Another cohort of Hopkins nurses are making their way into practice.
They’re just what the clinician ordered—we need nurses who can take on the ever-growing challenge of chronic disease management, and to lead in promoting wellness with our holistic care, total patient perspective. And we need Hopkins nurses who are committed to what’s right, even when it’s hard.
In the spirit of passing the torch, new nurses from the 2018 MSN (Entry Into Nursing) graduating class shared their tips on a brand-new nursing career with August 2019 grads of the same program. The panelists were Geneva Augustin, (Medical Telemetry Unit, University of Maryland Hospital), Sarah Boisen (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Johns Hopkins Hospital), and David Tkach (Trauma Disorders Unit, Sheppard Pratt).
Here’s what the panelists had to say.
- In interviews ask about residency programs, scheduling, mentorship opportunities, tuition reimbursement, and professional development.
- Be a good colleague. Know everyone’s name, the nurses and doctors, and the cleaning staff, food service support, everyone. The more support you give, the more you’ll get.
- Use Career Services – events like the career fair and mock interviews were great networking and preparation.
- Have a support system. You will be well prepared, but the first few months as a nurse are still a transition and come with challenges.
- Surround yourself with people who will do the right thing, rather than just the easiest or quickest thing.
- Ask tons of questions.- ask, ask, and over ask.
- Remember your “why.” Check in with yourself and know why you became a nurse.
- Learn as much as you can in the now, and keep an open mind about where your career will go. (All three panelists are happily in jobs that are different from what they planned).
Brought to you by the Career Lab
The Career Lab fosters exploration and learning related to professional development. To access helpful resources, register for career events, schedule career coaching appointments, and view job postings, please visit Handshake. You can also email [email protected] or visit our office in Student House 318.
Learn more:
- MSN (Entry Into Nursing)
- Career Services at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
- Advice to Nurses Considering a Career in Oncology
- Who’s graduating? We are!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: SYDNEE LOGAN
Sydnee Logan is the Social Media and Digital Content Coordinator for Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She shares what’s going on here with the world.
