Biting Your Tongue

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Here's an older thread along the same line with quite a few gems in it if I remember correctly:

https://allnurses.com/nurse-colleague-patient/things-youd-love-267763.html

Things I'd like to be able to tell my patients:

Put the cigarettes down. We just did your heart surgery. Keep smoking and you'll need another, provided you can find a surgeon to do redo heart surgery on an active smoker. (Someone who refused smoking cessation counseling after a CABG x8)

No, of course you don't need to stop smoking. Each time you get a tumor, we'll just cut it out. Of course, at some point you won't have enough lung left to live or it'll spread to other areas. (Another smoking cessation counseling refusal who openly stated he was going to keep smoking, s/p lobectomy)

Yep, I work with cardiothoracic patients. Yes, some have been dealt a nasty hand by genetics or workplaces before we knew what we know now (asbestos -> mesothelioma), but not all.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

Coworker called ambulance for their grown daughter who "just tipped over for no reason" (narcotic overdose) and insists that there is something medically wrong as this has happened several times before. But no doctor will tell them anything or do anything about it because the pt tells everyone to lockdown their information!

:pbite tongue, bite tongue... And btw- they are in pain, can they please have something?

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

If you don't agree with the MD's plan of treatment, refuse the meds ordered for you Mom, disagree with how the nurses do things and basically are unhappy with all the care provided, you are free to take Mom home and do it all yourself. There are 15 pts in ER waiting for beds. The door is that-a-way and don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!

I wish.

[Susie2310]

I am trying to say this while causing as little offense as possible. In the last few years I have read a number of posts by a) pre-nursing students b) new/recent grads, who express how disappointed they are to find that a) nurses do not value intellectual inquiry and that b) their research/critical inquiry abilities i.e. referring to various studies, etc., are not valued by the nursing school environment/classmates/instructors, and that they expect they may have to continue on to become an APRN or try very hard to find a niche in nursing where they can use their critical thinking abilities. I would like to ask pre-nursing students, students, and new/recent grads to hold your opinions about how much intellectualism and critical thinking is utilized in the profession until you have participated in it. Participating means practicing as a nurse. Nursing school takes you to the beginning of nursing practice; the beginning of the journey. Did you learn about the Nursing Process in nursing school? You will be using the Nursing Process, the nurse's critical thinking process, for the rest of your career. Practicing as a nurse will give you more opportunities to use critical thinking and research than you will ever dream of.

I realize today that some students do not get as many clinical opportunities as students did in the past, but it seems to me that I am hearing people speaking who have graduated from nursing school and seem to have no student clinical experience at all, who appear to be speaking from a completely idealistic point of view. Of course nursing practice is evidence based practice - this isn't new, as the experienced nurses on this site will tell you. You will find research incorporated in nursing policies and procedures and in the standards of practice. Please, hold off on your comments about how nursing falls/may fall short as an intellectual field when you haven't even begun your practice. There are so many different specialties in nursing, opportunities for specialty certification, and nursing and medicine are constantly changing. Just trying to keep up with the changes is a huge undertaking in itself. It boggles my mind when I hear people who are new to the field say they feel they fear their intellectual abilities will not be sufficiently challenged in nursing. If that is the case, it is one's own fault, not the fault of the profession.

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

It boggles my mind when I hear people who are new to the field say they feel they fear their intellectual abilities will not be sufficiently challenged in nursing. If that is the case, it is one's own fault, not the fault of the profession.

Yes, you're right. It totally reflects a disconnect with reality from how it is to really do nursing -- not just learn it. If they're so in fear of losing their intellectual muscle, they are more than welcome to use their abilities to find some way to reach greater levels with their practice. Whether it's being more efficient in what they do or doing independent research or pursuing additional schooling, there are ample opportunities. I wonder if this is a lack of having real world job experience -- I see it in my current line of work, too. People are "bored" and wasting themselves while there are plenty of things around them that are calling out for them to apply their critical thinking skills. I think it might be due to a severe lack of innate drive and the "training" so many people have that causes them to need to have their hands held and be told directly to do something instead of taking initiative. Hmmm....

[Nola009]

Confused, combative resident was yelling loudly to the point other residents were getting out of their rooms and telling said resident to SETTLE DOWN. Attempted calm theraputic communication and redirection several ways/times. Plan of care stated to call daughter when said resident becomes agitated. Daughter called and stated she would be there 'in about an hour'. Behaviors persisted, im ativan given per dr order. When the daughter FINALLY mosied in (long after the storm had cleared, of course) she DEMANDED to know all medications that were given during the prior med pass. I named them all off. Colace was one of em. So, she says: Well, THAT'S why my (family member) was agitated!!!! YOU GAVE THEM A SUPPOSITORY!! {"No, ma'am. Colace isn't a suppository"---wanted to add 'how much blame are we gonna get for your family member's dementia? We, the nurses and the doctor try our best to #1 take good care of your parent and #2 cater to your every whim!'} That's the best I have. Just starting out in LTC.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I am trying to say this while causing as little offense as possible. In the last few years I have read a number of posts by a) pre-nursing students b) new/recent grads, who express how disappointed they are to find that a) nurses do not value intellectual inquiry and that b) their research/critical inquiry abilities i.e. referring to various studies, etc., are not valued by the nursing school environment/classmates/instructors, and that they expect they may have to continue on to become an APRN or try very hard to find a niche in nursing where they can use their critical thinking abilities. I would like to ask pre-nursing students, students, and new/recent grads to hold your opinions about how much intellectualism and critical thinking is utilized in the profession until you have participated in it. Participating means practicing as a nurse. Nursing school takes you to the beginning of nursing practice; the beginning of the journey. Did you learn about the Nursing Process in nursing school? You will be using the Nursing Process, the nurse's critical thinking process, for the rest of your career. Practicing as a nurse will give you more opportunities to use critical thinking and research than you will ever dream of.

I realize today that some students do not get as many clinical opportunities as students did in the past, but it seems to me that I am hearing people speaking who have graduated from nursing school and seem to have no student clinical experience at all, who appear to be speaking from a completely idealistic point of view. Of course nursing practice is evidence based practice - this isn't new, as the experienced nurses on this site will tell you. You will find research incorporated in nursing policies and procedures and in the standards of practice. Please, hold off on your comments about how nursing falls/may fall short as an intellectual field when you haven't even begun your practice. There are so many different specialties in nursing, opportunities for specialty certification, and nursing and medicine are constantly changing. Just trying to keep up with the changes is a huge undertaking in itself. It boggles my mind when I hear people who are new to the field say they feel they fear their intellectual abilities will not be sufficiently challenged in nursing. If that is the case, it is one's own fault, not the fault of the profession.

Did you mean this for another thread?

[Susie2310]

Did you mean this for another thread?

Esme, I interpreted the title of the thread "Biting Your Tongue" to mean things one bites one's tongue about.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

"Come on, play the man!" Yeah that wouldn't go over well.

[Barnstormin' PMHNP]

"Things I’d like to say to patients (or their families) and get away with:"

Stop Talking! When you ask me a question please listen to my answer instead of continuing to talk louder and over me.

It drives me nuts when people are demanding info or whatnot but can't be bothered to stop to listen to the answer.

[ktwlpn, LPN]

To the late middle aged child ,of a 96 year who is passing peacefully away after a long, slow decline and LOTS of family education and support who states "you don't understand, this is the hardest thing that's ever happened to me" after months of outlandish demands and ridiculous behavior....Really? then your life has been pretty cushy...