What is the dumbest thing a student/newbie ever said or did??
I ask because I'm starting nursing school in May and want to know what NOT to do!
I thought it could be entertaining as well if not for those of us that are saying "I don't get it...why was that dumb??" than for you more experienced nurses to get a chuckle!
Also if there is anything that a student did that isn't exactly dumb just a BIG no-no please please share!
When I moved into the dorm to start school, there was a sign on my door that said "MOM every 12 hours as needed". Being nervous and lonely, I definitely needed my mom. :D:D:yeah::redbeathe
Only thing is, MOM means milk of magnesia. you use it for constipation.
Do not worry about saying or doing something dumb. No matter how many answers you get you are still going to come up with something. I have been a nurse almost 5 years and I know that every once in awhile my coworkers look and me and think "She did NOT just say/ask that" You will never have everything packed away in your brain so ask and who cares what anyone thinks as long as you are giving your very best care. And sometimes that involves asking something everyone else might think is dumb.
And quite often, it is good to practice "silence is golden". Just don't say anything or say "hmm" or "I'll get back to you on that". Run look up the info and appear brilliant and very professional.:nuke:
Additionally, when you are spiking a bag of TPN, be very careful not to put the spike through the bag.
Or your finger... Ouch! It didn't happen to me, but to one of my nursing school instructors when she was a new nurse. I have NEVER forgotten this and every time I spike a bag I am super aware to NOT repeat her mistake! Good luck with school!!!
During our Fluids and Electrolytes lecture, the instructor was talking about TPN and lipids and why they need to go through a central line. She also mentioned that patients who get these fluids are NPO, and that nothing else should be administered through the same line as their TPN.
A classmate of mine raised her hand and asked that if they had PO meds, was it OK to crush them up and administer them through the TPN line, or should you put it through a seperate line.
I'm sure I have many more, but the one that comes to mind was reporting that my patient was on oxygen at 19% FiO2.
It was politely suggested that I call RT to recalibrate the oxygen sensor. It actually took me a moment to realize my mistake.
As a student, on our very first day of clinicals, a fellow student asked me what "LBM" referred to. I confidently answered, "lean body mass."
As a new grad, witnessing my first code (not my pt), told to get the crash cart. Run off, grab it, start running...oops, still plugged in. Whiplash nearly tips the thing over.
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I'm really enjoying this thread, because I am at about the 6 month mark and all too aware of my own gaps in knowledge. To all the students reading this, I would echo the sentiments already offered here or elsewhere:
--If you don't know, ask.
--If it's non-emergent, not effecting a patient's comfort or safety, etc., feel free to go look it up first, but never be afraid to ask after just to clarify what you may have read.
--Or, combine the above, and ask, "Where could I look to learn about xxx?" This will earn you points for both being willing to ask questions and willing to work for the answers.
--If it's in any way critical, emergent, or potentially dangerous (meds, lines, o2, etc), don't wait, find an experienced appropriate person (RN, RT, doc, etc.), interrupt if you have to, and ASK.
Happened this weekend. Student on our floor for the overnight shift. Says " I do not care about doing anything, just want to make it through the night" Well you better be doing something or the night is going to be looooooong!!! So she did...sat at the nurses station with her feet up on the counter, belching. OMG!! Our nurses stations are directly outside the patients rooms(one for every 2 patients) I cannot imagine what her patients were thinking.
I had a couple of students in with a patient of mine who was schizophrenic, vented, and in 3-point restraints. They sat there and watched while he managed to pull out his flexi-seal (fecal incontinence system), fling it at them, and cover himself in poop. Next time you see a patient pulling at something, stop them! Not life-threatening, but very very messy.
In clinicals we all had to line up by the pixis for our meds. You went one by one getting out ure meds & checking them with the instructors help. The girl in front of me pulled out a med, order read give 250mg PO, med came in 500mg.
Sooo..my instructor asked her what was she going to do? She couldnt figure this one out! She even used her calculator and got it wrong! I was standing there for about 20 min, now loosing my patience, and she was still trying to figure it out, until someone in the back of the line yelled "cut the pill in half would ya!"
It was always interesting in school. needless to say, she didnt do to well, and ended up leaving the program.
That sounds like someone in our class that had an order for 650mg or tylenol prn. Pt. had a headache so students ask instructor can I give the tylenol for the headach instructor gave the ok. Then student said I do not have any 650mg pill the bottle says they only have 325mg ones........ This was level 3 or 4 I think...... we learned dosage calc in 1st.......
than for you more experienced nurses to get a chuckle!
:D:D:yeah::redbeathe
lowski
18 Posts
as far as making mistakes or trying not to...you will make them. it's okay. that is how we learn. that is how we grow to be better!
do not worry. all is well!