Top 5 Do's Top 5 Dont's

KeepItRealRN, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2014

I do not have much to add but PLEASE PURCHASE MALPRACTICE INSURANCE!
That is #1 in my book of Do's.

^^^^This, a hundred times this^^^^

StudentOfHealing · Jul 19, 2014

^^^^This, a hundred times this^^^^

I'm gonna look for some insurance this weekend. Should I join ANA, would I get discounts? I'm new to this. Suggestions welcomed. I know this could be an entire new thread! Lol.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2014

I'm gonna look for some insurance this weekend. Should I join ANA, would I get discounts? I'm new to this. Suggestions welcomed. I know this could be an entire new thread! Lol.

Mine is through NSO, $100 a year. Not bad at all for the coverage.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jul 19, 2014

Mine is through NSO, $100 a year. Not bad at all for the coverage.

Same here. :yes:

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jul 19, 2014

DO come to work well-rested. There is nothing altruistic about showing up for work on three hours sleep- in fact, it's dangerous and I would hesitate to want you for my nurse.

DO take your breaks- no one can take them for you.

DO recognize the good in others and let them know!

DO have a life outside of work- you are not required to answer the phone every time they call.

DON'T forget to have a little fun at work now and then.

DON'T be afraid to ask a more experienced nurse who is an expert in IVs or whatever to share their knowledge with you.

DON't ever hesitate to call the physician - a wise surgeon once told me "I work for the patient, not the other way around."

DON'T hesitate to spend money on the tools you need to do your job- this includes quality footwear and scrubs.

DON'T be afraid to speak up if you think someone is about to make an error.

sistrmoon, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2014

DO:

1) prep things when you have the time: lab bags, IV bags and tubing, supplies that need to be changed daily, etc.

2) help your coworkers when you have the time but know when you're being taken advantage of("can you hang my TPN and do my trach care and put a new appliance on the colostomy....")

3) ask questions, seek resources, ask for another set of hands

4) take your breaks, eat your food, get your sleep and do fun things on your day off. Burning out is too easy.

5) avoid getting sucked into the inevitable drama of a bunch of overworked people in a highly stressful environment

DON'T:

1) apologize to the md for calling. They are your colleague and partner in keeping the patient safe and working toward stability.

2) rush med admin or be afraid to minimize interruptions to the greatest extent possible.

3) grill and snark on someone while they are reporting to you. Don't ask a million questions that can be answered by looking in the computer or chart yourself. Don't chat and take forever to be ready for report.

4) go to management with every little thing but don't be afraid to voice serious concerns. Often they are completely oblivious.

5) let yourself get so burned out in a job that you, your family, your coworkers and your patients are miserable.

StudentOfHealing · Jul 20, 2014

Thank you thank you! Loveee this.

Goldenhare · Jul 20, 2014

If an experienced nurse tells you that you are doing it wrong, (the top of the Solumedrol stays ON the vial!), and you don't believe it, ASK another experienced nurse before you do it again.

Clementia · Jul 21, 2014

Do's:

-Develop a personal shift schedule that works for you. I used to draw up my own worksheet every shift, where I jotted down all the little details I needed for each patient -- blood sugars, vitals, turns for total care patients, etc.

-Develop a good relationship with your manager and charge nurses. You don't have to be a brown noser, just be pleasant and show you appreciate the advice they can give you.

-Wear really good shoes and don't be afraid to buy the best. Your feet are worth it.

-Protect your back. If a patient has to wait to get up for a few minutes while you go get help, so be it. They won't die, and you may save yourself from permanent injury. Never let someone's impatience make you decide to risk hurting yourself.

-When you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize (without groveling) and make it clear you intend to learn from the situation.

Don'ts:

-Don't "talk over" patients. I've seen health care workers chat to each other while turning or cleaning a patient without acknowledging them in any way -- just rattling on over the patient's head as though he wasn't even there. It always drove me nuts.

-Don't snark about your co-workers. Just stay out of unit politics and resist the temptation to bad-mouth other people.

-Don't lose your cool. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, take a break, even if all you can do is spend a minute or two in the bathroom.

-If you're doing a painful procedure on a patient, don't allow yourself to get too emotionally involved. No one wants to cause patients pain, but if you focus on quick and efficient technique instead of empathy, the job will be done more smoothly and the patient will suffer less in the long run.

-Don't be afraid to ask for a difficult patient to be assigned to someone else. I don't mean that you shouldn't take your turn caring for the real pains in the neck, but if a particular patient got on your last nerve, it's OK to ask that someone else take him for the next shift.

Good luck!