Mad props...

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2018

That's awesome that you got that experience/perspective. I think everyone should get the opportunity to see "the other side" to understand what it is like - ER nurses to see what a full medsurg assignment looks like, med surg nurses to see what its like to work in the ER, etc.

When I started years ago as a new grad nurse in the PICU, part of our orientation included spending half of a shift on the units where we got the majority of ours admissions. I spent 6 hours in the ER, and 6 hours in PACU and it totally changed my perspective about everything that happens before they get to me. I wish more places would do this.

NuGuyNurse2b · Jul 17, 2018

Our hospital actually does that for new hires. They spend a week in the ER, and new ER nurses spend time in Med Surg.

Guest219794 · Jul 23, 2018

Amen.

I floated to tele one night from ICU. 5 patients, including a new admit, 2- or 3 of whom were actually sick. Some complete moron decided they should all get their medicine at the same time, which is technically impossible. Sometimes it takes me 2 or 3 minutes just to wrestle one pill from those damn packets. And, in an act of utter insanity, each of them have their own call bell, with NO LIMIT on how many times they can hit the button. When a coworker asked how I was doing, I responded, "About as well as you would be doing with one intubated PT, and one fresh crani.

So yes. Props to the floor.

And double props to any unit that requires cross training of some sort.

To quote eminent philosopher, Stephen Glenn Martin: "Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, when you do criticize him, you'll be a mile away and have his shoes."