Workplace Sayings

Nurses General Nursing

Published

  • Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

We have a saying where I work that goes "There's a right way, and then there's the _______ ________ Medical Center's way!".

When a coworker complains of the way something is done, then makes and appropriate suggestion, I reply with, "Stop making sense!"

Rooty Payne, my work brother in arms, has a couple:

"It's only (8 or 12) hours."

"I don't run the train, I only shovel the coal."

Got any?

TriciaJ, RN

4,328 Posts

Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.

Don't ask me. I'm plankton on the food chain.

Davey Do

10,476 Posts

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Patients often mistake me for a doctor.

I tell them, "Listen, I didn't go through two years of nursing school to be called 'doctor', thank you very much!"

Davey Do

10,476 Posts

Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

A saying is defined as a short, pithy expression that generally contains advice or wisdom.

We would meet first thing in the morning as a team when I worked for a community mental health clinic. Sometimes the discussions on how to deal with the clients in the community would get rather... "lively".

One team member would attempt to quiet the discussion by loudly stating, "People! People! This ain't emergency brain surgery!"

klone, MSN, RN

14,786 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Keep ‘em alive until 7:05

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

Can't DNR, or call the code, until electrolytes are normal

There's no reason for it, it's just our policy.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Nobody dies without a dose of steroids.

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Also (stolen from the owner of Bob's Country Bunker in the Best Movie Ever Made - The Blues Brothers) muttered under my breath to countless visitors over the decades:

"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"

Also (stolen from the owner of Bob's Country Bunker in the Best Movie Ever Made - The Blues Brothers) muttered under my breath to countless visitors over the decades:

"You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here!"

One of my favorites.

A couple overheard favorites:

"It puts the BiPAP on the chin, or else it gets the tube again!"

Regarding an AMA patient, muttered by a quippy attending: "And unto Felicia, the Lord sayeth 'Fare thee well!'"

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

One of my favorites in the psych clinic:

"Masticate Nitrogenous waste and go Asystole!"

In the ED:

"Clearly this patient suffers from Hypodilaudism!"

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