Nursing Skills you've used outside of work

[sergel02]

I've been wondering this for a long time, but do any of your nursing skills and knowledge transfer over to places outside of work? Like in an emergency did you have to help heal a person, or do people come to you for medical advice? Or do you use some of your nursing skills to care for your kids or make health decisions?

[OldITgeek]

The most important nursing skill/experience I learned today.

How to spot a Foley catheter at 100 yards.

Picture this: A beautiful fall day in Idaho, picking up a few things at the local Wal-mart (I know, where else could it happen?)

So I pull in, and find a SWEET spot only 2nd from the door. I am sitting in the car celebrating my good fortune, when something JUST NOT RIGHT passes in my line of vision...

Now I did mention that it was a nice Fall day, but still the temps are in the high 40's to low 50's. So the fat guy on the little electric scooter in the white t-shirt and shorts was somewhat out of place with the folks in fleece. But hey, its Wal-mart, so I figure pretty much anything goes.

Seconds later I was cursing myself, banging my head on the steering wheel...for not having a camera onboard.

The scooter guy has this strange looking white strap about 2 inches wide around his right leg. Then I see the tube. Yellow in color, and strangely familiar. Yes, folks, hanging from the black shorts, on an otherwise perfect Fall day, was a standard, hospital-issue Foley catheter and collection bag, laying in the foot tray area of the electric scooter.

Now please don't think I am making this up, because I really couldn't if I tried. It would not even occur to me to think of something so horrific (yes, I do have E/D experience, but still).

So I am laughing hysterically in the car, and decide I must sprint from the vehicle, and follow the guy. Two thoughts are forming in my head:

1) The collection bag (wasn't that full, maybe 250 or so) might just fall off the little foot-platform thing, get caught underneath the wheels, then POP! OUCH! And yet *another* urine cleanup on aisle 3 at Wal-mart.

2) What quantity/quality of pathogens could one find should one decide to culture swab any publicly-used item at Wal-mart..? Oh, I yearn for those Microbiology lab days...

So I get to the entrance where I see the guy parked and talking to another customer, and walk right by the scooter. SURE ENOUGH!! Foley verified. Standard, hospital-issue, we-don't-need-no-stinkin-leg-bag FOLEY.

Awesome day all around. Perfection would have been photo evidence...sorry

I love being a nurse.