I am a student but have a question for individuals who are already employed as a nurse.
Do you ever study at home about things your patients may be going through?
How often do you keep abreast with new research on diseases, treatment, etc.?
Is this just stuff you learn from being in the field?
Do you regularly (or occasionally) keep up out of your own curiosity?
I am asking because I find myself studying more than what my assignments require simply out of my own curiosity and don't see this changing once I'm actually in practice. But want to see if others experience this and ALSO find the time/have the energy for it!
I bring my electronic dictionary all the time while at work I know it's a little bit baggy not to mention the other things a nurse need to bring, but for me it helps a lot to learn things immediately and after shift I try to read a little more about the unfamiliar term:)
I look up anything new that I come across...and sometimes look up a few things that aren't that new to me as well :) Been doing that since nursing school and never gave up the habit.
for me - daily. I even have alerts on my email for specific topics. My state requires continuing education, but I find there are so many changes in the industry, and consumers are so educated, that it is in my best interest to stay abreast of things.
All the time. I try and print out research on new diseases or procedures that patients in my ICU are experiencing nightly. I read through them all and put them into my CCRN study binder and try to teach at least one coworker what I've learned with every shift. My state doesn't require CE credits, but once I'm CCRN certified they'll be required.
I look up stuff related to my patients much less than I used to, but I still do occasionally. I'm also a member of the ANA and the AACCN, so I read the AJCC, Critical Care Nurse journal, and the Bold Voices magazine from the latter and American Nurse Today and the ANA newsletter from the former.
Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, DOU/Step-Down.
of course!
nursing education does not stop after you have completed your degree. there are always new medication, new interventions for diseases. so if you ever run into something you are unfamiliar with, you look it uo, study it, and make a connection to why this is ordered for your patient and you will start to build up your nursing knowledge.
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ahya
17 Posts
I bring my electronic dictionary all the time while at work I know it's a little bit baggy not to mention the other things a nurse need to bring, but for me it helps a lot to learn things immediately and after shift I try to read a little more about the unfamiliar term:)