I try to live by a code where I don't want to have to have external validation in order to feel as though I am a good nurse. However, when external validation is given, it feels good.
In the past few months, I've identified symptoms on two patients, who are in their 50's, and got orders from the NP for labs. Both were transferred from geriatric psych to medical. One was experiencing a little GI distress and it was found that their lithium level was critical. The other was experiencing malaise, was on lactulose, and was found to have a high ammonia level.
Often times, psych patients are labelled "somatic" and are written off due to their psych diagnosis. But sometimes, if it quacks and walks like a duck, it is a duck.
I was running the copier the other day and happened to see my name on a form that was pinned to the bulletin board above it. I thought, "Oh jeez! What have I done wrong now?" The form, dated last November, recognized me for the above interventions.
On another note, I received a call early one morning from my supervisor regarding incontinent patients found to in need of hygienic measures when day shift made their initial rounds. A nurse extern had been working the floor the midnight before and was believed to have not done his job. The supervisor requested that I round with the nurse extern to assure the patients' hygienic needs were met.
I was caught off guard and taken by surprise at this allegation, but followed the supervisor's request. The nurse extern in question has proven to me to be a very good caregiver and was upset when I informed him. He said that he had checked on all the incontinent patients and/or provided care to them at the end of the shift.
I immediately sent an email to my supervisor singing the praises of this nurse extern. I ended the email with a belief that I would not hesitate for this nurse extern to be in charge of taking care of me or one of my loved ones. I gave a copy of the email to the grateful nurse extern.
I received a timely reply from my supervisor thanking me for following her request and for the support of the nurse extern. My supervisor noted that there may have been mitigating circumstances involved and that the nurse extern was only one of four staff members working that particular night.
It felt good to to be able to support a conscientious, hard-working co worker deserving of recognition and to also have my opinion respected by my supervisor.
I just wanted to share some of that good stuff with you all. There's more, but I don't want to get too big for my britches.
