WILTW 10/15: The Right Hand Burns

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Hi! I am a day late, but nevertheless I've had a never ending week of overtime, frustration, and morale boosters along the way.

Yesterday was the end of Emergency Nurses Week; I was grateful for the wonderful activities and was the first time as a nurse I was able to enjoy a week for the specialty I am committed to be in.

I also struggled with frustrations of being in contact negotiations; I know there is a way to get the upper hand to address the issues that we nurses face, and I am in support for that clause.

So what I learned this week:

-I relearned how to use a Bair Hugger; I also learned that in Level I Trauma hospitals with burn units, you can call a Burn Level to help focus the appropriate personnel to the level of care needed.

-I learned that re strategizing to advocate for patient safety can be a motivating force for change.

-I learned that the student can become the teacher quicker with errors and be an advocate for change; to mentor new nurses as a newbie myself and see the mentorship that I want to pass on to generation of nurses for years to come is a humbling and exciting process, even as I learn from them as well.

That's it for this week-what have YOU learned?

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I've learned that seizures present in so many ways, and it's hard to determine what is seizure and what is not. The parents are usually VERY good at reading their child over the years, but it just isn't all clear-cut.

We just found out that the EEG did not show seizure activity during her newest type of seizure. (For reference, the child is not able to fake it, and the EEG is very, very abnormal.)

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

I've learned that my motivation can wax and wane for any reason or for no reason at all. In all likelihood I will end up withdrawing from my courses this semester.

I've learned that sudden, abrupt procedural changes from upper management can be as frustrating as hell. Once you become acclimated to a certain way of doing things, management pulls the rug from under your legs.

I've learned that, although the truth may sting, it is always best to be true to oneself. After all, why delude myself with lies about the way things are?

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I'm dying to get back to school & start working. The fact that DH only makes $1,600/month is the main reason.

I know my mom is getting irritated with us (DH & I) because she thinks we aren't budgeting but when you have bills, $1,600 only goes so far. We even stopped paying the credit card bills because we couldn't afford it. I feel a fight brewing but can't do anything to stop it.

I'm almost 5 months & finally starting to feel better. So there's that upside.

I learned that my instinct as a mother-in-law to bite my tongue was the right way to go . . . I found a book by Lesley Stahl about being a grandparent and she had a whole chapter on that.

BECOMING GRANDMA by Lesley Stahl | Kirkus Reviews

I learned that MD Anderson in Houston is a huge complex with amazing staff who took wonderful care of my son during his stem cell transplant.

I also am happy to report they are moving back to the West Coast and leaving Texas behind, which I can understand now that I spent over two weeks there. Hot, humid, barren . . .

Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.
I've learned that seizures present in so many ways, and it's hard to determine what is seizure and what is not. The parents are usually VERY good at reading their child over the years, but it just isn't all clear-cut.

We just found out that the EEG did not show seizure activity during her newest type of seizure. (For reference, the child is not able to fake it, and the EEG is very, very abnormal.)

Pediatric seizures and seizure-like activity that isn't technically one on EEG are awful! We spend so much time looking at kids and asking "is that a seizure? No? Well why is he moving like that?!" I had one kid who had rhythmic movements for HOURS that would not break with meds and needed to be intubated because he lost his airway and it was deemed not to be a seizure. So weird!

I actually had a pretty good week during which I learned a few things:

1) I was requested to take care of a VIP child which was an honor but SO intimidating. I appreciate the confidence the family had in me but was thankful to finally take a deep breath when the shift ended.

2) sometimes things end better and kids defy our expectations of their outcomes and that feels pretty good. :)

3) the germs I've been dodging for weeks finally got me :snurse:

Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

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the germs I've been dodging for weeks finally got me :snurse:

I'm not "liking" that. Sometimes you can only dodge for so long.

When my client is up in a wheelchair, I can stand to the side and a little behind, and the cough/spray doesn't get me. But I wear a mask when my kiddo is in bed. It's that or get a face-full.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Here's the NEW thread!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/wiltw-10-22-1074150.html#post9227448

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