Do all hospitals share commonnursealities

SmilingBluEyes · May 20, 2007

Well I guess you would need to work as a nurse to see for YOURSELF whether or not these things are true. Most of them are general old wives' tales---- from my 10 years' experience. I hope you have the opportunity to observe for yourself the truth and the fiction to these statements. In other words, more succinctly, don't believe everything you hear!

If you plan to be a nurse, drop all prior prejudices and expectations and be open to all of what your senses tell you, including common sense!

Anyhow, be careful not to assume what is not proven first.

Thanks and welcome to the OB Nursing Forum.

HappyNurse2005, RN · May 20, 2007

6. Rainy days trigger labor.

well, myth or not, this past thursday evening, it had rained some here and stormed some,and we were a packed house all night. all 8 LDR rooms full, 3 bed triage full, laboring moms waiting in triage for others to deliver and go upstairs to postpartum so they could get a labor room, laboring moms laboring in the antepartum rooms, etc.

just a coincidence, i'm sure. but still.....

KellNY, RN · May 20, 2007

3. Instead of performing your orders like you are told, nurses want to constantly question what the others nurses work loads are.

Performing my orders like I am told? Not even gonna touch that one...

5. A supreme being said that a patient will do better with two nurses working 12 hr. shifts than three nurses working 8 hr. shifts. I would have to highly disagree with that.

That wasn't a supreme being, that was a whole heck of a lot of nurses (most here prefer 12 hour shifts) and patients. There's less of a chance that while you're in transition or bleeding, you'll have to deal with the stress of bonding with a new nurse..or waiting for your pain meds an extra 10min because your 8hr nurse is in report..or if you labor for 17 hours--not too uncommon--you'll have only 2 different nurses instead of 3.

I have to agree 100% with the rainy day thing. Forget the full moon--when that barometric pressure changes...look out.

DEB52 · May 21, 2007

Oh, I have been a believer of the full moon for a long time. I also believe that things happen in threes. Never erase the last name off the board in L/D. That's bad luck. Never says things are getting better or that we are having a great day. That jinks the day. And I believe a thunderstorm or a big snow storm will bring the patients in.:Snow:

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · May 21, 2007

From what I have been hearing from my girl's nurse friends this is my interpretation of how things go at work in general.

My suggestion....get your girlfriend some new, mature friends.

And not to believe everything that you "interpret".

Buggs · May 21, 2007

I must say I found much of your post to be OFFENSIVE. Most of us don't refer to our patients as "hogs". I have found that my co-workers are eager to lend a hand to their peers if one nurse is having a more challenging assignment than others. We don't ignore "performing orders like you were told". It sounds like you think we are disobedient toddlers. Also, do you have evidence for bashing 12 hour shifts? Now, I do have to admit some belief in the "rainy day" theory. I don't believe the rain is the cause, it's the big change in the barometer that seems to make those babies want to come out and play. I suggest that you consider what you are hearing from your "girls nurse friends". Are you making judgements based on facts or on private venting sessions that many, in all walks of life, do? If you overheard a group of moms complaining about their children or husbands would you be quick to label them in a negative manner, or would you be able to see that many are loving, caring excellent wives/mothers just letting off a little steam and enjoying the comaraderie and humor together? Just a thought.

PattonD · May 21, 2007

Sometimes I post things that are on the offensive edge for a couple reasons.

1. Increasing tension spurrs better discussion

2. It identifies the weak personalities that have a hard time coping with stress. In other words it shows a person's true colors.

I mainly wanted to bounce some general topics off you guys to see what is similar and what are localized behaviors.

The other stuff was merely country dumb humor. I suppose some can relate and some can't. Sorry didn't mean to offend, but if you don't stirr the hot bowl of chili it takes forever for the heat to come out.

PattonD · May 21, 2007

It isn't going to make that big of a difference if a patient has two or three nurses in a 24 hr. period.

When nurses work over 8 hrs. they are more likely to make mistakes.

And what it wrong with doing what you are told? You are assigned patient A and doctor's orders say do xyz, what is so wrong with just doing it? I don't understand that one.

Jolie, BSN · May 21, 2007

And what it wrong with doing what you are told? You are assigned patient A and doctor's orders say do xyz, what is so wrong with just doing it? I don't understand that one.

Nurses are not trained monkeys or mindless robots. We are well-educated, independently-licensed professionals who must utilize critical thinking skills and advocate for our patients. A nurse who blindly follows an inappropriate order from a physician is just as liable as the physician for the harm caused to the patient.

Likewise, nurses are not junior-grade doctors, or doctor wannabes. Nursing and medicine are distinct professions with vastly different expectations for patient care and practice. Our work is definitely intertwined, but distinctly different. Physicians do much more than write orders for nurses, and nurses do much more than follow doctors' orders.

Buggs · May 21, 2007

Nothing is wrong with following orders, that is a basic role of the nurse. Just don't call me disobedient, like a child. Bad choice of words, in my opinion. To not follow MD orders is a serious issue, were you really saying that the nurses were busy fighting over their assignments that they were not doing their jobs? I have NEVER witnessed that. If there is proof that there are a significant number of errors with 12 hr shifts, I doubt any hospital would permit them in light of patient safety and lawsuits. I don't think any hospital would offer something to make a nuse happy with the possibility of compromising the patient in return. Not No way, not no how. I do agree that at times it is good to stir the pot :) .

SmilingBluEyes · May 21, 2007

Nurses are bound by law and duty to question any orders that seem wrong or questionable, including dangerous or unsafe assignments. We are not (nor are allowed by law to be) trained monkeys as said before.

Anyhow you see some of the responses. I hope you gained clarity, Patton.