Be aware of the corporate culture. Use all your senses to find out about what’s accepted in your organization. Here are a few questions to get you started:

• What are the patterns of communication?
• Who eats lunch with whom?
• What is posted on the bulletin board?
• How do other staff members dress from work?

Get to know your colleagues. All of us like it when someone demonstrates sincere interest in us. That means not just work-related information, but also hobbies, families, and other interests. Your colleagues include supervisors, peers, assistants, as well as staff in other departments.

Learn, learn, learn. Although you’ve finished your basic education, learning continues throughout your career. Seek out your organization’s resources, such as continuing education programs. And, be ready to say "I don’t know." Don’t try to cover-up what you don’t know; instead, use it as an opportunity for learning.

Find a mentor. Look for advice from a senior RN where you work. This person, who should be different from your supervisor, can provide a sounding board and give you objective advice.

Take care of yourself. Don’t become a slave to your job. Balance work with your social life, and eat right, exercise, and get enough sleep.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. This is an exciting, yet stressful time in your life. You’re going to make mistakes; we all do. What’s important is that you work to correct the mistake and learn from it. A sense of humor helps!