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With the New Year upon us, many people in every profession will be looking to uphold their New Year’s resolutions.  Of course, your resolution could be something simple like doing better at work but it might be more helpful for your resolutions if you’re very specific with them.  If you’ve had trouble coming up with your own resolution, we have thought of a few that may help you this next year as an STNA.

• Organize.  This goes to every aspect of your life.  If your home life is organized, your work life will fall in line easier and vice versa.  Set aside time every day to catch up on tying up loose ends from the day before.  Most importantly, organize time in your life when you can relax.
• Reach out.  By creating positive relationships with colleagues and patients, you’ll find your work days go by faster and are more enjoyable.  If you like where you work and who you work with, waking up for that surprise third shift won’t be so bad.
• Be open.  Have an open mind.  Have open ears.  Have an open heart.  Listen to others and take advice when it is given.  Don’t shut people or ideas out because you are unfamiliar with them.  As an STNA, your job will be more enjoyable the more accepting you are.
• Be early.  Rarely do people complain about others being early to meetings or gatherings.  Get in the habit of being early wherever you go and you will greatly reduce the possibility of you getting somewhere important late.  The extra effort to be early will impress your patients and your coworkers.
• Eliminate errors.  Obviously, when you perform a task, you’re not trying to make mistakes but they do happen.  Eliminating errors sounds like an immense task but it is really quite simple.  If you have to write something up, simply read it over before submitting it.  If you’re meeting with a patient, check their history before going in.  Small things can make a huge difference.
• Research at home.  If you are told to do something, take orders, of course, but check it out when you get home.  Knowing what you are doing is one thing, knowing why you’re doing something will separate you from competition.  A few minutes of research are enough to give you the knowledge you need to make better decisions.

Take these helpful hints into the New Year.  Maybe they can help you with your patients and with your coworkers.  If you have more tips or need more training on how to be a better STNA in 2013, let us know.