Confession

Students General Students

Published

I'm a jerk and I solemnly promise to try not to be a jerk in the future.

Today during clinicals I thought I'd take some initiative by removing a cleaned and dried newborn from the radiant warmer, dressing it, wrapping it and giving it to mom (with my instructor present). Well, the RN I was working with was a little irritated since she'd wanted to come in and take another set of vitals first. But she blamed it on my instructor who is known for being wonderful but a little dotty. Instead of saying, "Actually, it was my idea and I should have asked first and I'm sorry I didn't. She probably just assumed I'd cleared it with you," I just smiled and shrugged.

Folks, don't let anyone take the blame for something you did, no matter how minor/small. It's not worth the guilt!

moongirl

699 Posts

Specializes in OB.

Vitals can be taken on a dressed baby, i have never seen a naked newborn vitals requirement.....

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Wow, good thing us adults don't have to get naked for vital assessment! Not a major deal, but a good lesson over something minor. Don't let it happen with a major issue, but let it go...you still have to go through the rest of the semester.

Clarise

88 Posts

Specializes in med surg, school nursing.
Vitals can be taken on a dressed baby, i have never seen a naked newborn vitals requirement.....

Take vitals before giving a newborn a bath to establish a baseline. Give the baby the bath. Take another set of vitals BEFORE dressing the baby to ensure s/he has recovered to a normal temperature. Don't dress baby till baby is warm again. Babies get warmer with their skin exposed under the warming lights or skin to skin contact with mom/dad's chest.

ldh, BSN, RN

70 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Rehab, NICU, Peds.
But she blamed it on my instructor who is known for being wonderful but a little dotty.

Sorry, what does "dotty" mean? Sounds like a cute expression, like "dodgy" (British?).

Specializes in ICU/PCU/Infusion.
Sorry, what does "dotty" mean? Sounds like a cute expression, like "dodgy" (British?).

yes, sort of like absent-minded but loveable...flighty is another one.

CHATSDALE

4,177 Posts

as in 'DOTTY DALE' ?

Just Jojo

22 Posts

"firstyearstudent," I loved your post!

Nursing school is a place to learn so much more than just nursing, isn't it?

You most obviously learned "the lesson," so close that door right now and keep moving forward....

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