Did you learn something that they couldn't teach in a book as a nursing student?

[MsBlissful]

I have been reading over the threads and I know it's going on 19 ( OMG ) year since I finished nursing school and have been working as an RN.

Have you learned something in school that they just could NEVER put in a text book? Witness something bizarre in class?

I learned a few things.

1.) Some nurses ( I mean teachers here ) just pick on the weak. I saw one clinical instructor just have it out for one of my nursing students, you know the shy, quiet not confident type? I learned.. carry my pocket drug reference and come prepared to clinical..ACT LIKE I KNOW IT EVEN IF I DON'T.. this biotch never had a chance to pick on me.

2.) Never, ever let an opportunity that can better you go by.

3.) Know that nurses are out to eat their young....

4.) if you dont' feel comfortable doing a proceedure, you can decline doing it. ( I had an emaciated elderly woman who was post ORIF of her hip with PRN IM's of Demerol.. that dates me for sure. This Demerol was the kind the prefilled tubex syringe. 21g with a 2 inch needle) I declined giving this woman a shot, she had NO muscle mass and I knew I'd hit bone on any of the regular injection sites. My mentor was ****** off. grabbed the tubex, and proceeded to give this woman an injection on the top of her thigh.. and guess what? You got it. She hit her femur... PRICELESS EXPERIENCE AS A STUDENT..

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

That the book might be a map, but I still had to drive, know the back roads, know when to get gas, refill the tires, check the oil, get bug-juice for the windshield wiper reservoir, etc.

The book is a flat bunch of paper with words. I had to actually DO something :)

[kyleRN]

yes!! TRUST YOUR GUT and just because someone tells you something is right, doesn't mean it is!

also, stick together. don't throw another student under the bus. or another nurse. stick together.

[merlee]

I learned that male patients are not allowed to fondle the nurses.......

[RaineyRN]

I learned that male patients are not allowed to fondle the nurses.......

lol!!

[wooh, BSN, RN]

Know that nurses are out to eat their young....

Really? I don't. I know quite a few that don't. If you are doing that, you could fix it quite easily by just taking some cheetos in for a snack instead.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

If a parent or family member says "something just isn't right," you are looking at a sick patient.

[nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN]

When a person says, "that patient that's been out for 3 days suddenly woke up this afternoon, started talking to family, more "at themselves" than they've been in years..." Oh, rats, get the code cart.

That DKA's often act weird. (Is it the sugar, slight cerebral edema, or what, but they just all seem to have a strange affect...).

When a woman says her chest hurts and rubs her sternum, give her maalox. When she's sweaty and says the bed's giving her a backache between her shoulder blades, get her on telemetry NOW.

Just because a person hasn't had a R foot in 3 years doesn't mean they won't try to get out of bed and walk at 3 am.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Cardiac or pregnant patient says "I need to poop NOW!" Yes they probably will, but that's the least of their troubles. Call for help.

[beast master RN]

therapeutic touch isn't worth a damn if some ones having real pain