Awkward moments

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Student but interested in neuroscience..

I was just curious as to what some of the most awkward things a basic RN has do do to meet doc's orders.:nurse:

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Hmmmm, I think I need more info....awkward in terms of explaining what needs to be done, or doing things personal like caths/IVs/suppositories...etc.....

I hear the cath stuff...I had to strieght cath someone today...the 1st "official" one since I got my license....good times.

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Not sure what you're meaning? I've never done anything awkward to meet a doctor's order....I've had to call to clarify something that doesn't make sense countless times, but it's never awkward.

Now, if the order said "dance the hula in front of Mr. X until he's responsive", I suppose that would be awkward.... ;)

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

not if he saw me dance! :clpty:

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Specializes in Student but interested in neuroscience..

Yeah, I mean as far as what needs to be done. Is the catheter(urinary) thing the most awkward? Or does it get worse?:wink2:

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Loco: LOL...I see you and I hit the buzzer at the same minute; looks like we're thinking alike, too! But then again, I'm perfectly without shame so nuthin' is awkward for me

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Specializes in Student but interested in neuroscience..

You guys are silly. Thanks for making me smile. LOL:chuckle:jester::jester:

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Yeah, I mean as far as what needs to be done. Is the catheter(urinary) thing the most awkward? Or does it get worse?:wink2:

I think you mean embarrassing, then, instead of awkward. And like I just posted , I lost my embarrassment option about halfway through nursing school!

Some things are less comfortable for some people than others, but that truly does depend on the person. For some, bedbaths are truly mortifying (when they are new students I mean; by the time one is a nurse I'd sure hope it has passed). Inserting catheters is usually far more embarrassing for the patient than for the staff! At least, the way I figure it, I've seen way way more hoo-hoos and ha-has than they have, so whatever they've got is really not impressive to me, know what I mean?

Nursing means being intimate with people, VERY intimate. You are cleaning a person's private parts, doing wound care in areas that their own mothers wouldn't recognize. You are inserting tubes and drains, and removing them (I'm on a surgical floor, keep in mind!). I have discussed very personal matters with the patients, their families, and always, ALWAYS, it is about the patient so I never feel embarrassed. It's a clinical setting, professional. Never waver from that, so there's no issue.

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Specializes in Student but interested in neuroscience..

Yeah, I'm in pre-nursing right now! So, I have aways to go. I figured feeling embarassed about VERY intimate care would just be a temporary thing until it was no longer a big deal. Thanx for the feed back!

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Exactly...can't sum it up any better myself. Suppositories are VERY personal...so are enemas. but I explain that they help if nothing else has worked....talking about personal care is very important...procedures etc....

sometimes NOBODY has talked to the patient about what to expect, what to see, what else needs to be done..etc. and it is personal..you are guiding someone through a process....but this is what we do. Such is life.

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Specializes in LTC, wound care.

If it's any help, you might focus on the benefit you are giving the patient by the "personal" action you are doing. For example, if someone needs a return flow enema, it's because they are having a great deal of gas pains and can't move the gas out. The RFE will help remove this gas and they will get a great deal of relief out of this, so you can think of how much better they are going to feel and not how embarrassed you are to be doing what you are doing.

Your reaction to the patient and his/her body is important. You may be taking care of someone with a ugly or scary or gross wound. If your manner shows that you are professional and accepting can help your patient accept and deal with having such a wound. They look to you to see how they should feel about something in many cases.

Just remember, it's not about you, it's about them. Hope this helps.

Jane:nurse:

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Specializes in Psych, Chemical Dependency, Rehab.

I don't know about anyone else but I had a pretty "awkward" moment. I'm still in nursing school but I needed to get a stool sample on a woman with diarrhea so I asked the nurse how we were going to do it. She basically told me to take a spoon and scoop it into the cup. Yeah...THAT was not fun! lol. Not sure if that's the exact protocol for taking a stool sample with these types of patients but what do I know....I'm still a student. :p

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