Let’s talk about the stuff no one tells you in nursing school: the unwritten rules of the job. You won’t find these in a textbook or policy manual, but you’ll learn them fast once you’re on the floor.
Some of these rules keep the unit running smoothly… and some just keep the peace (and keep you from being side-eyed at the next holiday potluck).
Here’s my non-exhaustive list of unofficial nursing rules:
🍲 1. Don’t bring something lame to the potluck
You know what I mean. No single bag of chips still in the grocery sack. Potlucks are sacred in nurse culture so bring something you’d actually want to eat after a 12-hour shift. Bonus points if it has cheese or chocolate.
💧 2. Don’t let your drips run dry for the next shift
Before clocking out, make sure patients have enough fluids to last awhile, especially in the ICU or for those who could crash if their drips run dry. Keep an eye on those pumps before you clock out.
🆘 3. If you’re caught up, check on others before taking a break
We all have those shifts where the stars align and you’re miraculously caught up. If that happens, see if someone else is drowning before you head to the break room. I’m sure you would want someone to do that for you!
🫣 4. Messy job? Handle the business end
Need help cleaning up something particularly unpleasant? You take the end that… well… requires the most bravery. (I think you get the picture here.)
🚶♀️ 5. Don’t disappear from the unit without telling anyone
We’ve all had that “Where’s so-and-so?!” moment. Even if you’re just running to the bathroom or grabbing supplies, let someone know!
📱 6. Don’t constantly kick it at the nurse’s station on your phone
It’s just not a great look. Constantly scrolling at the desk while others are running around is a quick way to earn the wrong kind of reputation.
💬 Want more of these?
If you want to hear me and a few other experienced nurses share even more of these unspoken rules (and laugh through some stories), check out the FreshRN Podcast episode: The Unwritten Rules of Nursing.
🎧 You can also listen or watch on Youtube below ⬇️
AI in nursing predictions for 2026 reveal how nurse leaders expect technology to reduce burnout, support nurses, and restore patient connection.
Continue Reading AI in Nursing Predictions for 2026: What Nurse Leaders Say Is Coming Next
Understand the latest nurse liability claims trends from NSO, including high-risk settings like home health, corrections, and aesthetics, plus practical ways to reduce risk without practicing scared.
Ever had a patient keep asking for more and more pain meds? Learn how to navigate pain management when substance use disorder is in the mix; balancing compassion, boundaries, and safe practice as a nurse.
Continue Reading When Patients Keep Asking for More and More Pain Meds…
Learn how to perform a safer, smarter nursing allergy assessment, including how to sort true allergy vs sensitivity, handle penicillin allergy delabeling, use IgE testing, and document reactions in a way that actually improves patient care.
Curious about virtual nursing models? Learn how virtual nursing in acute care is reshaping med surg workflows, supporting nurse satisfaction, and transforming the future of nursing care delivery, all without replacing bedside nurses.
Curious/worried about AI in nursing practice? Learn how Dr. Susan Grant (CCO of symplr), sees artificial intelligence reducing admin burden, supporting nurse managers, capturing the invisible work of nursing, and creating a future where technology helps nurses focus more on real patient care, not less.
Continue Reading AI in Nursing Practice: How Technology Can Actually Make Care More Human
Want to stop feeling like an imposter in your first nursing job?
Your first nursing job is a huge milestone—but let’s be real, it can also be terrifying.
You’re expected to know so much, so fast—but what if you had a solid foundation before you even stepped onto the floor?
The FreshRN® New Nurse Master Class is the course we wish we had. It’s packed with the practical, real-world guidance
you need to feel more capable, confident, and in control.
From clinical skills and critical thinking, to time management
and self-care, this course covers everything they don’t teach you in nursing school—so you can feel ready, not just hope you are.
Start Lesson #1 Now
0 Comments