The time is upon you, those 3 years of intense shifts and uni lectures are drawing to a close. I can't quite fathom how you must be feeling? I was going to write about how I have been there, I can absolutely relate, but then it dawned on me. For this cohort, and the one before, I don't know. I didn't start my training during a global pandemic! So let's take a minute to actually acknowledge and digest what you have put yourselves through.

You are the cohort that saw what the world was going through, and how the nursing profession kept humanity going and felt inspired to enter the profession. You had lectures, but not as those before you had known. Yours were online, without peers alongside you, without the social gatherings that support your sanity on the more confusing and challenging days. You looked fear in the eyes and said, "Up yours!"

Your resilience levels will be something else after what you were faced with, and what you have achieved in such challenging times. Even with all of the things you have experienced, when speaking to some of you, the nerves are still real about having the keys on that first shift and finally being recognised and working as a Qualified Nurse.

What I have done is popped my Top 5 tips on how to deal with the anxiety around that first shift:

1) First day anxiety is totally NORMAL!

For a lot of you, you will have worked as a student on the same ward you are about to start working as a nurse in. Some will never have set foot in your new working world. Whatever your situation, accept the nerves and know the first day is the unknown, no matter where you are.

2) Don't be afraid to ask questions

The good nurses remember how it felt on that first shift. AND they also know the value of supporting newly qualified nurses.

3) You will make a mistake

I'll put my hands up. I have made a medication error in my career. I cried. I felt awful, but I also accepted it, shared it with relevant parties and remedied the situation. My confidence took a hammering. My meds rounds took double the time, but I never made that mistake again. My point? We are all human. As long as we learn from mistakes, own them and don't repeat them, we can move forward with enhanced performance and capability.

4) Be open and accepting of feedback

Some people can automatically go into self doubt mode, and hop on the defensive the moment something that they have done is questioned. If someone gives you feedback, be grateful, as it could be this piece of feedback that will one day prevent you from making a big mistake. Feedback will better you, it betters us all.

5) You won't love your job every day

Accept that some days will challenge you. Challenge your emotions, your resilience, your confidence, your choice of career! But for every day like that, there will be tenfold that reaffirm why you are doing what you are doing, where you are doing it.

You won't be expected to be Florence Nightingale on that first shift, or even your first year. You will continue to develop within your role for as long as you hold your PIN. I have been qualified since 2009, but if you put me to work in certain environments, I would be completely out of sync with best practices, and would need extensive training before carrying out certain tasks. You've done so well to get to this point. The sleepless nights, the tears, they have all been worth it.

Some final words on advice for that first shift?

Be confident in yourself and be kind to yourself.

To the historic cohort of 2023, go forth and conquer!