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- When a patient is passing away, my care doesn't stop there. I am also there to nurse and comfort their family through the process.
2- You will make mistakes. Maybe even a biggie one day. The mistake doesn't define you as a nurse, but rather what you do after you realize your error. Always take responsibility.
3- Your nurse aides are your most valuable asset in doing your job. Always respect them, try to help when you can, and thank them. Having a good or lazy nurse aide can make or break your day, so keep them happy.
4- Some nurses are just there for the paycheck. If you ever lose your compassion and drive in nursing, do yourself & your patients a favor and follow a different career path. Burn out is very real.
5- Don't be afraid to question doctors orders. You probably know the patient better than them & they may appreciate the insight. They may also tell you to go eff yourself, but then you can have a good laugh with the other nurses about it later.
1. You can make mistakes regardless of your years of experience.
2. +Surgical conscious applies to nursing too.
3. It's better to admit mistakes and correct them than not to.
4. Live the golden rule every day.
5. You can work your shift with 4 hrs sleep.
+ Surgical conscious is when you are alone in the O.R. and something becomes contaminated and you fix it or replace it and not just leave it because no one saw you contaminate something.
1. All humans crave human contact, even the ornery ones.
2. You can't go wrong treating every patient as if they are family, your mom, your dad, your grandparent, your child. You would be amazed how much you are willing to put up with from family.
3. Everyone has bad days, Fellow nurses, patients, doctors, Everyone! If something didn't get done, assume it was a bad shift and pick up the slack...with a smile.
4. Laughter is almost always the best medicine.
5. No matter what...Nurse on! Someone, somewhere needs you.
1. Always be nice. You never know who your patient is or how they will touch your life. 2. Be part of a team, your coworkers are your best resources and help. 3. Praise your tech, they do a lot of things for you and often notice things that help you better serve your patients, since they are usually in the room more often. 4. Don't forget to be thankful. If you can't think of anything, think harder and smile! 5. Always keep learning! From classes, coworkers, patients, anywhere.
How nursing will change you. It is not just a job, it is a passion. You are a nurse 24 hours a day.
How to give a good report. ThUS is a must. It will take some time to master the art. Hit the high points and next cycle of meds due. If you give a crappy Report, you will be told !
The truth about nurses eating their young. We don't eat our young. We don't get time to eat at all. We have time for team work, excellent patient care, and a whole lotta charting. If other nurses can't keep up, well, the ship is sailing without them.
Time management. Charting efficiently, quickly and thoroughly enough and still getting out at the end of the shift was a skill I mastered only being on the floor. It is not a skill you can learn by conversation.
Multitasking and prioritizing. Multitasking is easy-peasy when you have one or two patients in clinical. Yet prioritizing is really critical for an nurse who has 6 patients all going down the tubes at once.
How to deal with feelings. Adrenaline is crazy, and there is nothing like being a nurse and having to act under pressure in serious situations with adrenaline coursing through your veins. With practice, nurses must act quickly in emergency situations without regard to their personal reactions — physical or emotional.
Unexpected friendships at work. Lastly I was not prepared for the rich relationships that I would form with the doctors and nurses I work with and the patients I care for. We nurses are in Customer service: good, bad, beautiful, ugly, functional, dysfunctional, alive and dead. People are our vocation as nurses and there is nothing. more rewarding than that!
Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.
#5 - How to save a life, literally.
#4 - Nursing can never be done without a team, no matter who and where your teammates come from.
#3 - There is no way to prepare you to become a working nurse except nursing school, but learning to become a working nurse (new grad) is no where near the same as being a nursing student.
1. The team you work with will make or break the shift no matter what else happens.
2. The families of patients are sometimes more difficult to care for than the acutely I'll patient.
3. You can mold med/surg nurse from any nurse, but in home care (not shift work home care) at nurse either has what it takes or not and OT can be seen early on.
4. Night shift does not mean the easy shift . Patient's do not sleep,and there is less help around. Each shift has its own issues.
5. Don't be afraid of the doctors. They are humans and make mistakes and do not know everything. Plus nurses are with the patients the most so they see everything that is going on.
Annhellica
2 Posts
1- When a patient is passing away, my care doesn't stop there. I am also there to nurse and comfort their family through the process.
2- You will make mistakes. Maybe even a biggie one day. The mistake doesn't define you as a nurse, but rather what you do after you realize your error. Always take responsibility.
3- Your nurse aides are your most valuable asset in doing your job. Always respect them, try to help when you can, and thank them. Having a good or lazy nurse aide can make or break your day, so keep them happy.
4- Some nurses are just there for the paycheck. If you ever lose your compassion and drive in nursing, do yourself & your patients a favor and follow a different career path. Burn out is very real.
5- Don't be afraid to question doctors orders. You probably know the patient better than them & they may appreciate the insight. They may also tell you to go eff yourself, but then you can have a good laugh with the other nurses about it later.