The Unwritten Rules of Nursing

Nurses General Nursing

Published

From my own observations I have seen a number of unwritten rules when it comes to nursing practice. Policies and procedures are fine but often times these unwritten rules are more powerful. Here are some I have noticed:

1. Your nose will not itch once all day...until you enter the room of someone on contact precautions.

2. Run around like crazy and you will be labeled unorganized and harried. Move around looking calm, cool and collected and you're labeled lazy and become a target for more work.

3. Never say "oops" in front of a patient. Instead, replace it with the word "there." Same effect for you...and less fear for the patient.

4. The moment you think it's safe to drop ass in your comatose patient's room is the moment their family decides to show up for their first visit in a month.

And my favorite personal observation:

5. Never underestimate the healing powers of being over-bedded.

Feel free to add some of your own unwritten rules of nursing...

Specializes in Mixed Level-1 ICU.

"The nurse who calls in on holidays and weekends is always the same nurse and they always get away with it.

You call in sick once in 6 months and you're made to feel like you've committed a cardinal sin."

I know it's out of context but let me re-phrase from a different point of view:

The nurse who calls in on holidays and weekends is enabled by management who allows them to get away with it and nurses who are afraid to confront her.

You call in sick once in 6 months and you allow yourself to feel like you've committed a cardinal sin.

Merry Christmas

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.
"The nurse who calls in on holidays and weekends is always the same nurse and they always get away with it.

You call in sick once in 6 months and you're made to feel like you've committed a cardinal sin."

I know it's out of context but let me re-phrase from a different point of view:

The nurse who calls in on holidays and weekends is enabled by management who allows them to get away with it and nurses who are afraid to confront her.

You call in sick once in 6 months and you allow yourself to feel like you've committed a cardinal sin. Merry Christmas

Good Point...

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Specializes in Medical-Oncology.
From my own observations I have seen a number of unwritten rules when it comes to nursing practice. Policies and procedures are fine but often times these unwritten rules are more powerful. Here are some I have noticed:

1. Your nose will not itch once all day...until you enter the room of someone on contact precautions.

2. Run around like crazy and you will be labeled unorganized and harried. Move around looking calm, cool and collected and you're labeled lazy and become a target for more work.

3. Never say "oops" in front of a patient. Instead, replace it with the word "there." Same effect for you...and less fear for the patient.

4. The moment you think it's safe to drop ass in your comatose patient's room is the moment their family decides to show up for their first visit in a month.

And my favorite personal observation:

5. Never underestimate the healing powers of being over-bedded.

Feel free to add some of your own unwritten rules of nursing...

Couple of questions:

What does "drop ass" mean?

What does "over-bedded" mean?

Thanks.

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Specializes in OBSTERTICS-POSTPARTUM,L/D AND HIGH-RISK.

Never say it's quiet around here or you seem to have a low census. That will cause all of h**l to break open.:nono:

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Never say: I haven't seen (fill in name of PITA frequent patient) lately, for he will appear within the day!

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Never say it's quiet around here or you seem to have a low census. That will cause all of h**l to break open.:nono:

Amen and Amen - let us pray! :lol2:

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Couple of questions:

What does "drop ass" mean?

What does "over-bedded" mean?

Thanks.

i am assuming drop ass means to fart

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/CVICU/ED/HS.
i am assuming drop ass means to fart

"Drop ass" means to sit down...Something we have little time for

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"Drop ass"? Doona? Registrar? Somebody please translate.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.

I believe registrar, in Australia or Britain, is what we here in the US call an intern or resident.

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Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Never say it's quiet around here or you seem to have a low census. That will cause all of h**l to break open.:nono:

Same goes for "slow" as in "it's been a slow day today."

In fact, if you say any of those things you might get smacked up side the head by those of us who have seen this happen!:trout:

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Specializes in Gyn Onc, OB, L&D, HH/Hospice/Palliative.

When a pt says " I'm going to die " believe them

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