old skills that we do not use anymore

Nurses General Nursing

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hello,

I was wondering if you guys were doing anything different now than we did before? Like before when we would suction trach patients we would squirt NS down the trach but now after clinical study they say we don't have to that anymore because it does't work. So have you guys had any changes?

This is so strange to me. We've known for a long time that stool had germs, right? If not hepatitis or worse, we at least knew about E. coli and other pleasant things. Seems like gloves would have been smart even then.

Did hospitals not routinely stock gloves before the AIDS/ hepatitis thing?

In answer to your question- No our hospital did not routinely store gloves until maybe 1985-87, something in there. We were barehanded for everything, and I mean everything, except sterile procedures. You can imagine the things we touched...I don't like to think about it! :eek: :eek:

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Didnt realize I was a nurse for so long! How about 8-12 pt in an open ward? How to take forcepts out of the sterlizing fluid, and what was that purple stuff, pottassium something, I think it had something to do with foleys,can't remember. Never had to worry about the smokers taking a lot of breaks, we would just roll on down the hall with an ashtray and lit cigarette on our med cart! I actually said guerney last week, only the "older" staff new what I wanted. Used to work nights on med surg, made a lot of afghans. we did have fun though!

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This is so much fun to look back.

All of these aren't skills, but part of the past nontheless:

1. Taking the dirty bedpan down the hall to the steamer in the dirty room

2. Smoking and nonsmoking rooms, as well as report rooms

3. Taking turns making rounds with the docs, who sawy everyone from their group for the day. We were responsible for making sure they knew the progress and problems, and write down ALL the orders for the day...and heaven help you if you forgot something.

4. 4 bed wards...yuk!!! That was enough to make any nurse crazy! :nono:

5. Remember the three color charting some of the others mentioned as well as narrative charting, I do miss that sometimes.

6. IM injections, on an ortho floor we gave a ton of them

7. Total joint pats who stayed 10 days to 2 weeks. Getting out in 10 was very , very good. 4 of those days for hips were spent in bed in suspension traction

8. Maalox with mercurachrome and pts held over to the siderail with tape and a heat lamp on their bottom

9. Mouth to Mouth CPR

10. Counting narcotics at the end of the shift and staying over to find the "missing" syringe or pill only to find in the end that it was yourself who forgot to sign one out!

I am sure there are many more, but I will have to think on it! :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Med-Surg, ICU, OB.

The very simple backriub is something that is simply not done on the floor anymore. There was a day when we used rubbing alcohol for this. Where I work, we are implementing a quick back rub to each patient before bed. Nothing elaborate, just a few seconds to pink up the skin and promote circulation. It is also an awesome assessment tool for bed patineints, to ensure that decubs are not forming. :)

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ohhh, I remember taping a patient to the rail. Did that just a year ago, permission from an old Doctor. Paper tape. Very effective. A little fresh air never hurt anyone!!!

Hated charting in green.

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Just remembered another..how about piggybacking using needles taped into the port?

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Specializes in Women's health & post-partum.

BOILING stainless steel equipment (bedpans, washbasins, even lady partsl speculums). I was a student at the time.

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Hello,

I have been a nurse a short 14 years and I have actually given patients milk and molassas enemas. Talk about a sticky mess!!! I do not even recall the rationale the physician gave but I'm sure glad those days are over.

Becky Mathews, CWOCN

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I've been an RN for 2 yrs, and I have given Milk and Molasses enemas (just 2). One of our MD's really like them.

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Wait, That sounds wrong. ONe of our MD's like to order them for his constipated pts after all else has failed.

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This is so strange to me. We've known for a long time that stool had germs, right? If not hepatitis or worse, we at least knew about E. coli and other pleasant things. Seems like gloves would have been smart even then.

Did hospitals not routinely stock gloves before the AIDS/ hepatitis thing?

QUOTE]

Nope. Only for sterile procedures.

Gloves were expensive and not seen as necessary then.

I remember mixing chemo without using gloves either...we were told we didn't 'need' to wear gloves. Now we know what these chemo drugs can do and I would never dream of it.

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This is so strange to me. We've known for a long time that stool had germs, right? If not hepatitis or worse, we at least knew about E. coli and other pleasant things. Seems like gloves would have been smart even then.

Did hospitals not routinely stock gloves before the AIDS/ hepatitis thing?

QUOTE]

Nope. Only for sterile procedures.

Gloves were expensive and not seen as necessary then.

I remember mixing chemo without using gloves either...we were told we didn't 'need' to wear gloves. Now we know what these chemo drugs can do and I would never dream of it.

beware of 'expert advice' from someone who can profit from your need to know

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