Nursing Superstitions!

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I thought this would be a fun topic since nurses are the most superstitious people in the world!

I believe that disaster will strike if someone says the "Q" word. I even cringe if a patient says it.

I also never bring a book or magazine to read because I think it will be a slow day. That's a sure way to guarantee a code or a ton of admissions! :D

O.K. maybe I'm a little weird. :p

If you work in the Emergency Room you know that the surest way to help a very ill patient on to the next life is to send them to the CT scanner... also the number of staff members available and working on a certain night relates indirectly to how busy the night will be...if you are OVER staffed you will have a slowwwww night..if you are understaffed you are in for a night from hell!!

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Ok this isnt really a superstition..its the truth..IN the ER the patients that come in screaming the loudest and trying to get a head of everyone else turn out to have the LEAST life-threatening illnesses....for instance the man who almost kicked down the ER door because his daughter (15) burnt her tongue on pizza...and after being sent to the waiting room, the patient who was in an SVT (who had yet to be triaged) was the one calming the man down ..sheesh

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What a superstitious lot we are...

I work on a cardiac surgical ward & we have a communication book to put the names of pts we have identified that might require follow-up and/or assistance on d/c. If I identify a pt pre-op , I NEVER put their name in the book until they are back safely on the ward 24 hrs later...or else I feel we won't see them again.

Why is it whenever you go to morning tea or lunch YOUR infusion bag ALWAYS runs out, even when you were sure their was enough in it until you got back? Hence, I change the bag before I go..just in case.

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So true, new girl, so true! I used to swear people were out in the parking lot, waiting to see if we were busy-if we were, they, and all of their friends, came to join the party!:eek:

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We don't use the Q word or the S word and we never say I need to get out of here on time.

We also have a nurse is ER who calls them in , she is a beacon for our doors are open.

I need to try turning on the lights and zeroing the bed.:eek:

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Specializes in ER, Hospice, CCU, PCU.

Plus:

I have one nurse that I will NEVER, Never, Ever let leave early again. Last year she asked to go home early because it was "Q" and I said ok. We got a Trauma Code (we are a level 2 trauma center, we're not supposed to get trauma codes). A couple months later we were overstaffed and I let her go home early again and yelp we got another one. Three months ago, it was her turn again and I reminded her what happened the last two times. She said it was just a coincidence and she was sure it wouldn't happen again. On her way out of the parking lot she saw the accident happen that brought us out 3rd trauma code in one year. As I said; She will Never, Never, Ever go home early on my shift again.:(

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I cann't believe that so many of these supersions are not just nationwide but worldwide. We also have the "Q" word , not mentioning certain names and not turning beds back. Spooky.

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Q is definately a NO-NO!!!!!

A funny aside- the other night when I was working I happened to remark that at least we didn't have a code white going on- that is a secrity code. Sure enough within ten minutes an old guy came up the back stairs screaming for us to call the police, pulling his NG and swinging his foley bag at all of us.

I was told to keep quiet from then on about any kind of code!!!!!!!!!!!:D

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I know that sure enough if I only take one angiocath into a room to start an IV I will miss...so I ALWAYS take at least 3 or 4. :p

None of the floors in our hospital have room #13 either.

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I started to laugh when I was reading these posts--Too funny!! Along with most of the other superstitions already listed here is this one--When I draw blood from a long-term central line (LTCVC), PICC, ect, I NEVER ask the patient how their line draws. Guaranteed if I do ask they will tell me it draws blood fine and then I am unable to get a drop out of it. Very frustrating!! I learned this the hard way :rolleyes:

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When death is imminent among one of our patients, the pt's nurse will tie a knot in the bottom right bedsheet corner. This insures that the patient will not die during our shift. I am fairly new to this superstition, but I know some nurses who absolutely swear by this.

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OK, Renee what is the "R" word? I just can't think what it is! :confused: Thanks!

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