves with way more than slick writing utensils and pen lights in order to survive.

That’s where we come in.

Below you’ll find a list of what it really takes to survive—no, thrive—as a new nurse. The kinds of things that will empower you and enable you to grow into your new role without losing yourself along the way.

Reason being—we need good nurses more than ever before. The kinds of nurses who understand that self-care is more than Sunday brunch and a bubble-bath. We’re talking an eyes-wide-open brand of nurse here. And since there’s no room for “nurses eating their young” in today’s healthcare climate anymore, we’re here to shine a light on what really matters.

So, without further ado, and as a token of our gratitude, here’s what the nurses we want to work with ought to have in their survival kits…

• A community who gets you — There’s sympathy and then there’s empathy. You’ve probably felt the sympathy card being played this year. The placating platitudes, the “all nurses are heroes” with a subtle subtext of “we’re glad it’s you and not us on the frontline of this pandemic.” In one sense, it’s meant to be served as gratitude, but it leaves its recipients (the healthcare force) feeling isolated and dismissed. Which is exactly why we encourage all new nurses to start building their support team, ASAP. Think—your nursing school buddies, anyone you feel drawn to on your new unit, mentors new and old. Times like these call for people who get it…and you.

• A hobby that involves fresh air and sunlight — For nurses who either work from dawn till dusk or overnight, that doesn’t leave enough time to feel the sun on your face. It may seem trivial, but there’s an important part of us that requires sunlight. Research tells us that even time spent looking up at trees lowers blood pressure! Being in nature straight up reduces cortisol and adrenaline, and helps to regulate anxiety and depression. All things that nurses currently have an abundance of.

• Something you do for fun — Playdates may seem like something you set up for your toddler, but bonafide adults greatly benefit from participating in activities whose sole purpose is to bring joy. In today’s “purpose-driven” world, that can seem indulgent, but actually? There ain’t nothing selfish about it. See if this resonates, from the oh-so-wise, Brene Brown: “What happens when we max out our surge capacity during a crisis? Time spent without purpose can refuel and reconnect us.” Intrigued? She goes into greater detail on her excellent podcast with an episode devoted to this subject.

• Some kind of meditation/yoga/mindfulness practice — What comes up must come down, right? In this case, your anxiety levels. Except they need to be lured and lulled into a calmer state. The best way to do that? Being still. Even 5 minutes a day can help to center and ground an anxious mind, and release tension in your body.

• A mentor — Finding a genuine mentor can’t be hurried. But as a new nurse, it can be one of the greatest relationships you’ll ever form. It’s especially important when you have big goals for yourself in your nursing career. So, if you have someone in mind that you admire, try this technique: ASK THEM. Yes, it may seem scary and awkward to face potential rejection, but we guarantee, your intended mentor will be nothing but flattered that you think of them in this light. Mentors are nursing’s north stars, and we all need to be looking up at what lies beyond.

• The ability to say “no” — Hooookay, this is a toughie. As a new nurse, you’ll have the urge to people-please, especially when it comes with a side of pursuing good graces. But we’ll be clear about this one—it’s OKAY to say NO. In fact, it’s healthy to set boundaries early on, because those bend-over-backwards tendencies are self-sabotaging and not sustainable. We need you to love nursing, and part of that is doing things outside of that identity. Plus, you know, sleep.

• Vicks vapor rub — How can we put this delicately? Nursing is smelly. There will be many, many, MANY things you wish hadn’t wafted up your nose, and Vicks is the little secret weapon to thwart that that most nurses know about. Keep this in your bag at work and use PRN. Just a little dab on the end of your nose/top lip and—tada!—it’s like donning a little suit of olfactory armor. Perhaps this one should have been included in the tangible “nurse survival kit” item list above, but we feel it’s importance can’t be overstated; it is key for nurse retention.

So there you have it. Everything a new nurse needs to thrive. It’s no secret that our current frontline workforce is exhausted, depleted, and burnt out. And as desperate a situation that you may be walking into, nevertheless, you are the heroes in this storyline. We will gladly pass you the baton, and in return, you’ll gain a perspective that no nurses have had ever before. The kind that is going to be talked about, revered, and respected for decades to come. YOU are the ones we’ve been waiting for! So fill those thrive kits to the brim and c’mon.