To llg

[gerinurse10]

Now I am curious. You have a PhD but choose to work in the hospital. Any reasons that you would like to share? How was teaching? Was it worth going for your PhD? Was this even the reason for pursuing PhD? I know, alot of questions, I'm just wondering. Thanks.:)

[Passin' Gas]

For me, I really miss the bedside when I am away from it too long and I also want to keep current as an educator and RN. Things change so fast and I don't like feeling lost or unprepared when I am in clinical, so I find it necessary to stay active in practice. I have realized that I want to return to ICU because the current reality of Med-Surg is unmanageable. Having six patients and responsibility for your LPN's six patients is manageable....but, having eight of your own with a lot of movement including transfers, discharges and admissions just does not allow me to provide the care I want to deliver. I won't allow my patients not to be repositioned, have their teeth brushed or oral care provided...we have CNA's, but being new and not a Charge Nurse, I find it easier to do most of it myself and I do...plus, I like connecting to patients and the outcome better when I do it as well. When someone has been in a hospital for five days and has no toothbrush, one knows that such basic care is not being provided. When patients respond to the basic care that I do deliver, I find it sad that others don't think it is important. I had some of my preceptors tell me that there is no way I could do all of that direct care and get done on time...I would have to agree with them as I have had to work over the past two eves. But, it isn't like it was in 1982, when we stayed over for two hours charting every nite....and we were dumb enough to do so off of the clock too.

Barbara

I have often wondered what happened to this VERY BASIC nursing care when I've opened patients' mouths to intubate and had to literally use Magill forceps to remove unidentifiable particles before I could find the cords! I've even given oral care (dilute H2O2 and a lap sponge did wonders) during surgery. I worked as a nurse technician (essentially a nurses' aide but in a BSN program) in school. I, too, remember those nights staying over to chart. Worked 16h shifts Sat & Sun. I remember trying to not laugh aloud when we were told in class that 'every patient's chart should have an initial assessment documented within 30 min.' Yeah, right. I was opening charts at 2230 and had been there since 0630!! I like to believe the 22 year old with breast cancer appreciated having her legs shaved while we gabbed about 'stuff'. Hard to do that from behind the nurse's station, or now, from behind a computer. Anyway, we're from the same era (early 80's).

Back to the orginal subject: A heartfelt thanks to all of you teaching the upcoming generation of nurses. Most people have no clue how much time and effort goes into teaching didactics and clinical. The students make it worthwhile.

PG