I don't feel like I'll ever know enough

Nurses General Nursing

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Every day I learn. Now, that's a good thing, but I wish I weren't learning such basic things.

Do you ever feel adequate as a nurse?

I keep wondering when I'll ever get time again to do "fun" reading.

:)

Thanks, everyone. And we're on the same page re: not waning to be an order-following drone. I need to know the WHY.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
i remember in nsg school, i was at a clinical when one of the nurses told me "all you have to do is follow doctor's orders. you don't have to understand the whys or whats....just make sure it's safe."

I wonder if this nurse still has her license. I hope not.

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I keep wondering when I'll ever get time again to do "fun" reading.

:)

Thanks, everyone. And we're on the same page re: not waning to be an order-following drone. I need to know the WHY.

Thankfully, I worked with some excellent nurses who would dig deeper, looking for the 'whys'. By doing so, on occasion we found orders not in the patients' best interests, or have been able to suggest alternative treatments.

I was lucky that I worked with docs who were excellent teachers, and would take the time to explain to us the disease processes, the rationale behind their treatment plans, etc.

They were always open to answering our questions; we never got the "because I said so" line. I've even had them come back weeks later with follow-up on questions I'd ask (and sometimes I'd forgotten what the question was --- getting old is a pain!! )

I remember asking one of our docs about a medication. This guy is scary-smart lol. He started to answer, and I followed along pretty well for a while, then he kept getting deeper and deeper... after a few minutes he was somewhere down in the sub-molecular level and other nurses had gathered around to listen. At this point we were all standing there looking like deer in the headlights.

He went on for a bit longer, and finally I just asked, "But does it work?"

He said, "Of course!"

"Cool!" And we all went on our way, heads a-swimmin' :lol2:

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Specializes in Nursing Home ,Dementia Care,Neurology..

it's when you get to the stage, and age,where you still want to learn but the details magically slip through your brain.you know you've read the subject but that elusive detail which ,if you could remember,would make you look soooo knowledgeable has got on its horse and left town:uhoh3:or you grasp for a word and take on the resemblance of a goldfish while you try to remember the word.:lol2: yep ,getting old really sucks but i'm going to keep trying! remember:

keep learning.[color=maroon][color=maroon] learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. never let the brain idle. "an idle mind is the devil's workshop." and the devil's name is alzheimer's. ( george carlin)

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My problem is no one wants to help. They think @ my age,50, I should know what to do. When I do know, I get pushed away. We had a code a few weeks ago and the other two on duty with me literally pushed me aside, then told I didn't know what to do. I'm having a really hard time going to work each night now. I just stay one my hall and do my work, I have even stopped asking anyone if they need any help. Maybe that's the wrong way to be but it's the only way I can handle the situation right now. Any one have any ideas?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Sue, you will become more confident as the years go by, but I have found that the more I learn, the more questions I have. The more you know, the more you find out you DON'T know.

ebear

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My problem is no one wants to help. They think @ my age,50, I should know what to do. When I do know, I get pushed away. We had a code a few weeks ago and the other two on duty with me literally pushed me aside, then told I didn't know what to do. I'm having a really hard time going to work each night now. I just stay one my hall and do my work, I have even stopped asking anyone if they need any help. Maybe that's the wrong way to be but it's the only way I can handle the situation right now. Any one have any ideas?

I would keep to yourself. Seriously. I have had trouble with co-workers who expected me to know things I could only have known through telepathy.

As far as these co-workers go, Remember the words of Judge Judy: No good deed goes unpunished.

Do you work and nothing more unless asked or, obviously you see a patient in need.

And good luck.

:)

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Specializes in Behavioral Health, Show Biz.

Nobody, I mean NOBODY knows it all. Really. Learn what you can while you can and enjoy the ride with the rest of us.

You got my vote, Nurse!

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.
Every day I learn. Now, that's a good thing, but I wish I weren't learning such basic things.

Do you ever feel adequate as a nurse?

Sues, haven't you ever heard that the true sign of intelligence is realizing how little you really know. It's the stupid ones that think they have nothing more to learn, or have learned all they need to. Consider yourself as someone with high degree of intelligence! Happy Holidays (Merry Chrismukkah, as we call it in our family)

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Every day I learn. Now, that's a good thing, but I wish I weren't learning such basic things.

Do you ever feel adequate as a nurse?

You know some days I do some days not.

It has always been that way for me. As a new nurse I was constantly learning and everything from school was fresh in my mind.

Today I have already frogotten a lot. If you don't use it you loose it. Nursing gets to be compartmentalized in the knowledge and skills you use and one area of nursing never uses them all all the time. So you forget, feel foolish, and wonder if you are slipping, or even if you should be working.

Other days I must give myself credit because I have experienced things outside my current work environment that has helped me tremendously in this one.

I still study and try to keep up but I can not be all things to all patients in every situation. So specializing is a good thing. Because you can get really good in one area.

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My problem is no one wants to help. They think @ my age,50, I should know what to do. When I do know, I get pushed away. We had a code a few weeks ago and the other two on duty with me literally pushed me aside, then told I didn't know what to do. I'm having a really hard time going to work each night now. I just stay one my hall and do my work, I have even stopped asking anyone if they need any help. Maybe that's the wrong way to be but it's the only way I can handle the situation right now. Any one have any ideas?

What does your age have to do with it? I did not graduate my RN program until I was 50.

If you recently graduated you are no different than a 20 yr old who just graduated.

If you have demonstrated a lack of confidence then I might "push you aside" in a code situation not wanting to take the risk. This is not a time to hesitate or be unsure.

You might be expirencing bullying. If this is the case again you need to have a little trust in yourself and your abilities and stand up for yourself. ((hug)) Bullies look for victims that are unsure of themselves. Remember you know enough to be where you are.

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Remember the words of Judge Judy: No good deed goes unpunished.

So that is where that saying comes from. I use it on occasion. I love it.

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