kldepp08

A patient had an order for throat lozenges q4h PRN. He was asking for them more frequently, so the Dr changed the order to “may have ad lib or until develops dental caries”

I quite enjoy the vouchers to use in our own cafeteria... ??‍♀️

Me too

Thank you!

The pandemic was the first time I questioned if I could do this. I spent days upon days crying, not sleeping, struggling to keep myself together. It changed my nursing brain forever. We are trained to save lives, and while loss is inevitable, not to this degree. Instead of saving and fixing, my focus became how to help these patients comfortably and gracefully transition to death, without family support, we not only became their caretakers, but their families too! I cried more than I ever have in my career. I worked more hours/week and just kept going. I felt like I couldn’t stop. THIS is my job, it’s what I chose, and I’m going to continue to do it to the very best of my ability. Its hard being in the “real world”, seeing everyone in masks, seeing signs instructing us to “please stand here”, empty parking lots, no live music... This is not the world I want to live in. My heart breaks and I pray this is not “the new normal “ that everyone keeps claiming, because it is not normal at all! I wrote this poem shortly into Covid when asked what it’s like to be on lockdown. Just Breathe I don’t get to be on lockdown, I’m a nurse. So the sounds that have invaded my past few weeks are breaking my heart. It’s my job to save lives, and we are losing. The sound of those deep breaths, that’s what I encourage my patients to do as I look in their fearful eyes and hold their hands, “take a deep breath for me.... good.... another one.... you’re OK”. These are the words I say in hopes of avoiding replacing the sound of their natural breath, with that of an artificial one. My sounds are alarms, monitors, codes over the intercoms, “respiratory STAT”, doctors giving bad news, phones ringing with yet another admission. My sounds are patients crying, alone, missing their families, afraid of what awaits them. My sounds are of putting on gloves, the echo of my own voice coming back at me from a mask and a shield. My sounds are the tears of another coworker, voices trembling in fear, yet doing it anyway, becoming a team we never imagined we’d have to be. How I wish I’d hear the birds chirping, the wind rustling the leaves. I miss the simplicity of it all. My sound is pure exhaustion! But my heart beats louder still.... “just breathe....take a deep breath for me.... good.... another one.... you’re OK.” I don’t want a new normal, I just want normal!

May I ask why, in this day and age, we are researching, writing and reading articles on this topic? I get it, it still exists, but less so and I think instead of focusing on how we can learn to better deal with “difficult doctors”, we are not focusing on changing the culture on why this is still considered acceptable behavior! There are a few “difficult” physicians where I work, but I have found that if you don’t cower to them, and make it clear you will not tolerate being treated as such they tend to be less difficult. That being said, as a student or new grad that can be very intimidating, so the best advice is be prepared with all patient info and to answer their questions before reaching out to them. Then, give it time, with experience comes confidence and never feel bad for standing up for yourself! I promise there are respectful ways of doing so!

I felt like an imposter at least a year into working as an RN. School gives you the foundation, you learn more about being a nurse on the job. Completely normal. Never allow yourself to be “comfortable” either once you are a nurse, this is where mistakes happen. Don’t be prideful and know you will never know everything, always keep learning and asking questions! That’ll make you a better nurse!! Good luck!!

I am most thankful for my son, and the fact that he made it through a life threatening health scare last month! Thankful for his beautiful wife and that they will both be coming home for Christmas this year! My amazing friends and family and friends who are family! A great job that I get to do what I love, that my patients give me the honor and privilege of caring for them! Tomorrow isn't promised, and I learned that the hard was recently, so I'm thankful for today! Best to you all! ❤️

While I certainly understand the need for dark humor on occasion to cope with the sad reality of things we face as health care providers, I personally do not find this funny (but do not judge those who do)! This opioid epidemic is terrible and I see it everyday not just as a nurse, but as a human outside of work. I see how we create it Day in and day out in our patient by over medicating them and the end result is a physical addiction that then leads to illegal use and all too frequently overdose. Again, while I understand the humor behind it and understand why some think this is a way of stating it's not just "junkies" or "criminals" but smart well off and otherwise well adjusted people that this hits, for me... this is not effective! The addicted is one of my favorite populations and this crisis is one in which I am very passionate about. I try and think of ways I or we can make a difference and not a joke. I struggle when I speak to the doctors I work for expressing my concern about the fact that we are over medicating a patient who is clearly seeking and shows no sign of pain (I know it's subjective), but in turn I am told "everyone's pain is different" but it's clear it's just easier to medicate then to constantly be hounded for more meds, or get bad reviews... we are doing no one any justice here! Again I do not think anyone who finds this funny is wrong, I just think we need to find a better way and help find a solution instead of laughing off the tragedy!!

Great point, and agreed! I certainly did not mean to insult or diminish anyone's struggles! I understand everyone is different, and has different capabilities. My apologies that my statement may have been too broad! Thank you for correcting me! However, asking a very subjective question, was it the hardest thing YOU'VE even done, replies are going to be different for every one, while it may have been for one person, it may not have for another. But I agree that my statement is not fair for the exact same reason... It is assuming it's only as hard as you make it... for everyone... Again, I apologize! Please know my intent was not to belittle or be judgemental in any way.

Ummm... NO!! Was it easy? Certainly not! As a previous poster said it's only as hard a you make it.. expect to work hard and sacrifice a lot.. but I was a single mom working full time and passed with really good grades.. you can do it!! The hardest thing I've ever done?? Saying goodbye to my baby as he joined the Air Force!! I'd do nursing school ten times over rather than live that again!! Best to you!!

Thank you for your service, and continued service!

Allison, First and foremost, congrats to you for getting into your program, that's a great accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. Second, I am so sorry you came here looking for support and were left feeling overwhelmed and questioning your decision, certainly an unfair start for you. I will not lie, nursing school and nursing ARE difficult, but, if your mind and heart are in the right place and you are determined to put in the hard work, I have no doubt you will be successful. What I want you to remember when coming here, yes, you will see people posting their frustrations, again because it IS hard work, and as humans, we vent. We also come here for support, and being a safe forum for nurses and students to discuss their experiences with their peers helps us all process our feelings. So, while you may have seen many negative posts, please don't think that's all it is! We tend to voice our aggravations more so than the successes as human nature tends to show, misery loves company! Now, I can only speak for myself, but I am absolutely thrilled with my chosen profession! Yes, there are hard days, days when I can't wait to punch out at the end of the day, days when I think I just can't take any more, days when I think too much is expected of us. You will have those day no matter what you choose to do in life. What so I love about nursing? I went into this job with the intention of making a difference to the patients I care for. Again, this is not always easy, but 100% rewarding when it is achieved! When I say make a difference, I don't just mean in the big "life saving" sense of it, I find the most rewarding differences I make are always in the little things. If I am able to reach a "difficult" patient, or make someone who finds no reason to smile, smile, mission accomplished! If I am caring for someone who is alone and has no one, and I make them know that even if for 12 hours, someone REALLY does care... success!! When I say goodbye at the end of my shift, and a patient says, thank you for being there, thank you for caring for me, thank you for x, y and z, I know I made a difference! Is it always sunshine and rainbows? Certainly not, however, if something that I can do that is so small and takes nothing from me can make an impact on those I care for, then job well done! I tend to gravitate toward the patients that everyone else doesn't want to deal with, those with mental illness, those with addiction issues, the little old ladies on the call bell a million times an hour because they are lonely... I find that giving just that extra five minutes of time to let that lady talk about her husband of 50 years who passed and how much she misses him, well... she tends to call less for trivial things. I always make sure when I am with them providing care, giving meds ect, that I am 100% with them. I know the argument of nurses not having enough time to provide this extra attention, but for me at least, While I assessing, or giving meds, or changing a dressing I can also provide that extra touch and it takes nothing out of my day! Now, I'm just as guilty for getting annoyed and frustrated as the next person, and also vent my frustrations too, I'm just saying I always (TRY) at least to leave it outside of the patients care. I trust you will find your niche, you just need to get through school and into a job. Everyone has something different that speaks to them in this field, and you will most certainly find yours! Best of luck to you, and don't let anyones experience take away from yours... their story is not yours, nor will any experience be them same that you will have. If you hear a negative thing about a patient in report, don't walk into that room with that attitude, as it hinders you before you begin and you may find that you don't feel the same way. Your job is to find what YOU love and love what you do from there! Good luck to you!!

Best: An instructor known for being very tough, you know, the one that everyone fears on sight.... At the end of the semester evaluation she said to me, "you're going to make a great nurse", I said "thank you, that means a lot coming from you", her reply.... She gently placed her hand on my arm and said "what I'm trying to tell you, is that if I were sick, I'd want you to be my nurse." Just... WOW!!!! I cried instantly!!! Worst: At the start of my first semester, my clinical instructor had us go around the group and tell everyone about ourselves. When I revealed that I was a single mother working full time while attending nursing school, she told me that just can't be done and I need to get my priorities in order. Well, not only did I do it, I also graduated as class valedictorian!!! I hope she thinks twice before trying to tell people what they can or can not do! She was, however a very great professor despite that first impression!!

Stunning!! Thanks for reminding us what we do and why we do it!