I am wondering if there are any experinced nurses who entered the medical field with high ideals only to discover that they were a bit disillusioned and nieve. For example, when you first began, did you have specific ideas about ethical issues, equality, fairness etc. that were markedly changed by experience?
As a student learning about ethics, specifically "slow code," I am deeply disturbed by the issue. However, reading about individual cases I realize that I have never had to recessitate a very frail 90yr patient whose sternum was crushed beneath my hands, and who, if survived would have to suffer the pain of those injuries. I am nieve of the situation because I have never experienced it, and so should not orient my feelings so strongly against it.
What other situations do you find that a new nurse is emotionally unprepared for and can you give any advise to the student to prepare for such events. Do many aspire to become a nurse because of the deep emotional root to care for people but in practice become hardened a bit? Im just feeling like I need a hard dose of reality in the heart department. Thanks!
Specializes in M/S, MICU, CVICU, SICU, ER, Trauma, NICU.
Allright new grads. More reality bites.....
1. YOU MUST make time to pee. NO EXCUSES. YOU matter. If you don't take care of yourself, do you think your patients give a rat's ***? So who will? Your manager? Mommy? So go and PEE.
2. YOU MUST make time to eat. I take my lunch and no ONE, not even the CNO, CEO, or the President of the United States will interfere with it. Except for my family...they can call me anytime.
3. YOU MUST RESPECT your limits and YOU MUST LEARN ASSERTIVENESS skills. YOU will make someone mad. It is inevitable. YOU ARE HUMAN. They are human. YOU ARE NOT PERFECT. They are not perfect. YOU CAN'T please everyone and it is not your job to do that.
4. It is your job to be professional, well-maintained (don't wear hoochie mama uniforms, OMgoodness they make the nurses--yes, you young ones out there--look so--sheesh....dare I say? NON-PROFESSIONAL. and dare I say it? Yes. Like hoochie mamas. I don't want a hoochie mama for a nurse. Male or female. Cover up your TATS. I LOVE them, but GRANDMA SMITH might be scared of you.
4. Behave like you are to be respected and EXPECT IT. I have never allowed anyone to yell at me and have a way of making someone look like an idiot even as they try. I don't care who they are. And they figure it out pretty soon when I walk away from as if they do not exist in my universe. They don't. Yes, I AM more important than that and NO you CANNOT yell at me.
5. Expect to be kicked, bit, spit, thrown up on, pooped on peed on....if the patients are confused, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. If they do know what they do, call the police. I'm not having that--and you shouldn't either.
6. Boohoo for you if you have to work the night shift. No one has forced you to work it. You no likey? Leavey the jobbey.
7. You may have to work weekends. Repeat, you may have to work weekends. And holidays. You no likey? You leavey.
8. You are no more important nor less important than someone with kids. You are no more important nor less important than someone without kids.
9. LEARN to be a team player. And DON'T act like a brat. I work in a very, very independent area. Sometimes the anesthesia provider is FAR, FAR AWAY. If an experienced person offers advice to you, don't ignore it. Don't be a know-it all when you don't know a darn thing. It will come back to haunt you.
10. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. That's why I appreciate my experience now as I go for my advanced degree. Something happened with a new NP yesterday (another one who left in tears) She was told by the NP committee she wouldn't get the "respect" because she has than 5 years of experience. If you're going for your NP, please consider getting as much bedside. Not everyone can be bedside. Best those those who can't to move along to a desk job.
11. KNOW YOUR POLICIES. I MEAN KNOW THEM. And don't whine and cry here when you get written up. Guess what? Figure out your part in the whole issue and if you have a true dispute then go up the chain. If you really messed up..who hasn't??? Put on your big girl panties (YEAH, MEN TOO) and deal.
12. Don't be whiney. PLEASE DO NOT BE WHINEY. Enough said. That's from your mom telling me that......
Specializes in trauma, ortho, burns, plastic surgery.
And a soft one.... what did you learn in school IS PERFECT, what you will see in reality could be: bad, good, perfect, partial perfect, or.... GUIDED by internal politics and policies.....if somenthing looks strange for you and not match with what you learnt in school... think and ask, but never forget what you learnt in school!
PostOpPrincess, BSN, RN
2,211 Posts
Allright new grads. More reality bites.....
1. YOU MUST make time to pee. NO EXCUSES. YOU matter. If you don't take care of yourself, do you think your patients give a rat's ***? So who will? Your manager? Mommy? So go and PEE.
2. YOU MUST make time to eat. I take my lunch and no ONE, not even the CNO, CEO, or the President of the United States will interfere with it. Except for my family...they can call me anytime.
3. YOU MUST RESPECT your limits and YOU MUST LEARN ASSERTIVENESS skills. YOU will make someone mad. It is inevitable. YOU ARE HUMAN. They are human. YOU ARE NOT PERFECT. They are not perfect. YOU CAN'T please everyone and it is not your job to do that.
4. It is your job to be professional, well-maintained (don't wear hoochie mama uniforms, OMgoodness they make the nurses--yes, you young ones out there--look so--sheesh....dare I say? NON-PROFESSIONAL. and dare I say it? Yes. Like hoochie mamas. I don't want a hoochie mama for a nurse. Male or female. Cover up your TATS. I LOVE them, but GRANDMA SMITH might be scared of you.
4. Behave like you are to be respected and EXPECT IT. I have never allowed anyone to yell at me and have a way of making someone look like an idiot even as they try. I don't care who they are. And they figure it out pretty soon when I walk away from as if they do not exist in my universe. They don't. Yes, I AM more important than that and NO you CANNOT yell at me.
5. Expect to be kicked, bit, spit, thrown up on, pooped on peed on....if the patients are confused, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. If they do know what they do, call the police. I'm not having that--and you shouldn't either.
6. Boohoo for you if you have to work the night shift. No one has forced you to work it. You no likey? Leavey the jobbey.
7. You may have to work weekends. Repeat, you may have to work weekends. And holidays. You no likey? You leavey.
8. You are no more important nor less important than someone with kids. You are no more important nor less important than someone without kids.
9. LEARN to be a team player. And DON'T act like a brat. I work in a very, very independent area. Sometimes the anesthesia provider is FAR, FAR AWAY. If an experienced person offers advice to you, don't ignore it. Don't be a know-it all when you don't know a darn thing. It will come back to haunt you.
10. Nothing worthwhile comes easily. That's why I appreciate my experience now as I go for my advanced degree. Something happened with a new NP yesterday (another one who left in tears) She was told by the NP committee she wouldn't get the "respect" because she has than 5 years of experience. If you're going for your NP, please consider getting as much bedside. Not everyone can be bedside. Best those those who can't to move along to a desk job.
11. KNOW YOUR POLICIES. I MEAN KNOW THEM. And don't whine and cry here when you get written up. Guess what? Figure out your part in the whole issue and if you have a true dispute then go up the chain. If you really messed up..who hasn't??? Put on your big girl panties (YEAH, MEN TOO) and deal.
12. Don't be whiney. PLEASE DO NOT BE WHINEY. Enough said. That's from your mom telling me that......
Good luck...