Interview a Nurse

EmergencyNrse · Sep 27, 2009

*name: emergencynrse

*place of work/position:

emergency room

*where did you obtain your degree or education?

us army

*how many hours do you work per week?

60-72

*how long have you worked in this field?

since 1994

*what task does a typical workday consist of?

making people feel better somehow...

*how did you become interested in this career?

never interested. forced into it by uncle sam during military forces drawdown under bill clinton

*what do you like most about your work?

ng/og tube lavage for idiots that overdose on pills

*what is your favorite nursing task?

dispelling preconceived notions of patients about things they read on the internet

*what is your least favorite?

caring for a drunk and a gi bleed that is drinking listerine to get high and is now actively vomiting. (i think that's the worst)

***most importantly***

*in your opinion, what is the most relevant ethical dilemma for a nurse?

watching a doctor change direction and stop caring for a patient that signs a dnr.

since when did dnr become do not treat?

*what would you do in the above situation?

send the high-acuity patient to a regular floor instead of the icu with much less treatment options than before the dnr was signed. amazing the things that change once a dnr is enacted.

look for their names in the obituaries.

*if you knew then, what you know now, what would you tell yourself?

you don't work near as hard in the cath lab and people are much more appreciative than the er. people actually thank you.

*is there any other information that you believe would be helpful for me to know?

the people more concerned with the amount of acronyms that follow their name usually are worthless when it comes to patient care.

jessi1106, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2009

*name: jessi1106

*place of work/position: acute care medicine

*where did you obtain your degree or education? university/ 4 year degree/bsn

*how many hours do you work per week? 24

*how long have you worked in this field? 2 1/2 years

*what task does a typical workday consist of? teaching and learning.

*how did you become interested in this career? "helping others"

*what do you like most about your work? feeling that i really did make a "difference".

*what is your favorite nursing task? varies. teaching, dressing changes...it really varies from pt to pt.

*what is your least favorite? trachs.

***most importantly***

*in your opinion, what is the most relevant ethical dilemma for a nurse?

when my gut tells me to do other than md order.

*what would you do in the above situation?

fortunately, we have a protocal to go to chief of medicine..so i do that. it has happened very rarely. but at least it gets lots of attention to the pt. who deserves that attention.

*if you knew then, what you know now, what would you tell yourself?

really learn pharm and patho...these are the 2 most impt. classes for medical care...i am constantly looking things up.

*is there any other information that you believe would be helpful for me to know? a ton...and you will learn more each day in school, and also each day after you become a nurse.

Vito Andolini · Sep 28, 2009

*name: emergencynrse
*place of work/position:
emergency room
*where did you obtain your degree or education?
us army
*how many hours do you work per week?
60-72
*how long have you worked in this field?
since 1994
*what task does a typical workday consist of?
making people feel better somehow...
*how did you become interested in this career?
never interested. forced into it by uncle sam during military forces drawdown under bill clinton
*what do you like most about your work?
ng/og tube lavage for idiots that overdose on pills
*what is your favorite nursing task?
dispelling preconceived notions of patients about things they read on the internet
*what is your least favorite?
caring for a drunk and a gi bleed that is drinking listerine to get high and is now actively vomiting. (i think that's the worst)
***most importantly***
*in your opinion, what is the most relevant ethical dilemma for a nurse?
watching a doctor change direction and stop caring for a patient that signs a dnr.
since when did dnr become do not treat?
*what would you do in the above situation?
send the high-acuity patient to a regular floor instead of the icu with much less treatment options than before the dnr was signed. amazing the things that change once a dnr is enacted.
look for their names in the obituaries.
*if you knew then, what you know now, what would you tell yourself?
you don't work near as hard in the cath lab and people are much more appreciative than the er. people actually thank you.
*is there any other information that you believe would be helpful for me to know?
the people more concerned with the amount of acronyms that follow their name usually are worthless when it comes to patient care.

people who od are not idiots. they are sick, they are in pain, their anguish is severe, they are god's children (presumably your brethren), and they are in need of care, just like any other of your patients. please try to find a little compassion for them far-fetched as it might sound now, you or a loved one of yours might attempt suicide/make a cry for help/feel frustrated enought that it's the only way you can think to make your statement.

it sounds like you are not very happy as a nurse. have you ever thought about doing something else? not that we don't need great er nurses but you sound like you did not choose the field of nursing and it's scary that someone so unhappy is in charge of peoples' lives - it sounds like you enjoy torturing them via lavage if they've od'd and had the audacity and misfortune to come to your er and fall into your hands. you might not mean it that way and maybe you've never been just a little too rough or said anything cruel to your patients. but, from what you've written, one can't help but pray to god that one never od's and becomes your patient. i'd be very afraid of you and patients should not fear their nurses. for your sake and the sake of patients, just think about it. psych patients deserve respect and common decency, too.