236 unit 3 | Professional Issues
the company manners they displayed when you
were interviewing, and organizational politics
eventually surface. Your leadership skills and com-
mitment to teamwork will get you through this
transition period.
Impressions and Relationships
Manage a good impression, and build effective rela-
tionships.Remember, you are being watched: by
peers, subordinates, and superiors. Because you as
yet have no track record, first impressions are mag-
nified. Although every organization is different,
most are looking for someone with good judgment,
a willingness to learn, a readiness to adapt, and a
respect for the expertise of more experienced
employees. Most people expect you to “pay your
dues” to earn respect from them.
Organizational Savvy
Develop organizational savvy.An important person
in this first year is your immediate supervisor.
Support this person. Find out what is important to
your supervisor and what he or she needs and
expects from the team. Become a team player.
Present solutions, not problems, as often as you
can. You want to be a good leader someday; learn
first to be a good follower. Finding a mentor is
another important goal of your first year. Mentors
are role models and guides who encourage, counsel,
teach, and advocate for their mentee. In these rela-
tionships, both the mentor and mentee receive
support and encouragement (Klein & Dickenson-
Hazard, 2000). Mentoring was discussed in
Chapter 13.
The spark that ignites a mentoring relationship
may come from either the protégé or the mentor.
Protégés often view mentors as founts of success, a
bastion of life skills they wish to learn and emulate.
Mentors often see the future that is hidden in
another’s personality and abilities (Klein &
Dickenson-Hazard, 2000, pp. 20–21).
Skills and Knowledge
Master the skills and knowledge of the position.
Technology is constantly changing, and contrary
to popular belief, you did not learn everything in
school. Be prepared to seek out new knowledge
and skills on your own. This may entail extra hours
of preparation and study, but no one ever said
learning stops after graduation (Holton, 1994;
Johnson, 1994).Advancing Your Career
Many of the ideas presented in this chapter will
continue to be helpful as you advance in your nurs-
ing career. Continuing to develop your leadership
and patient care skills through practice, and further
education will be the key to your professional
growth. The RN will be expected to develop and
provide leadership to other members of the health-
care team while providing competent care to
patients. Getting your first job within the nursing
shortage may not be so difficult, but advancing in
your career will be your own responsibility.Conclusion
Finding your first position is more than being in
the right place at the right time. It is a complex
combination of learning about yourself and the
organizations you are interested in and presenting
your strengths and weaknesses in the most positive
manner possible. Keeping the first position and
using the position to grow and learn are also a plan-
ning process. Recognize that the independence you
enjoyed through college may not be the skills you
need to keep you in your first position. There is an
important lesson to be learned: becoming a team
player and being savvy about organizational politics
are as important as becoming proficient in nursing
skills. Take the first step toward finding a mentor—
before you know it, you will become one yourself.Study Questions1.Using the SWOT analysis worksheet developed for this chapter, how will you articulate your
strengths and weaknesses during an interview?
2.Design a one- to two-page résumé to use in seeking your first position. Are you able to “sell yourself ”
in one or two pages? If not,what adjustments are you going to make? Develop a cover letter, thank-you
letter, acceptance letter, and rejection letter that you can use during the interview process.