Difference Between a New Nurse and an Old Nurse

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The new nurse throws up when the patient does.

The experienced nurse calls housekeeping when a patient throws up

The new nurse keeps detailed notes on a pad.

The experienced writes on the back of their hand, paper scraps, napkins, etc.

The new nurse will spend all day trying to reorient a patient.

The experienced nurse will chart the patient is disoriented and restrain them.

The new nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds.

The experienced nurse doesn't want to know about them unless the patient is symptomatic.

The new nurse thinks people respect Nurses.

The experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse.

The new nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they can change it.

The experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anyone.

The new nurse works for a chance to work with the family

The experienced nurse tries to avoid the family

The new nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient.

The experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter.

What differences can you come up with ????????!

Specializes in PACU, OR.

Yes, it's ancient isn't it?

Here's a couple more:

New nurses are scared of doctors.

Doctors are scared of old nurses.

New nurses become flustered when post op patients talk dirty to them.

Old nurses know it's only the Propofol talking.

New nurses know everything.

Old nurses get irritated with new nurses who think they know everything.

Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

A new nurse answers every page when the doc is in surgery.

An old nurse tells the doc she is not his secretary.

A new nurse comes apart when the doc yells at her in surgery.

An old nurse yells back, with added color!

A new nurse goes straight to charting during a surgical procedure.

An old nurse knows not to touch the chart till the patient and the team have been taken care of.

A new nurse runs around frantically trying to get what the surgeon needs.

An old nurse knows there isn't much the surgeon can do until she is back in the room with the wanted supplies. Besides, do they ever say "thank you for running really fast to get my needed supplies that I didn't tell you about"?

A new nurse wants to see everything going on in the surgical case.

An old nurse is trying to find her glasses so that she can see anything.

A new nurse is desperately trying to impress co-workers by responding, "I know" to the prompting of the preceptor.

An old nurse shakes her head, steps back and lets the new nurse figure it out...hours later.

A new nurse will spent countless precious minutes trying to find the all-elusive #12 frazier suction.

An old nurse knows that the surgeon has no idea he is using the #10 frazier that is well stocked.

Funny stuff, you guys! Thanks for the chuckles!

The new nurse will give a 20 minute report for each patient.

The experienced nurse will say "All the tests are negative and the patient slept last night."

The new nurse comes in with just perfect hair, makeup and ironed scrubs.

The old nurse comes in with the look, "just be glad I'm here" look.....

The new nurse thinks it is absolutely disgusting to go to lunch after cleaning up an extremely large liquid (c-diff) BM.

The old nurse asks, "Is there any gravy to go with that?"

Specializes in ICU, Telemetry, Neuro, Ortho, Med/Surg.

According to this, I am more an old nurse than a new one. :lol2: Yay! 3 years as a nurse, and I still have moments I feel "new" at times!

Specializes in Geriatrics.

A new nurse wants to save the world

A used nurse wants to save her back (and her sanity)!!

A new nurse is shocked that she has to work holidays

A used nurse wonders what holidays are like with family

A new nurse tries so hard to please family members

A used nurse tries so hard to avoid them

Specializes in Oncolgy, Neuro, Med/Surg.

The new nurse will spend half a shift attempting to re-orient a dementia patient to reality.

The used nurse figures the patient's reality is probably a lot better than her version of it, and at times will even join him ("OK, how many ducks have you shot today? Wow.......looks like good eatin' TONIGHT!!").

So true, so true

Specializes in Oncolgy, Neuro, Med/Surg.
The new nurse comes in with just perfect hair, makeup and ironed scrubs.

The old nurse comes in with the look, "just be glad I'm here" look.....

The new nurse thinks it is absolutely disgusting to go to lunch after cleaning up an extremely large liquid (c-diff) BM.

The old nurse asks, "Is there any gravy to go with that?"

While I'm a new Nurse, years as an Paramedic have made me old in medicine, I love grossing out the young nurses I work with at night by heating up my food in an emesis basin or making tea in a urinal. (we run out of break room supplies a lot)

Specializes in CCU, CVICU, Cath Lab, MICU, Endoscopy..

A new Nurse makes sure her pt looks neat and fresh at the end of the shift...

An old Nurse makes sure the pt doesnt code before her shift is over....

A new Nurse Runs out to get the crash cart during a code and yells at everyone CODE BLUE!!!!!!!.....

An old Nurse walks toward the crash cart saying to the co-workers "oh its mr X again, i guess its time"....with a bored look!

been an stna 8 years almost half way through nursing school but after reading these post i feel i fall into the "old" nurse catagory

Specializes in OR, OB, EM, Flight, ICU, PACU.......

What's all this "used Nurse" stuff? I'm not used, just experienced!

Just my $.02.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

I've only been at it for two years...but seems like I fall more towards the old nurse category, LOL.

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