While we're on nevers, please don't say to people "God only gives us what we can handle" or some variation of this. There are plenty of people who DON'T handle what they're given. They become alcoholics, drug addicts, commit suicide, abuse or neglect their children or elders, etc. Those people who ARE handling things, however tenuously, deserve some credit for their strength. Tell them what a good job they are doing, and let them know you are there to help. Good nurses can make ALL the difference.
Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.
ALWAYS have confidence in what you know- and NEVER be afraid to ask for help with what you don't.
ALWAYS take the chance a do/observe something that you haven't done before.
NEVER let your fear of the unknown get in the way of a learning experience...it's okay to be afraid/uncomfortable in a situation...but don't let it paralyze you-- eg: code situation or new (scary) procedure...breathe, keep a calm head, think about what your job is and what is going on with the patient, anticipate what might come next so you can be ready for it, always ask for help or let someone know what your plan is in case you need help-- sometimes you just have to jump in and take the plunge!
ALWAYS take the time to teach something that you know to another person-it will help you learn and remember it.
ALWAYS practice good time management...as others have said you never know when the s**t might hit the fan (hopefully not literally)...
ALWAYS find a routine that works for you...it's ok to observe a couple of different people and borrow their way of doing things until you find a method of your own.
ALWAYS follow the hospital policy. If you don't like it or can't find one--make a new one!
ALWAYS use up-to-date practice guidlines...
ALWAYS do your job to the best of your ability.
ALWAYS be supportive/helpful to your coworkers and other ancillary staff. You never know when you might need their help.
ALWAYS take time for you and do something that you enjoy.
ALWAYS wear a smile--even if you have steam coming out of your ears or are really annoyed from answering that call bell for the 20th time in 5 minutes.
ALWAYS remember that it is just a job...
ALWAYS remember to take a minute to catch your breath if you are really flustered or behind...take 30 seconds, close your eyes, take slow even breaths, formulate a plan and go with it.
ALWAYS prioritize. Don't be afraid to delegate if you have to.
ALWAYS make sure your Chest Tube connections are taped securely.
I agree with this advice; it is my usual practice and how I was taught. But more than one surgeon I have worked with has requested otherwise. Their rationale is better for the tubes to become separated for a moment than to have the thing accidentally pulled out because there was no "give" due to taped connections.
Along the same lines (although this makes more sense to me) is never tape the gas line to the balloon catheter when using IABPs.
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
* un-spike the old ivf's with 100 mls left in the bag while it's still hanging
this goes double for bags of tube feeds!!! its much easier to clean up ns or even d5w :)
i once had a patient who was on tube feeds that i had just given a great bed bath to (along with my orientee -- just goes to show you that it's not just new nurses that do dumb things.....)
for some inexplicable reason, the tube feed bag was hanging off an over-the-bed hook, not off the pole that the feeding pump was on.
well, it was time to change the bag, and being short, i was trying to get the bag of feeding off of the hook and i couldn't reach. so i grabbed onto the tubing, and tried to "flip" that bag off the hook......and only managed to pull the spike out of the bag.....with the entire contents emptying on my patient's head/chest.....time for another bath/linen change!
AWWWW...VERY GOOD ONE MATTSMOM....MAY I ADD NEVER EVER TELL RUMORS OR GOSSIP AT WORK...THIS WAY YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS, LIKE WORK..HAHA
Never be afraid to get your supervisor in the room with 'hands on' your patient if you feel 'in over your head.' And CHART you have done this. CYA and share liability. None of us know 'everything'.
Hint to self!! IF you are opening up more than one vial of Demerol/morphine for IVP you may need to rethink what you are doing!...And dont think the pt has a CVA after giving 125 of Demerol IV over 30 sec....
Another thing ..Please give meds over the time listed in Drug book..I see seasoned nurses Push things like Reglan and solumedrol over seconds...
RNND
5 Posts
While we're on nevers, please don't say to people "God only gives us what we can handle" or some variation of this. There are plenty of people who DON'T handle what they're given. They become alcoholics, drug addicts, commit suicide, abuse or neglect their children or elders, etc. Those people who ARE handling things, however tenuously, deserve some credit for their strength. Tell them what a good job they are doing, and let them know you are there to help. Good nurses can make ALL the difference.