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]
1. The facts of a story or situation may be one thing. But what the story becomes when others tell it? The new version is almost unrecognizable, and with very few commonalities to what really transpired. The embellished version is far more entertaining so why would you ask for clarification?
2. I took care of a patient this past week I had previously cared for. S/he recognized me (and called me out by name). Thanked me for "before" and "again". The patient's spouse commented about how they knew their spouse would be "well cared for" and has been "well cared for during all (number) of procedures they've had at (facility)." It's the little things!
3. One of the surgeons I work with told my coworker that I could probably better explain his needs for a specific procedure than he could.
4. I had lunch with three coworkers I haven't gotten to talk to much lately one day this week. I needed that – getting to talk to them. I don't often get to have lunch with coworkers much less those few! I'm usually in such a hurry…we all are.
5. My boss complimented me on something I never expected her to do so for. Little things.
--Although I know every adult/acute floor nurse in the hospital, I will still get dumped on and not even realize it until halfway through my shift. Started out with the highest ratio, patients in rooms on 2/3 wings, 4/6 patients assigned a student, got a discharge who hadn't left yet, and was almost immediately assigned an admit when other nurses had only 5 patients to start out with. As a permanent float, my time management is stellar (as evidenced by my leaving on time even with that ****** assignment while staff stayed late), but even I have a breaking point.
--I'm a damn good teacher, and it pays to get to know the clinical instructors on the floors. ("When you're done with school, get in touch with me, and you'll have a job.")
--Fifteen months, baby, and I will say goodbye to full time bedside work.
--I set impossibly high expectations for my nursing, and that's what's burning me out. That, and, of course, worthless CNAs. Why do I have to follow up on routine vitals, blood sugars, and I/Os on Foleys? Why do I never see you...at all?
I've learned that Ritalin can be dosed closer than I thought, if need be, but as a HS nurse I've thankfully dodged the Ritalin thing thus far. Older kids are usually "set" in their meds by the time they get to me.
I've learned that cutting Depakote back just a bit can "wake up" a shlogged patient.
I've learned the raccoons think it's Spring and got into my garbage on the deck.
I've learned that letting go of people is harder than I thought. It's so much more about me than I thought it was. Why am I always he last one to figure this out?
I've learned that I need a turbinate reduction, as well as a septum repair, but I'm vain about my cute nose and I don't want anyone to **** with it.
I've learned I can call my friends and cough loudly in their ear and they still love me. (I'm looking at you, Ood. And poopy- sorry about the voicemail I left you, hacking up a lung!)
I've learned that I truly love the School Nurse Forum and feel almost protective of the nurses there. I think of them as my co-workers. They are my go to nurses on this board. I'm thankful for them every day.
I know I like pulling others' pigtails, but I'm learning I really like my pigtails pulled. Just a bit.
Watching The Grammys, I've learned that Bonnie Raitt is still a total badass.
I've learned that even though I'm not a School Nurse, I too feel very protective, even though I know you guys can more than hold your own against anyone. Even the recent influx of Facebook princesses.
TB wise, when I was talking to ixchel yesterday I was reminded of how we handled these things when I worked in Employee Health and it was very different.
I also dreamed about giving PPDs and making perfect wheals.
So this week I learned that the nurse manager on the L&D unit has no clue that I am even precepting on her unit. I am precepting at night so I dont get to see or talk with her. I am over halfway done with my precepting and I am trying to figure out how to approach her and talk about hiring possibilities. I sent an email asking to meet and introduce myself.
I have a new appreciation for the Mom/Baby unit. We were floated down there Friday night and I only sat to chart. 8 patients and I was running all night! I much prefer L&D but I am grateful for those nurses on that unit.
I learned that online dating meetups can happen at the oddest of times and places. Our antepartum patient on mom/baby (there for preclampsia and GD) was beginning to go into labor and we were going to send her upstairs to L&D and while waiting she decided to arrange to meet her 'guy' that she had been online dating with. That was awkward!!
So this week I learned that the nurse manager on the L&D unit has no clue that I am even precepting on her unit. I am precepting at night so I dont get to see or talk with her. I am over halfway done with my precepting and I am trying to figure out how to approach her and talk about hiring possibilities. I sent an email asking to meet and introduce myself.
I have a new appreciation for the Mom/Baby unit. We were floated down there Friday night and I only sat to chart. 8 patients and I was running all night! I much prefer L&D but I am grateful for those nurses on that unit.
I learned that online dating meetups can happen at the oddest of times and places. Our antepartum patient on mom/baby (there for preclampsia and GD) was beginning to go into labor and we were going to send her upstairs to L&D and while waiting she decided to arrange to meet her 'guy' that she had been online dating with. That was awkward!!
So this week I learned that the nurse manager on the L&D unit has no clue that I am even precepting on her unit. I am precepting at night so I dont get to see or talk with her. I am over halfway done with my precepting and I am trying to figure out how to approach her and talk about hiring possibilities. I sent an email asking to meet and introduce myself.
I have a new appreciation for the Mom/Baby unit. We were floated down there Friday night and I only sat to chart. 8 patients and I was running all night! I much prefer L&D but I am grateful for those nurses on that unit.
I learned that online dating meetups can happen at the oddest of times and places. Our antepartum patient on mom/baby (there for preclampsia and GD) was beginning to go into labor and we were going to send her upstairs to L&D and while waiting she decided to arrange to meet her 'guy' that she had been online dating with. That was awkward!!
FurBabyMom, MSN, RN
1 Article; 814 Posts
My list for the week:
1. The facts of a story or situation may be one thing. But what the story becomes when others tell it? The new version is almost unrecognizable, and with very few commonalities to what really transpired. The embellished version is far more entertaining so why would you ask for clarification?
2. I took care of a patient this past week I had previously cared for. S/he recognized me (and called me out by name). Thanked me for "before" and "again". The patient's spouse commented about how they knew their spouse would be "well cared for" and has been "well cared for during all (number) of procedures they've had at (facility)." It's the little things!
3. One of the surgeons I work with told my coworker that I could probably better explain his needs for a specific procedure than he could.
4. I had lunch with three coworkers I haven't gotten to talk to much lately one day this week. I needed that – getting to talk to them. I don't often get to have lunch with coworkers much less those few! I'm usually in such a hurry…we all are.
5. My boss complimented me on something I never expected her to do so for. Little things.