Differences: Nursing then and now...

Since a lot of the nurses are talking about the then. I might as well talk about the "now". This is completely over exaggerated with some truths in there.

Working in an underequipped facility with patients that really belong in a psychiatric facility. Documentation but you have to document that you documented something or else risk being written up. Rather low pay but solid benefits if you can actually survive because the administration knows the turnover is really high. Cranberry juice the miracle substance for cleaning up g tubes and preventing UTI's. Less RN's and a lot more CNA's thinking that solves things. Paper documentation still?! LPN's still exist and they almost have the same abilities except for IV meds. Hell they even get a higher sign on bonus!

One thing hasn't changed though, IV machines are still temperamental as hell.

OK, here's another one. I started working in HIV/AIDS in 1989, then we spent a lot of time figuring out how to pay for funerals. Now, we spend a lot of time how to pay for medication. We always seem to figure out a way, now it's just way more satisfying. I sleep a lot better.

The one thing that was discussed, was the methods in which they trained nurses to lift patients. Today, we have something called TLR (Transferring, Lifting, Repositioning) certifications to say a nurse is qualified to be physically able to move patients in a safe manner. Patients are suppose to be called clients... The newer generation will most likely have less back problems.

I love this thread. I laughed so hard reading some of the things I remember so well.

Do you remember the clysis? I hated them when I was an aide. I was so afraid the needle would fall out.

People were hospitalized for 6 weeks following a heart attack. If that did not kill them, they went home weaker than when they had the MI.

T&As were common. Ice cream was the drug of choice after surgery. It still is my drug of choice 50+ years later. Wonder if they started my addiction for this?

I remembered the clysis well. I too was afraid that the needle would fall out. The patients(now clients) would pull them out !

Oh Ice Cream and popsicles are good rememdies and yes most likely can cause an addiction to even the nurse!

I love reading this thread esp with the comparisons to what we did years ago and now .

Paddlelady