Congratulations on starting your new nursing role. Naturally starting a new job can be both exciting and daunting. That’s why we are on hand to give you some top tips for your first day and are always available to give you any guidance or support you will need along the way.
As a nurse you will be working long shifts and spending the majority of that time on your feet, and therefore comfortable, reliable shoes are essential. Whether it’s a trustee pair from a previous role or a new pair, your feet will thank you. Comfortable footwear can be a contributing factor in the well-being of workers.
One of the key factors to look out for that will make or break the comfort level of any shoe is the foot bed design. Similar to a mattresses on your body, the foot bed can greatly affect the pressure placed on your feet, with the right design spreading pressure over the total surface of your foot relieving any potential pressure point build up.
The material the shoe in made of is crucial for comfort, if too stiff it will cause discomfort, however a nice quality lining will increase comfort and prevent your feet from overheating.
When walking and being stood on a hard surfaced floor for hours at a time, a shoes ability to absorb shock is extremely important. A good shoe will take the edge of your step. Therefore minimising the fatigue of your feet.
Protection is key. On hot days it can be tempting when you know you have a busy shift ahead of you to wear open toe shoes to keep your feet cool, but these will not protect against potential falling objects.
Have you got everything you need for your first shift? Make sure to prepare yourself the day before with all of the documents you need and your uniform there is nothing quite like rushing around before your shift starts to set you off for a stressful first shift.
You will also need to consider any snacks you want to keep you fuelled throughout the day and as you will likely spend a lot of your shift on your feet and taking in a lot of new information and lastly, making sure you get enough sleep is vital.
Make sure you plan your travel route in advance, even do a test run to make sure that the day of your first shift runs as smoothly as possible with little stress. If you are driving, have you considered the best route, do you know where you will be parking and how long will it take you to get to the location, are you driving during peak hours? Alternatively if you are using public transport you need to check for any change overs that may increase travel time and work out the best time to leave to ensure you leave yourself plenty of time, it’s better to arrive early than late.
Building a good relationship with your peers and mentors is so important, these are going to be the people who you are spending the majority of your working day with and who you will learn the most from. By ensuring a strong relationship, you will get the best out of them. Remember it has been everyone’s first day at some point, so if you are unsure as to where something is, or unclear of something they have asked you to do, always ask. We have a great relationship with our clients and that is down to them being great communicators and compassionate, so they will always be happy to help.
Last but not least, enjoy. You are doing an extremely important and rewarding job, enjoy every moment.