jadelpn's Nursing Blog

Customer Service Model

By jadelpn - I beg to differ. When nurses are forced to focus a large amount of time in their day to customer service "Thank you for letting me take care of you" models, can it dumb down nursing practice? Further, are we dumbing down our patients? Think of it this way. If a model on your unit for continuity of care is that the same nurse have the same patient whenever possible, 2/3 of the "script" that a number of units are using as their customer service tool are well known to the patient in your... Read More →

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So, when are you going to get your RN?

By jadelpn - I am a happy LPN. I got my LPN late in life, because circumstances were all in place for me to do so. I was interested in increasing my clinical skill set. It was a perfect plan. When I was younger, I graduated from High School with a goal in life of popping out babies and baking bread with a husband that would work. (To all you younger readers, this was a viable option in my day). I successfully raised kids, and when school time came, I was interested in something more. I was not an... Read More →

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Life and Death

By jadelpn - Suicide can be described as a permenant solution to a temporary problem. The most frustrating thing when taking care of a patient who is suicidal is safety, and if there is a plan, what is it? Patient's who are actively seeking to die have thought about this and planned this act with great care. Suicide by and large can also be described as the most selfish act that someone can complete. By and large, counselors and social work are large components of the plan of care of the suicidal... Read More →

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Mother's Day

By jadelpn - When you become a nurse, you take the knowledge that you have acquired, start on a journey, apply what you learn and hope for the best outcome for a patient. When you become a mother, it is not much different. Only that when it is your child, you are personally invested in the positive outcome. When you are a nurse, you are professionally invested in the best outcome. I wish that motherhood came with evidence based practice! But with mothering, you can put whatever theory to the test... Read More →

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Nursing Judgement does not equate a Nurse's judgement

By jadelpn - Nurses are human. We all have our own thoughts on our patients, each other, our units, our systems. Some can be positive, enlightening, and even help us to build a better practice. Others, become character contests that in my opinion have no part in nursing practice. I am not for a moment suggesting that a nurse ever be unethical in the care they provide. Never cross the boundaries of practice that would ever put your license in danger, your life in danger, knowingly or unknowingly do... Read More →

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Mental Illness--Debunking the myths/sharing some insight..

By jadelpn - Mental illness is a most misunderstood illness. The brain is an interesting organ, and reacts differently to/or lack thereof chemicals to make it work properly. Mental illness can be a difficult thing to treat. It can be equally challenging for a nurse to provide care. However, here are some common myths/insights surrounding the mentally ill that will perhaps make a nurse take pause the next time you are given an assignment of someone suffering from mental illness. 1. Schizophrenics... Read More →

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Death is a journey

By jadelpn - It is always a good thought when one decides they would like to die at home. Surrounded by loved ones, in their own beds. But as the time grows near, many decide that they would rather be in a hospital room, surrounded by loved ones, with a nurse who gives the medical care so that the patient and the family can connect, remember, and say all of those things that they ever wanted to say in a focused way. The job of the nurse needs to be non-obtrusive, but consistent. Which is not... Read More →

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Nursing: Art vs Science

By jadelpn - If I were to explain the difference between the art and science of nursing, I would say that it is having a patient trust that you are going to take all of the aspects of their process seriously. That you are compassionate, fulfill their emotional needs and wishes, and explain their plan of care in a way that they are going to understand. It is about being responsive, putting one's self in the background and focus solely on how you are going to put a plan of care into action. That if you... Read More →

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