Nursing Articles

from yardgnome - When you graduate from nursing school, you are ready to take on the world with your new knowledge and skills, right? That is partially correct; however, when you enter the "real world" of nursing, that's when learning really begins. And the fascinating thing about nursing is you never stop learning. No matter which discipline you chose to be a...

from Elvish - Recently I took care of a new mom postpartum after her second baby who took methadone for heroin addiction. She and her family taught me so much. I wrote her this letter; I'll never send it to her, but I did want to share in hopes that someone else may get something from it. Dear K, I will not lie. When the powers that be told me you, a...

from gemini_star - At 1 o’clock in the morning, I found her wide awake reading a 9-lb Medical Surgical Nursing Book on her study table. An orange highlighter was held firmly by her right hand, highlighting the important words as she goes along. She religiously reads it page by page without minding the late hours. The next day, she was in front of the computer typing...

from End Game RN - The Path of smoke and ashes It was the end of Nurses' week 2007; I had just parked in the North garage and was heading toward the hospital. I walked down the short set of stairs leading to the cobblestone path in front of me. I looked towards the West, drawn by the unusual orange glow streaking across the late afternoon sky; following the...

from End Game RN - Beginnings and Endings Through the glazed windows of my soul I watch as the scene played out before my eyes. I stood quietly observing the final hours of my patient and her family. Throughout my career I have supported and counseled families facing the prospect of losing someone they love or whose family member is facing pemanent disability and...

from Bugaloo - Over the years, I have probably cared for thousands of patients. Most of them I don't remember, but there are a few who have stood out in my mind, for one reason or another. When I was in nursing school, I was doing my rotation in OB/L&D. I was still single with no children of my own, so to me, the Miracle of Birth was awe inspiring. My first...

from psalm - In my five years as a registered nurse I have met many interesting patients. Some occupy my memory because of their convoluted medical histories and diagnoses; some because of their positive demeaners through a difficult time; and others because of their past lives. During my time working in long term care, one of my lady patients who was...

from mother/babyRN - Pickels and elbows…. “Get the hell out of my room!” That, more often than not, was the greeting I received from my ornery elderly patient David. He was so angry that I could literally feel the hatred seething from him. Unfortunately for me, David was my patient and I was the newest nurse on the unit. That meant I was usually assigned to him,...

from Tait - Icebreakers. “Please tell us your name, hometown, reason for joining the nursing program and clinical experience. Maria, let's start with you.” “Maria Sanchez, Milwaukee, WI, I joined because my mother was a nurse and I respect her so much for the job she does, and I am currently a CNA at UW Hospital on the transplant unit.” “Very nice,...

from mother/babyRN - Caravanning single file over a roughly hewn stone breakwater, mom, dad and I embark on a journey in my dreams. Unaffected by the waves slapping against the sides in a timeless hypnotic rhythm, we continue onward on some mysterious journey my mind has chosen to make me aware we must absolutely take. I am warm. I am content. I am happy....

from mother/babyRN - Many years ago, when a student, I encountered an elderly gentleman with a CVA. He inspired me to write, in my own way, the depth of compassion and empathy, felt and practiced by nurses everywhere... One can forever discuss the unmistakable magnificance of mountains or sunsets, or millions of other unforgettable miraculous occurrences...So many...

from mother/babyRN - Barely six weeks following the birth of our first child, my husband had a heart attack. It was completely unexpected and occurred just before he was due to go out to sea. It was a scary time and I wrote this not long afterwards. All the tips you ever receive on the hows and whys patients and families react in the face of trauma can in NO way...

from andre - One of my assigned patients is dying of metastatic liver cancer. I was told in report, "he's full of mets". The day before I took care of him, Hospice was consulted. He had a significant amount of pain, but if we kept up with his Oxy (he also has a Duragesic patch) he was comfortable. So my usual morning routine goes like this: print my report...