Thanks for the great websites.
Just a note about my previous experience, which made me sad and made me think to ask for advice from all of you...
I used to work at a Public Hospital in Brazil, now I've been living abroad, but not working as a nurse at this present moment.
I was responsible to coordinate a floor (general clinic) with 6 wards and 6 patients each one (total: 36 patients and 3 nurse-assistants). Besides I had to do all nurses procedures and whatever could be necessary as you can imagine: giving showers, inserting catheters, helping medical procedures, etc).
Being a public hospital in a third world country, maybe you don't imagine how it works: sometimes, it was like a war!
It was only me and 3 assistants (practical nurses?) to take care of this whole floor. The only problem was that I had all the time critical patients in the same wards of regular or low complexity ones. Besides my assistants were really great people and excenlent professionals, it was very difficult.
As you can see, I'm not trying to find an excuse, but I never could do a plan care for all the 36 patients and I feel very bad about it. I was focused on taking care of them and do my best while I was there...
I worked so hard during all my 12 hours shifts and could not do anything more. The only time I was able to seat was during the lunch time, when I usually had 30 minutes just to grab my food and eat. And I knew that everytime I went home, they wouldn't be treatened the same way...
At the beginning, I did do plan cares, but all other nurses were laughing about me, saying that was real life, not university anymore. They told me I should wake up!
I didn't stop doing whatever I thought was right, but even the charge nurse who should be supporting me, didn't care about it. I was very frustrated about that, but nothing made me happier than see when any patient was recovered and discharged. Lots of times, my husband was the one supporting me and telling that I should not give up, because if I did that and all the others good nurses too, what would happen to those who needed us?
Anyway, I don't know if at developed countries it happens, I'd like to know.
And if you can give me some advices, more websites, tips about good books to start to improve my care plans and understand how it really works, I would be glad to hearing from you.
Sorry for teeling this sad story before my question, but I needed to do it and check if it happened only with me... If the location for this post is not correct, feel free to move it.
My best regards to you all...
Would you like to comment?
