Simple things new nurses or experiece nurses are not doing?

Interesting to read the things that you are saying nurses aren't doing. It's been eight years since I've worked but I hope to be back on the floor within a few months. At my last job, I worked on a pretty busy surgical unit. The nurses there pretty much all considered themselves to be "old school" and paid very close attention to detail, and I have to say, trained me pretty well. Our nurses were all about "taking the extra step", and went so far to make sure that their patients got a wet wash cloth to freshen up before dinner and were set up to brush their teeth before bed. Needless to say, I and Os were accurate for the most part, and IV pumps were cleared, or you heard about it.

Transferring patients with urine collection bag on the BED!!! Even worse, leaving it sitting there. I have seen CNA's, EMT's, and Nurses do this. It seems so basic to know better, yet it happens all the time.

how do you guys address constipation?
given the amt of narcs most of these pts are on, do you give anything to prevent it?
or ask pt if they have gone?

leslie

As a new nurse still precepting, I thought I had done the right thing in prioritizing my pts. Pt #1- having worsening CHF was having SOB needed Lasix but no order yet. Night nurse did not call MD. ( I did not say anything )Pt #2 - stable, Pt.#3 - pain issues, new for this pt. , Pt #4 - combative, yelling, ( has Down's syndrome ), going to surgery but nothing done ( came in day before ), pt#5 - has a blood sugar of 58 ( gave OJ and a breakfast tray ) recheck after 15 minutes blood sugar is 210 ????? ( pt has no hx in chart of high or low blood sugars ) So I put chart in staff support room to call MD , then my CNA comes to notify me that Pt# 1 has a respiratory rate of 35 and is c/o hard to breath ( I focused on that pt. and forgot about the blood sugar on pt #5 )By now it is 1030am. I get report on a pt#6 who " just had a lap-appy "- PACU says her behavior is a little off, well pt. comes up and is obtunded, responds only to a very firm sternal rub. I was one on one with this patient for almost 3 hours. I get out of that room and family wants to talk about Pt. # 1 change of condition. By now, it is almost dinner time so I have CNA recheck the blood sugar because trays are up and I might need to call the MD. ( I mistakenly heard the CNA say it was 108 ) She got called away and did not chart it right away. When I looked at the chart at end of shift, I saw blood sugar was 180. Darn!!!! So I am responsible but I wish that when nurses follow a new RN, that instead of yelling and making us feel 1 inch tall , that more experienced nurses would use constructive criticism instead.
I am new, not perfect. I will make mistakes and own up to them, but I don't think yelling or making someone feel like crap is the way to go.
Sorry for the long-windedness. Yes, shame on me for not calling, but I was taught that airway, breathing, and circulation was a priority. And that is what I did. Yet, my preceptor did nothing to back me up. No, I am not usually sensitive. I am only writing or as a reminder that when you come onto a shift and not everything is done, well, there might be a reason, so ask. If a new RN has made an err in judgement, give constructive criticism so we can grow and learn from your experience.

But that is what orientation is for. A time to learn the unit and it's habits. We routinely demonstrate to new hires how to do I/Os, clear an IVAC, mark an NG, read the measure of a chest tube. We stand there and ask the patients about bladder and bowel with the new hires and students right by us. They KNOW we ask these questions and when they come back to work on their own it's totally out of the window for some of them. I've lost track of the times patients have told me "it's only you older nurses that ask about my bowel and bladder"

As a new nurse still precepting, I thought I had done the right thing in prioritizing my pts. Pt #1- having worsening CHF was having SOB needed Lasix but no order yet. Night nurse did not call MD. ( I did not say anything )Pt #2 - stable, Pt.#3 - pain issues, new for this pt. , Pt #4 - combative, yelling, ( has Down's syndrome ), going to surgery but nothing done ( came in day before ), pt#5 - has a blood sugar of 58 ( gave OJ and a breakfast tray ) recheck after 15 minutes blood sugar is 210 ????? ( pt has no hx in chart of high or low blood sugars ) So I put chart in staff support room to call MD , then my CNA comes to notify me that Pt# 1 has a respiratory rate of 35 and is c/o hard to breath ( I focused on that pt. and forgot about the blood sugar on pt #5 )By now it is 1030am. I get report on a pt#6 who " just had a lap-appy "- PACU says her behavior is a little off, well pt. comes up and is obtunded, responds only to a very firm sternal rub. I was one on one with this patient for almost 3 hours. I get out of that room and family wants to talk about Pt. # 1 change of condition. By now, it is almost dinner time so I have CNA recheck the blood sugar because trays are up and I might need to call the MD. ( I mistakenly heard the CNA say it was 108 ) She got called away and did not chart it right away. When I looked at the chart at end of shift, I saw blood sugar was 180. Darn!!!! So I am responsible but I wish that when nurses follow a new RN, that instead of yelling and making us feel 1 inch tall , that more experienced nurses would use constructive criticism instead.
I am new, not perfect. I will make mistakes and own up to them, but I don't think yelling or making someone feel like crap is the way to go.
Sorry for the long-windedness. Yes, shame on me for not calling, but I was taught that airway, breathing, and circulation was a priority. And that is what I did. Yet, my preceptor did nothing to back me up. No, I am not usually sensitive. I am only writing or as a reminder that when you come onto a shift and not everything is done, well, there might be a reason, so ask. If a new RN has made an err in judgement, give constructive criticism so we can grow and learn from your experience.