20 New Year’s Resolutions Nurses Should Make for 2018

With New Year’s Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about the improvements you would like to make in 2018 to support both your personal and professional growth. To help get you thinking in that direction, we picked our 20 favorite resolutions from a thoughtful list created by fellow nurse Lynda Lampert, RN.

1. I will eat lunch every shift and take my break.
2. I will befriend the new nurse and make him feel welcome.
3. I will buy a whole new wardrobe of scrubs that are cute or have big pockets — preferably both.
4. I will get that certification for the specialty I'm in.
5. If I don't like my job, I will do everything I can to find a new one.
6. I will review the mechanics of lifting and use them every time I lift.
7. I will research new drugs on the market and what they do.
8. I will find a comfortable pair of shoes.
9. I will give tired, overworked doctors the benefit of the doubt.
10. I will visit my doctor and ensure I am healthy.
11. I will listen more to my patients.
12. I will not go a whole shift without using the restroom.
13. I will exercise more.
14. I will not save all my charting until the end of the shift.
15. I will change specialties if I'm bored with the one I'm working in.
16. I will call in when I am sick, regardless of how guilty I feel.
17. I will practice inserting IVs until I become an expert -- if I'm not already.
18. I will be assertive in the face of bullying family members.
19. I will not grumble about renewing my certifications and licenses.
20. I will review the five rights and make it a point to use them every time I interact with a patient.

Of course, this is just a sampling of resolutions for you to consider adding to your list for 2018. You can check out all 50 resolutions on Lampert’s list here.