First timer - Burn Unit

During a rotation at the UNC Burn Center in Chapel Hill NC I heard an amazing thing from a 90% burn survivor. He said.....

"Burn patients carry their scars on the outside for all the world to see. Burn nurses carry theirs on the inside where they are hidden."

I have worked with burns on/off for 15 years. The thing that amazed me is that if you medicate well enough, they state the treatments were fine. I took care of a 98% who screamed bloody murder and cursed me and everything to do with me during the debridements. After 2 hours in the tub room and then the 1 hour to complete the dressing change, I took a much needed break and when I returned he always said the dressing change was a piece of cake, thank you!

I love concious sedation and dilaudid push!

Now I work in a neuro ICU and its similar, causing pain. You do get used to it, but always be proud of the pain relief that you can bring them. Never shirk your duty to control it, just because you have a better tolerance for causing it.

for you or the patient? lol jk.

gotta love it.

Thanks for that laugh, I needed that. I am so stressed out about work lately, just got back from vacation, but it didn't help.

I only spent one day on a BU as a student, but the worst thing for me was the combo debridement/graft staple removal. First time I've had someone's blood all over me like that. There was a bubble bath and a cocktail that night, let me tell you.

Thanks you guys. That really helps, by giving me a good way to think about it :-). I guess I wasn't prepared for that part of this job, but next time I will be.

Hi everyone: Well, tomorrow is my first day on the job as a GN in our hospital's burn unit. I've been working as a Burn Tech, which helped prepare me a great deal for what I could expect. I look forward to taking my NCLEX in the very near future and feeling like a part of this great team. Please wish me luck and if there are any other new or seasoned burn (or SICU, because we cross-train in this unit) nurses out there, please write...us newbies need your insight! Thanks and best wishes to all who've inspired through these pages...

Good Luck!!