Confess! Whats the craziest force of habit you've done in the "Real World"

[vhern246]

I have heard some of the craziest things nurses have done out of force of habit in the "Real World". Aka out of the hospital.

I've heard that some sign their checks with first initial, last name RN.

Someone ran to aisle four in the grocery store because of a "code blue! clean up! Code blue!"

Knocking on the door before entering, any door, your front door.

Answering your cell phone "Nurses station"

Admiring someones veins.

Holding your invisible steth when leaning over.

Wheres the weirdest place you've fallen asleep?

Confess!

[lamazeteacher]

I usually compliment people who have good veins, (which I notice, as well as those that are nonapparant) and say something about their having good hydration. If they're open to it, I tell them that their expanded veins are evidence of that, and it is a good practise to stay well hydrated.

When I see or hear the impact that alerts me that an accident happened, I am impelled to go to the aid of whoever is involved, unless the paramedics are already there. Recently I heard a car crash on the street behind mine, and rushed out. A (?) drug dealer had been distracted, driving too fast and overturned his car before I got to that street. I saw people holding a large man down on the sidewalk, on the way and he said his "chick" was still in the car, so I went on.

Half a block along, I saw the upside down car with no one in it. Neighbors there said that the driver had refused to leave his vehicle, until he collected all the drugs in it. There were pills spilled on the ground and children looking at them with interest. I stayed there to be sure the pills stayed where they landed.

When the police and paramedics came, I pointed to the capsules and pills, and they acknowledged that. However, they went to the driver's location and didn't leave one officer to keep the children away. The driver wasn't injured and had tried to get away from his captors by saying his "chick" was still in the car, so I didn't see any need for all the officers to be there instead of the site where the car was, with its dangerous potential. I told the officer in charge that he should cordon off the area after about a half hour, but he didn't do that, and I didn't feel it was safe to leave the pills there, nor did I believe I should remove them, so I continued to ask that either the children or the pills be removed.

In other words, I couldn't release myself from feeling responsible for what could happen, and being a good samaritan.

Even though I'm retired, I intend to stay current with CPR and go to the aid of others in need, despite changes in the good samaritan law that could make me vulnerable to a lawsuit. However I wouldn't do anything except stabilize an accident victim as best I can, monitoring vital signs and other & symptoms and supplying comfort measures after summoning help.

That is what nurses do, who believe that "once a nurse, always a nurse".

[canesdukegirl, BSN, RN]

I was recently on vacation at the beach, and the house that we were renting did not offer linen service. So I was busy getting all of the linens on the bed for our guests when my best friend walks in and asks me if she could help. I tossed her a few pillows. When she saw that I was turning the pillow cases inside out and then gripping the pillow while turning the pillowcase right side out, she just stopped. She said, "What in the world are you doing? Trying to put on a pillow condom?" I just busted out laughing, and explained to her that in the OR, we could not "shake" linens. She was so impressed with the efficiency of this particular way of changing pillow cases, that she called me from home to tell me that she had adopted the "pillow condom" method!

[frantic one]

Veins-guilty, whether it's in real life or with TV. I think that my husband has gotten blase about this. Same with diagnosing someone out in public, and fighting the itch to ask them about their health.

Like lamazeteacher, was at a car accident recently and had to triage the situation. The driver was pinned by his right arm by the side-post of a box van, and the crowd that gathered wanted to muscle the van into an upright position. All I could think of was the potential of an artery becoming uncompressed. Esp. since peripheral pulse and sensation was ok, but there was enough blood at the scene.

Yes to pillows and cases, and "hospital corners".

And it's impossible to fight the training as a student nurse to not do things inefficiently (like visiting a linen cart several times, when one should be enough [despite the unexpected]).

[RetiredTooSoon]

One time I was visiting my parents. I went to answer the phone and said, "Operating Room, RetiredTooSoon".

My poor uncle was completely baffled. It was my name, my voice, but I'd just told him that he'd called the hospital. At least I didn't answer the phone when my work took me into the morgue; that would have really creeped him out.

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

a colleague at work who cares for her elderly mother admitted to me the other day that she keeps her mothers controlled drugs (oxycodone and oxycontin) in a separate box to the rest of her mothers medications! She said also at times especially after night duty when giving her mother meds that she has looked around for someone else to sigh the CD "out" with her!!

When I was a student and working in a 4 star hotel at weekends and holidays have on more than one occasion answered the phone for room service with "hello, surgical 2 student nurse karenmaire speaking" insead of "hello ashdoon bar karenmaire speaking can I help you?". It seemed to happen not on a Friday after placement but at the most random times during the holidays! trying to back track mostly got a laugh from the customers and best wishes from them for my future career!!

[meintheUSA]

As a CNA, I do not check veins, but look at ankles to see if they could be pitted edema for me to report... I do the pillow condom and corners at home, and wash the hands, wrists, and elbows more than necessary. Also knock on all doors before entering. Even the closets... DUH...

Once after pulling 2 - 18 hours in 2 days, I fell asleep in the john at work. I fell asleep in my car once, as soon as I was sitting down... was in the parking lot with my keys in the purse, Thank God, and not driving...

Hats off to each and everyone of us.

[oncnursemsn]

Guilty of not reading every post- but I'm always looking at arms for veins that I can get. Swollen ankles and dyspnea. Huge abdomen in one who is way older then pregnant- diagnosed liver disease. Seeing someone and he has great veins. Should I have to access- wouldn't be a problem. Sick? Hilarious post BTW...

[laurenicoleRN]

When I have my head on a guys chest, I auscultate heart sounds without them knowing

[Teamlangston]

When I have my head on a guys chest, I auscultate heart sounds without them knowing

I TOTALLY do this too!! And here I was thinking that I was the only weird one

[aeonflux40]

On days when I am exhausted from work I have found myself thinking I have to document something I did even when I am not at work anymore...for example: my dog's BM or me taking an ibuprofen.

I do the same thing. Whenever I take Ibuprofen or Nyquil, I feel the urge to write it down somewhere to make sure if I need more, I have to wait 4-6 hours before my next dose lol

[aeonflux40]

I admire veins in public

I have signed RN after my name many times [possibly bc of the fact that I am so proud of my job]

I critique CPR I see on TV/in movies [has anyone seen "Misery"?]

While watching an old South Park episode recently, the doctor said he needed sodium pentathol and potassium chloride-2 ingredients used during lethal injection. I'm sure they meant to be silly, but I still pointed this out to my friends.

When asking my friends for something urgent, I say "STAT" instead of ASAP

Also, while watching TV/movies, when they mention a particular drug, I say out loud, "Oh, that's used for blah blah blah." which can really annoy some ppl.

[pandora44]

I was at my doctor's office with a UTI. I had peed in the cup and put the lid back on. Then I was looking around for gloves to carry my own urine sample. Cracked me up when I realized what I was doing.

When I'm bored or anxious I count my own radial pulse. I usually use military time. When texting I use "et" instead of and and "c" instead of with. It confused my friends at first but they're used to it now.

I always check out people's veins, frequently diagnose strangers, and sign my checks with RN after my name. I also work a second job in retail. I have to concentrate very hard to give the right greeting when I answer the phone. I also tend to call customers "patients."