The Many Hats we Wear...................

Nurses General Nursing

Published

In the past few weeks, I have made mental notes of the things that I do at my job that are not "on my list of job requirements" so to speak......

1. Emptying trash in patient's rooms and cleaning up said rooms

2. Rearranging the room as to please the patient and/or family

3. Calling dietary multiple times to request tray's for patient's families

4. Going to great lenghts to obtain beverages, snacks, etc. for patient's and families

5. Calling hotels to inquire about vacanies for patient's families who are from out of town

6. Taking patient's who are discharged down to waiting cars

I don't mind doing these things, but there are times when I find myself getting behind with medication passes, etc. because I am busy being the housekeeper, transporter, and nurse aide. (Our hospital has cut back on these ancillary staff, so these tasks now fall on the shoulders of nursing staff.)

What other hat's do you wear at work?

Toilet unplugger

Cleaning up just about anything that I know someone else isn't going to get to for hours.

As for food/snacks for patients families, I show them the pantry when they first get there then tell them they are welcome to use it anytime they want. If they complain about the food in the pantry, for example, generic soda, I direct them to vending machines and the cafe.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

1. Supporter

2. Mediator

3. Courier

4. Messenger

5. Secretary

7. Customer Service Agent

8. Trash Lady

9. Bellhop

10. File Clerk

11. Cashier

12. Negotiator

13. Friend

14. Advocate

15. Pill Pusher

16. Tour Guide

17. Conceirge

In the past few weeks, I have made mental notes of the things that I do at my job that are not "on my list of job requirements" so to speak......

1. Emptying trash in patient's rooms and cleaning up said rooms

2. Rearranging the room as to please the patient and/or family

3. Calling dietary multiple times to request tray's for patient's families

4. Going to great lenghts to obtain beverages, snacks, etc. for patient's and families

5. Calling hotels to inquire about vacanies for patient's families who are from out of town

6. Taking patient's who are discharged down to waiting cars

I don't mind doing these things, but there are times when I find myself getting behind with medication passes, etc. because I am busy being the housekeeper, transporter, and nurse aide. (Our hospital has cut back on these ancillary staff, so these tasks now fall on the shoulders of nursing staff.)

What other hat's do you wear at work?

I have done everything on your list EXCEPT for NUMBER 6. No way I am calling hotels to inquire about vacancies. I have had other persons take care of that like nurse manager or social worker but I haven't done it and I never will.
Specializes in OB.

Add "exterminator" to the list - I've chased down mice, all forms of flying insects, once a snake, and, in an old state psych hospital many years ago, part of our nightly routine was to take brooms and chase the bats out of the men's dorm! (yes, the obvious pun does apply - I'm assuming they were up in the belfry also)

Specializes in this and that.

in psych unit , we are

1. laundry mat ie we wash pts clothes all shifts

2. housekeeper

3. bellboy

4. security/code grey team

5. patient advocate

6. maid...we buy snacks for them in gift shop

7. coffe lady/9pm snack lady

6. clothes person ie we look for donated clothes in closet for them

7. cheer leader

8. bouncer

9. poop patrol

10. restraint team

11. med shooter ie give needles in butt

12. phlebotomist

13 iv team

14..insurance lady

15. everything at night:bow::bow::bow:

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