Simple things new nurses or experiece nurses are not doing?

I'm interested in mentoring new nurses as well! Let me know.

When I locate my new position I will check back and see if anybody is available to mentor. Thank you all for the valuable information. Lots of it went into my notes!

Elp

And when they do that with a PICC or central line. don't they realize that air can get into their line and cause A LOT of problems!!!!!!!!

Several things to address...

1. Some of you have mentioned that when you have a patient who has a fever or who is constipated you automatically give certain meds. On our Med-Surg unit we can not administer meds unless a doctor orders them. That means that if a patient develops a fever at 2AM you must call and wake up the doctor to get meds ordered.

2. I&Os. Our nurse aides document patient oral intake and output and do a very good job at it. We have I&O sheets that hang in each room and when a patient drinks something or eats something it is documented on this sheet. Also, when a patient has output it is documented. If they are incontinent it may be documented as X1 and if they are not incontinent it is documented in volume either through a foley cath or using a hat/urinal. We have cheat sheets on each board in the patient rooms, right next to where the I&O sheets hang. It has the measurements for popular things that the patient might consume. Like a small cup of coffee is _____ cc or a popsicle is ____ cc. This also helps that we can quickly look to see what a patient has consumed or there output without having to go to the computer.

3. If you notice than a new nurse, or even a nurse aide has messed up or forgotten something, tell them in a calm manner. Jumping onto someone, especially in front of patients or patient families can be very embarrassing to your coworker.

4. Amen to the person who suggested that RNs put a patient on the bedpan, take them water, etc. without hunting down the aide. I get so upset when I see coworkers who will spend more time hunting down the aide to tell them that the patient needs the bedpan or needs a cup of ice rather than doing it themselves. Yes I understand that we are all busy but for the most part you could have done that simple task in the time it took you to find the aide. Just because you are an RN or an LPN doesn't mean you are too good to clean poo!

5. Please answer the call light. I don't think it should just be the aide's job or the unit secretary/ward clerk's job to answer call lights. Our unit has a policy that if you are within 3 feet of the call light when it rings, answer it. I've seen so many nurses who will stand right outside a patients room or right next to the call light at the desk and never check to see what that patient needs. It's everyone's job to answer call lights!

The last night I worked, I walked into a room, and my patient with a trach had no suction catheters or Yankaur at the bedside. Her tube feeding was empty (and alarming).

Is it that difficult to ensure that frequently used supplies are replenished (such as dressing supplies), and that tube feeds (and IV fluids and continuous bladder irrigation bags) aren't empty or nearly dry for the next shift? I hate coming on to empty fluid bags.

And you know, some nurses will say "I used the last drain sponge and now we're out on the floor" and leave it at that. Okay, that is why the good Lord created the storeroom and its wondrous order form.

Naomi Grace RN

BOWEL CARE!!!! I can't tell you how many times I will come on and have a post op patient for the first time and they will not have had a BM for 3-5 days!!! Please people, address this early with oral interventions. Even if the patient says, but I haven't eaten anything in ____ days. It is much easier on the nurse and patient then suppositories, enemas, and even worse manual disimpaction! AAARRGGHHH!!!

i would love to help mentor. anyone who is reading that has anything to do with this, PM me..

-H-RN

Just wanted to say that this is an awesome thread! I'm about to start my new grad position in Medicine and want to develop a good routine/method to start me off right. Its commentary such as what I have been reading here that really helps out us newbies get our heads on straight. I think the best advise that I could give (because i have been lucky enough to work as an undergraduate nurse with two F/T preceptorships) is to make use of all the time you have in a patients room. Think ahead, survey the enviroment and patient for priority care, and if you need help ask for it! Then chart when you have a breath and then make your rounds again. Keep a good flow and eventually you'll cycle through all of your assessments, charting and priority care.