How Often Will I Be On My Feet As A Nurse?

[akissbytheseine]

Hi Everyone,

I am a 27 year old law school grad who is totally fed up with the law/criminals and I am thinking about nursing school. However, I am used to basically sitting all day and wanted to know will I be on my feet for extended periods of time as a nurse that it may be a problem?

If so, are there certain of nurses that are on their feet less, say a community nurse vs a staff nurse?

Thanks

[SharonH, RN]

that was my experience in my peds rotation and when i was in picu (which i just finished at a county hospital)--and i don't mean just for my patients (i, personally, did not sit a lot); it's what i noticed happened with the staff rns. like i said, some. certainly not every day and not every patient. infants usually got fed by a nurse who was sitting during the feeding, holding the patient. and we were taught that "playing is the work of children"--and that they have to be really sick to not want to play; i was actually informed by my ci that i needed to spend some time playing with the children (she happens to be a pnp).

so, since that was my experience, i'd be interested in knowing what your experience was, and how it was different.

i do notice that that "60% of time" charting that rns rreportedly do seems to usually be done sitting.

clearly, ymmv.

thanks,

nursefirst

i think i may have offended you. i'm sorry, that was not my intention.

my experience on peds at a county hospital:

assessments of course.

meds, po and iv.

ivf's, tpn, blood transfusions

tube feedings, ng and gt

iv insertions and rotations

lab draws

dressing changes

pain meds and other prns

acuities and care plans

dealing with anxious parents and clueless docs

stabilizing or transferring crashing patients or assisting with codes

parents were expected to stay with their kids, feed them and change their diapers; not all did of course and the cnas took care of those babies. occasionally i fed a baby, it was rare but it happened. we had a playroom and a therapist would come up on day shift and hold sessions for the kids who could participate. occasionally, very late at night i might take a baby or a restless toddler and bring them to the nurses' station with me, very rare. the young teens liked to talk and i would spend time talking to them if i had time.

i did do my charting sitting; unfortunately it was usually at the end of the shift after i had given report.

p.s. what does ymmv mean?

[NurseFirst]

I think I may have offended you. I'm sorry, that was not my intention.

My experience on peds at a county hospital:

Assessments of course.

Meds, PO and IV.

IVF's, TPN, blood transfusions

Tube feedings, NG and GT

IV insertions and rotations

Lab draws

Dressing changes

Pain meds and other prns

Acuities and care plans

Dealing with anxious parents and clueless docs

Stabilizing or transferring crashing patients or assisting with codes

Parents were expected to stay with their kids, feed them and change their diapers; not all did of course and the CNAs took care of those babies. Occasionally I fed a baby, it was rare but it happened. We had a playroom and a therapist would come up on day shift and hold sessions for the kids who could participate. Occasionally, very late at night I might take a baby or a restless toddler and bring them to the nurses' station with me, very rare. The young teens liked to talk and I would spend time talking to them if I had time.

I did do my charting sitting; unfortunately it was usually at the end of the shift after I had given report.

P.S. What does YMMV mean?

Ah, there's the difference! The ped unit I rotated on only had RNs working on it, no aides, no LVNs, so have to do charting throughout the day (VS and such; big flowsheet). YMMV = your mileage may vary.

Friends? :)

NurseFirst

[SmilingBluEyes]

I like that; YMMV. good one.

[cabbage patch rn]

I have told my manager that I can not work more than 2 twelves per week just because of my poor feet. I would love to do more but it's not physically possible. I have really bad feet. If I work 3 twelves in a row, I can expect to spend that 4th day with horrible leg aches and cramps. Our shifts are actually 12.5 hours, with 30 minutes for lunch, which is a joke because we don't usually get even a 30 minute break. The entire time is spent standing, walking, and running. By the time my shift is over, I am barely able to hobble out to my car. Oh, and I work OB and the rest of the hospital thinks we have it easy. :rotfl: