[nurse educate]

Originally Posted by riern

Never leave a patient lying in urine or feces and tell them the CNA will be in soon. Change them yourself........part of nursing is cleaning behinds!

Always take the time to help your CNA with the difficult total care patients.

Make friends with the unit sec and the CNA's.... they are 2 very valuable people on your unit.

While I don't disagree with these, I urge you do them with caution. I don't mean to sound disgruntled (but I am ). Don't let them take advantage of you! They will sit there and watch you change every wet/soiled pt. if you let them. They are also well aware of the fact that you are 'new', and want to do everything you can to help your patients. Many nurses told me this as a new nurse. Depending on where you work, you need to make a choice- either be their friend, or keep it professional (so they will do their job). It is very hard, once you've established that 'friendly' relationship, to change that.

Please remember this: You can do the CNA's job (and the unit sec as well), but THEY CANNOT DO YOUR JOB!!! I'm just a little sick of hunting them down, and doing everything for my patients, while they sit on the phone.

[Angie O'Plasty, RN]

ALWAYS check the patient's O2 tubing: is it connected? what's the rate? because *Things Happen.*

ALWAYS tape your Chest Tube Drainage system to something stable so it doesn't get knocked over--like the floor.

ALWAYS make sure your Chest Tube connections are taped securely.

ALWAYS have an occlusive dressing and a set of really large clamps taped to the wall for a chest tube patient.

ALWAYS keep an ambu bag nearby for the patient who desats fast. Nice to have it handy--because *Things Happen.* You just slap it on and go to town while someone else gets the crash cart.

[thebrneyedangel]

NEVER ... TRUST EVERYTHING YOU HEAR IN REPORT .. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CHARTS.
The nurse your getting report from has had a long shift. They are human and forget things.
Some don't even have a clue. Always trust your critical thinking skills and when you do not know find the answer use any and all resources.
Never Leave the floor without letting someone know.(Having to page a nurse back to the floor via hospital loud speaker really stinks)

[CardioTrans]

Thought of some more......


Always treat the PATIENT....... not the MONITOR

Always make sure you cover the patient if you have to do a bath or anything personal to them..... even if they are sedated.......

Always, always, always check and double check your IV fluids and rates....

Always check the vent settings with the chart........

Always have an obturator taped to a patients bed in case they cough their trach out.........

[begalli]

Originally Posted by CardioTrans

Always, always, always check and double check your IV fluids and rates....

AND concentrations and the volume that's left to be infused. Nothing worse than responding to a pump alarm to find out your bag has run dry (especially vasopressors and propofol!).

[jnette]

Never say "I can't"... because sooner or later you will most certainly HAVE to.

Never put off a potty call... you'll most surely get tied up with sth. else for another hour or two.

[RNND]

While we're on nevers, please don't say to people "God only gives us what we can handle" or some variation of this. There are plenty of people who DON'T handle what they're given. They become alcoholics, drug addicts, commit suicide, abuse or neglect their children or elders, etc. Those people who ARE handling things, however tenuously, deserve some credit for their strength. Tell them what a good job they are doing, and let them know you are there to help. Good nurses can make ALL the difference.

[SmilingBluEyes]

NEVER forget what it's been like to be a student OR A "newbie"...
NEVER eat your young....OR old. Or EACH OTHER!

[boulergirl]

NEVER tell a family member that you won't bathe a patient because you don't want to hurt your back!
(We had a nurse's aide do this recently.)

[zambezi]

ALWAYS have confidence in what you know- and NEVER be afraid to ask for help with what you don't.

ALWAYS take the chance a do/observe something that you haven't done before.

NEVER let your fear of the unknown get in the way of a learning experience...it's okay to be afraid/uncomfortable in a situation...but don't let it paralyze you-- eg: code situation or new (scary) procedure...breathe, keep a calm head, think about what your job is and what is going on with the patient, anticipate what might come next so you can be ready for it, always ask for help or let someone know what your plan is in case you need help-- sometimes you just have to jump in and take the plunge!

ALWAYS take the time to teach something that you know to another person-it will help you learn and remember it.

ALWAYS practice good time management...as others have said you never know when the s**t might hit the fan (hopefully not literally)...

ALWAYS find a routine that works for you...it's ok to observe a couple of different people and borrow their way of doing things until you find a method of your own.

ALWAYS follow the hospital policy. If you don't like it or can't find one--make a new one!

ALWAYS use up-to-date practice guidlines...

ALWAYS do your job to the best of your ability.

ALWAYS be supportive/helpful to your coworkers and other ancillary staff. You never know when you might need their help.

ALWAYS take time for you and do something that you enjoy.

ALWAYS wear a smile--even if you have steam coming out of your ears or are really annoyed from answering that call bell for the 20th time in 5 minutes.

ALWAYS remember that it is just a job...

ALWAYS remember to take a minute to catch your breath if you are really flustered or behind...take 30 seconds, close your eyes, take slow even breaths, formulate a plan and go with it.

ALWAYS prioritize. Don't be afraid to delegate if you have to.

There are just so many!!! ALWAYS try to have fun.