Murphy's Law of Nursing - Page 4

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  1. Apr 30, '12 by
    When I show up for rounds with the docs, everyone looks at me as though I have three eyes and asks who I am. For the remainder of rounds, I must literally interrupt physicians to bring up nursing concerns about my patients because no one asks me any more questions at all.

    When I don't show up for rounds, the interns or residents make a point of asking where I was during rounds.
    WeepingAngel, Hygiene Queen, and SmoothJams like this.
  2. Apr 30, '12 by
    That new patient who was supposed to be on the unit hours ago will roll in either fifteen minutes into your shift or fifteen minutes before it ends.

    Same goes for that stat MRI or CT scan -- usually ordered for an issue that's been going on for days.

    --

    You've just finished up a two hour burn dressing...and the patient craps himself fifteen minutes later.

    The inverse proportional rule of stability for burn patients goes something like:

    that stable, walky-talky burn pt (per EMS report) will roll up as a 80% full thickness who is already in ARF and DIC
    the transfer with full thickness circumferential burns to the chest who definitely needs escharotomies has a quarter-sized spot on their stomach and is immediately d/c'd the next day
    beckster_01, NO50FRANNY, Aurora77, and 3 others like this.
  3. Apr 30, '12 by
    In pediatrics:

    1. The baby who has been clean and content all day will have explosive diarrhea and begin screaming hysterically 15 seconds before the parents arrive to visit.

    2. When the child on continuous feeds pulls out his NGT, no one will notice for at least an hour.

    3. A baby will poop or throw up as soon as they have been changed and redressed. (This should also be studied. It happens at home too, not just hospitals.)

    4. You ask the resident before you draw labs if he is SURE there are no other labs he wants. When you have just finished drawing the needed blood on a screaming child who is nearly an impossible stick, that resident WILL walk in the room and say they need to add one more test.

    5. The NAS babies will all be inconsolable on the days that you are understaffed and have no aides or volunteers.
    beckster_01, *4!#6, NewbieinCriticalCare, and 3 others like this.
  4. Apr 30, '12 by
    You'll be having a good day... in a good mood... on a roll...everything falling neatly into place... and someone will say "Gee, isn't it QUIET tonight?"
    Ah yes, the QUIET jinx! Never ever ever says its been a quiet shift unless you are home, have your feet up, and a glass of wine in hand!
    teeniebert, beckster_01, Mommy&RN, and 9 others like this.
  5. Apr 30, '12 by
    <<<Ah yes, the QUIET jinx! Never ever ever says its been a quiet shift unless you are home, have your feet up, and a glass of wine in hand! >>>

    OR until you are OUTSIDE the building and talking to the next shift member who is running late!! LOL you, know..." Wow, mary, sure hope you have a quiet night. The day was wonderful!"
    turnforthenurseRN, NewbieinCriticalCare, Fiona59, and 3 others like this.
  6. Apr 30, '12 by
    Quote from blondy2061h
    The day you think you're just barely healthy enough to go to work you'll have the most grueling, physically demanding assignment ever. The syringe full of blood will always hit the floor barrel down. The day you wear white you'll get puked on.
    This was suppose to say plunger down- so the syringe is in effect a blood rocket.
    teeniebert, Aurora77, turnforthenurseRN, and 2 others like this.
  7. Apr 30, '12 by
    I dont like walking to the linen closet or supply room and then get there and totally forget whats needed...that patient that needed, is on the opposite side of the floor too....

    drat!
    zofran and nursefrances like this.
  8. Apr 30, '12 by
    If you say someone (ie, a kid that is trached/vented) had a really good night with no desats, they will inevitably crash or get a plug shortly after you leave.

    ug!

    And I know others have said this...but...
    UNSPEAKABLE evils will befall anyone that says the unit is "the q word"
    SkyeHawk3, nhnursie, wooh, and 3 others like this.
  9. Apr 30, '12 by
    I just started as an aide last week but inevitably 3 of the 5 shifts I've worked I've had a code brown 15 min before I leave! Last one was a pt on Lactulose, with a rectal tube who decided to d/c his rectal tube himself...
    nhnursie, wooh, and DarkBluePhoenix like this.
  10. Guide
    Apr 30, '12 by
    Quote from sapphire18
    Bring 2 needles into the room, you get the stick. Bring 1 and you miss.
    And this is why I ALWAYS bring two.
    turnforthenurseRN, wooh, and KelRN215 like this.