WILTW 1/15: A Life Preserver in Order to Swim

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Excuse the lateness of this post!

I in the middle of a new WILTW post that I will share in time next week!

Now, for last week, as busy as the winter gets, to not be in the center of having ICU candidate patients is very refreshing; most of my assignments this past week have been supporting newer staff in managing sick patients; cardiac BRUE patients, sick special needs kids, and babies requiring work ups along with soft skills makes has made me look in perspective on when to let others swim, give a little life raft, or stand beside them and be the boat.

A some of the newbies can get comfortable not having ESI level 1 pts or having the mentality of welcoming ESI level 1 pts; they bent about their apprehension of taking care of complex pts; to be fair, this is a new specialty; they have a little over a year experience or have about two years experience; do I have days that I want a "ESI break"? Sometimes, but usually I practice in a anything can happen moment; the ED is unpredictable and for that I relish in learning right on the edge, when a Pt and family is a dumpster-fire hot mess; I feel that makes me stronger as an ED nurse; I thrive on that experience that helps me stay educated an aware; I'm also cognizant that others aren't receptive to that style. I still have faith, to get through nursing school, one is tough enough to not realize how resiliency is a nurses best trait, and that they have this trait present in their practice, even if they don't realize it.

Which led me down this path this week-I had days where colleagues tested their assessment skills, their nursing judgment and success through tough assignments; they delegated well and I supported them by managing minute part of their nursing care, either by discharging other patients or making sure their other pts where their ESI level was lower or they didn't need that many resources what they needed while maintaining my assignment; The key was for them to understand that they have the knowledge, skills set and ability to successfully get through a level 1 trauma and know their role, then come out of that situation and manage an assignment with aplomb without breaking a sweat, to take care of their pts and focus on their sickest kid and prioritize and not stick to a regiment of assignment maintenance, which sometimes has a place in the ED, but most of the time that is NOT the norm; we have to maintain flexibility that we may have to focus on this one patient and tag in a coworker or allow a coworker to tag in to maintain a flow for our patients.

My reflection is that although they seek me out as a senior staff member :***:, I'm still learning how to allow a nurse to grow into their own and be supportive, and that I can do this successfully, especially now there are going to be new members of the team starting, and I may be in the position where I will be a preceptor.

So, what have you learned this week?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I had a bad gallbladder flare up this past weekend. I spent all Sunday knocked out & in bed. It is so hard to go to doctor's appointments because I live over an hour away so I have to leave a lot earlier than the appointment time. Normally it's no big deal, but since I have gallstones & am in my third trimester getting to the appointments is a struggle.

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Specializes in PACU, pre/postoperative, ortho.

Hmmm, just realized I may have inadvertently "eaten" my first nursing student! (At least according to the standards some have on this board.)

So sorry, nursing student who I don't know & have no idea what your role was with my pt; a different student was caring for the pt in question that day. Yes, her troponin was elevated & I saw by your expression that my lack of concern shocked you. However, did you see what it was before she was discharged earlier this week with a massive MI? To my regret (now, sort of) I didn't take the time to point it out to you (& your instructor at your elbow) at the 7th hr of my shift, but the discharge planner happened to overhear & took you aside to show you how to navigate the computer to see the full picture.

Ah, I can just hear how she told her fellow classmates what a witch I was. I actually don't recall even saying anything other than just "hmming" in agreement that, "yep, it was high".

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Hmmm, just realized I may have inadvertently "eaten" my first nursing student! (At least according to the standards some have on this board.)

So sorry, nursing student who I don't know & have no idea what your role was with my pt; a different student was caring for the pt in question that day. Yes, her troponin was elevated & I saw by your expression that my lack of concern shocked you. However, did you see what it was before she was discharged earlier this week with a massive MI? To my regret (now, sort of) I didn't take the time to point it out to you (& your instructor at your elbow) at the 7th hr of my shift, but the discharge planner happened to overhear & took you aside to show you how to navigate the computer to see the full picture.

Ah, I can just hear how she told her fellow classmates what a witch I was. I actually don't recall even saying anything other than just "hmming" in agreement that, "yep, it was high".

I'm sorry. You just get so caught up with work that it's difficult to hold someone's hand the entire way.

If you're lucky maybe that student will create a post on here about what a big, bad nurse you were. :laugh:

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I'm sorry. You just get so caught up with work that it's difficult to hold someone's hand the entire way.

If you're lucky maybe that student will create a post on here about what a big, bad nurse you were. :laugh:

I'll keep an eye out for that post in about two years.

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That I really have a passion for a certain specialty, but the policies at our local hospital either means I'll be forced to do certain things I don't think are in the best interest of my patients, I'll have to choose a different specialty (not saying I

would have gotten my choice anyway), or work at another facility much farther away.

I'm in my last semester of my LPN to ADN transition program, and am learning new things daily. It's a bit scary to think how little I knew before.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I've been in a lot of pain due to my gallstones. Painful nausea, cramping near my stomach & ribs & just a lot of pain. Since I'm in all this pain I'm having difficulty sleeping. I'm exhausted & would rather deliver my son without an epidural than go through all this pain day after day.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

New post this week!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/wiltw-1-22-1086510.html#post9317438

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