As a nurse, you're constantly learning. Whether you're a first year nurse still learning the ropes or you've been in the nursing field for multiple decades, you've likely learned countless lessons. For today's contest, list the top five things you have learned as a nurse, submit it in the comments below and you'll be entered to win a $250 Amazon Gift Card!
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1. You have to be resourceful because there will never be enough supplies stocked.
2. Don't take rudeness personal. A rude patient or family member will be that way no matter who is their nurse and it's usually just out of anxiety.
3. Don't believe the previous shift when they say the confused patient was no trouble for them. These patients are usually nice people, but be prepared for anything.
4. There won't always be CNAs scheduled, or they may be overwhelmed by a huge patient load. So don't act like you're above cleaning patients, too, and always show them appreciation.
5. Don't lose your compassion for patients no matter what. I've seen rude patients calm down apologize for their behavior and start being nice. I've had a call button abuser code and it felt just as bad as any other code I've responded to. And on every shift, there's always at least one patient that will love you for taking care of them.
1)Don't be quick to size up your patients-when people are in pain, afraid, or altered, they don't represent their true selves.
2)Yes you have to be professional and know your job - but as Theodore Roosevelt said People don't care how much you know until they know how much you careâ€
3)You can't 'fake' caring-you can be a good actress or actor, but your true colors will come out, so if you don't REALLY care, don't be a nurse.
4)Rules are there for a reason, don't take shortcuts-double check those meds with another nurse.
5)Listen to your heart, your instinct, your sixth sense. Investigate when something doesn't seem right.
Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care, Correctional.
1. Never plan anything important after a scheduled shift. You will always either be mandated or swamped at work and out late.
2. When inserting a Foley in a woman, after cleaning with Betadine, aim for that "eye" that winks back at you.
3. After the initial flashback is spotted when inserting an IV, pause even if for a whole minute to allow the vein to vasodilate after the stress from when you it to construct. This will almost always help you with accurate placement.
4. Be the nurse you would want to care for yourself or family, not the types you observe. Always try to leave people better than you found them. Hug the hurt. Befriend the lost. Love the lonely and attempt to avoid any judgments. You never can know what's going on completely with someone else and what they're going through.
5. Never dispense a medication, perform a procedure, or act in any way that your gut instincts tells you is not right. If you feel uncomfortable always doublecheck, triple check, possibly even check with a supervisor if you still feel uncomfortable. Be familiar with your scope of practice and never let someone bully you into doing something you're not supposed to. It's not just about losing your license. It's about killing somebody else in the process.
1. You can't do it alone, teamwork is everything. Role model it!
2. No one Suddenly crashes, we just suddenly see it. Watch for the subtle changes and get ahead of it.
3. The use of Touch, Eye contact, and speaking directly to patients who are less responsive goes a long way to convey Caring. They and their families remember how you made them feel.
4. Knowing how to show the nurses "calm" face to the family when patient condition changes to crazy busy.
5 Eat a good breakfast even if you don't want to as it may be your last meal for 12 plus hours..
1. Check double check and triple check the room number before you return a baby to help out another nurse and realize the security bands don't match because you took the baby to the wrong room.
2. Never call a patient by the wrong name while she is in labor pushing, there pain anger and frustration will shift to you.
3. Thank your company for scrubs, 9-10 when bathing a baby boy you will "get wet"
4. Always wear an under shirt with a button up scrub top, those door handles will get you everytime you have an Amish couple.. Talk about embarrassing.
5. Last but not least when a patients state they "have to push" believe them, check their cervix... And don't leave the room hit the call bell..
1) Men are easier patients than women unless the male is suffering from OCD
2) Nurses gain weight despite all their running around and poor calorie intake due to the stress hormone cortisol that is released at a steady rate for over a 12 hour period, 4 days on, 4 days off with nights being the worst for a nurse's health.
3) Management has no idea what we do for a living, they only know how to criticize what they think we do.
4) Money is the root of all evil and it is the only reason why units are fully staffed on sunny days, holidays, and weekends.
5) If your male patient has been lying on his back for a number of hours and you need to insert a catheter, make him move side to side, sit him up, or even get him to stand up if at all possible otherwise 'striking gold' will be somewhat impossible.
1. Nothing is black and white. 2. Most days there are no such things as breaks. 3. My badder can hold more than I ever though was humanly possible. 4. A nurse does the work of two people but is only paid for one. 5. There is nothing I'd rather be than a nurse!
Figment43
5 Posts
1. You have to be resourceful because there will never be enough supplies stocked.
2. Don't take rudeness personal. A rude patient or family member will be that way no matter who is their nurse and it's usually just out of anxiety.
3. Don't believe the previous shift when they say the confused patient was no trouble for them. These patients are usually nice people, but be prepared for anything.
4. There won't always be CNAs scheduled, or they may be overwhelmed by a huge patient load. So don't act like you're above cleaning patients, too, and always show them appreciation.
5. Don't lose your compassion for patients no matter what. I've seen rude patients calm down apologize for their behavior and start being nice. I've had a call button abuser code and it felt just as bad as any other code I've responded to. And on every shift, there's always at least one patient that will love you for taking care of them.