2/20: what I learned this week: people do not understand TB

Nurses General Nursing

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People......

This week. I got asked by my bosses boss to pick up a shift. I used the weakest excuse there is and I stuck to it: my group was just too much, I haven't gotten sleep, and I desperately need my days off.

So now, I bring to you what I learned while sitting in my home ED triage wearing an N95. Yup. It's been that kinda week.

1. I have yet to meet a grumpy person who didn't perk up after giving them a shift of kindness. It feels like the biggest victory, too.

2. It sucks that being required to report abuse and self harm means destroying the trust you'd achieved before that point.

3. Some patients make me hate nursing homes. I'm so sorry to the NH staff we have on here. I understand you function under terrible limitations. However.... When a nursing home gets a patient they are unequipped to handle, they don't realize how horrible the outcome can be. One such patient made me cry. HARD. I found a dark corner of the hospital and just hid. Some things we'll never let go of.

4. We have a patient with us who has been with us three times over 3 months and was not shown to have TB until last week. For some reason only those of us directly exposed seem to be freaking out at all over this. Sputum results would be nice, please.

5. You can do everything in your power on the planet to fight hard to end abuse and make progress for a patient. And then you can find that it did absolutely nothing. Your time was wasted. THIS is where burnout begins.

6. When you FINALLY feel awake enough to get your URI checked out, and you're honest about your TB exposure, you'll get turned away by everyone but the ED. What a waste. Honestly.

7. I don't want to be a psych nurse. I tip my hat to all of you out there. I don't want to be a psych nurse, but you know what? I'm good at it.

8. I don't know what is going to happen if I'm positive for TB. My kids have fevers this morning. Maybe they'll let us room together. [emoji22]

Specializes in Cath Lab.

I learned that you have to pause all infusions in a PICC before drawing blood from it, not pause the one port you're drawing from.

I also learned the lab people I work with are very patient with me knowing I'm new at this, and I'm fortunate to have them call with strange levels and have me redraw it instead of just accepting it.

Specializes in critical care.

OP needed for next week's thread! Tonight makes shift 2 of 4. I could shoot for the stars and try to do it, but I'd probably get as far as the treetops and knock some teeth out instead. [emoji5]️

Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.
I learned that you have to pause all infusions in a PICC before drawing blood from it, not pause the one port you're drawing from.

I also learned the lab people I work with are very patient with me knowing I'm new at this, and I'm fortunate to have them call with strange levels and have me redraw it instead of just accepting it.

Haha, I remember learning this the hard way too. The lab called me with a glucose of 900+ and a K of 1.8 and a Na of 110 and so on..

Specializes in Med Surg, ICU, Infection, Home Health, and LTC.

I have learned that this particular thread is one I enjoy and look forward to more than any other I have ever read. It is uplifting, positive, covers all levels of healthcare and is at times hilarious, scary, affirming, and always include "yep been there done that" moments. I don't know when it began or who started it but thank you to all who participate. It is delightful!

Specializes in critical care.
I have learned that this particular thread is one I enjoy and look forward to more than any other I have ever read. It is uplifting, positive, covers all levels of healthcare and is at times hilarious, scary, affirming, and always include "yep been there done that" moments. I don't know when it began or who started it but thank you to all who participate. It is delightful!

You have warmed my heart to no end! Thank you! [emoji173]️

I think if you go back through threads I've started, you'll find the first around May or June of last year. I'm a person who LOVES opportunities for emotional and intellectual growth. I find this place an AWESOME resource. Put the two together - what I learned this week! [emoji5]️

Specializes in critical care.
OP needed for next week's thread! Tonight makes shift 2 of 4. I could shoot for the stars and try to do it, but I'd probably get as far as the treetops and knock some teeth out instead. [emoji5]️

I have found inspiration for this week's OP. [emoji5]️ Nevermind!

I've learned the business/recruiting end of home health/PDN is very dirty. Some agencies will slander another just to get patients or nurses. Homie don't play that.

That and also beware of allowing a potential employer to call the current agency. One of the nurses that works the same case as me plus one other found out the reason a nurse was turned down after she was pretty much told she had her new job was because the owner of the home health care agency didn't want to lose her on the case so she lied to the company calling to ask about their new nurse they were wanting to hire. The owner actually told the mother of the patient that she did this so that she would be able to keep her as a nurse on the case (It was a case that was hard to staff because the mother is hard to deal with from what I was told)...now that was really dirty...

Specializes in critical care.

New thread!

https://allnurses.com/post8924073-num1.html

I get annoyed by people easily. I have a very questionable personality, but I'm friendly towards everyone. However, I learned that the people who annoy me can sometimes not annoy me, and I like them in those moments. (Don't judge me)

I feel like we are the same person. This is one reason that I had a hard time doing bedside nursing. My job now allows me some patient contact, but not enough that I get annoyed by them.

I worked on an ortho floor Friday night to help out and was quickly reminded how much I hate it.

I re-learned that patients after back surgeries are difficult to deal with even when it's been a few weeks. I'm not sure if it is the type of people, the surgery, or tolerance to pain medication, but they are almost always the only ones on the floor with severe pain issues.

One more thing I've relearned... Some nurses just inspire you to be better. I floated to a different floor and worked alongside one of those type nurses. I'm thankful for those types. They work hard and work well. They're just doing their job taking care of people and never even realize they're inspiring others in the process.

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