Second day of clinical and paranoid is this normal?

jojotoo, RN · Jul 26, 2007

Germs are everywhere. Everywhere! Most of the germs that you are exposed to at work are the same ones that you are exposed to at Wal-Mart or any other public place.

Here are some hints:

1. Wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER you use the bathroom.

2. Get in the habit of not touching your face or hair while at work.

3. Always wash your hands after you take your gloves off.

4. Don't put your feet up on the chairs or counter.

5. Take good care of your hands - keep your skin intact.

Now as far as gaining the respect of the nurses that you will be working with:

1. Don't be a slacker. Do the work that you're being paid to do and

that the other staff and the PATIENTS are depending on you to do.

2. NEVER LIE!! If you didn't do something (for whatever reason) or

you make a mistake, own up to it. If you lie, no one will respect

you.

3. Have some empathy for your superiors. While it may seem like

you're doing more of the work, sometimes there's a lot going on

behind the scenes that you may not be aware of.

These hints are good for EVERYBODY - not just CNAs.

Good luck with your new career.

Mommy TeleRN, RN · Jul 26, 2007

A lot of the germs we deal with aren't necessarily all that risky to us as overall healthy people. Many things we can easily fight off with a good strong immune system. However, when we finish with one patient we go to another patient who DOESN'T have a healthy immune system. We are protecting not just ourselves but also the patients who we treat after the first patient. We protect their fragile immune systems by washing hands and wearing PPE.

Hopefully this knowledge helps you feel less paranoid about making yourself and your family sick...but nonetheless do not let yourself get slack either :)

I have been working around hopsitals for several years now first as a student and now as an RN. Inevitably when my family gets sick I catch it from my FAMILY. Rarely if ever do "I" get sick then give it to my family. I'm convinced Walmart is the most dangerous place! All the germs on those shopping carts! I wish they'd provide cleaning wipes like Kroger has. I had started keeping some in my car but then I slack and forget. I do keep hand sanitizer in my car.

locolorenzo22, BSN, RN · Jul 26, 2007

It is normal to be paranoid about germs, but you have to strike a fine line.....are you going to glove up every time you just need to check a patient's pulse? Are you going to glove up everytime you feed someone something you are not going to touch? Are you going to walk around with 23 layers of gloves on?

Use common sense, NEVER handle stool/urine/foleys/wet pads/depends w/o gloves....(although in a emergency, you sometimes don't have a choice)...RARE....

Wash hands often, and EVERY time you handle trash or go to bathroom.....NEVER forget to dry hands from fingertips to wrist, and wash from wrist to tips...(didn't learn that until first week of RN school!) Part of issues may be isolation pateints...but never go in an isolation room without gowning/gloving up....

With respect from the nurses....it takes proven ability to gain their trust....one nurse, who I felt didn't like me, simply was protective of her patients....and now sees that I give capable care and if there's a problem I'm going to tell her pronto....

Tips:

1. Be productive. Don't sit on your butt when there's vitals to be done, charting to finish, things to clean, etc. When the work's done, then you can sit on your butt.....(but take breaks that you're entitled to).

2. Don't say NO to something simple because "it's not my patient". If nurse needs you to get a simple cup of coffee, do it. If they just need a supply quickly, do it. If you're in the middle of a task explain that to them, and they need to find someone else.

3. (seconded because of importance) NEVER falsify records, lie, steal, or try to make it seem like you know something you don't. They won't kill you for not knowing protocol on a patient...they will kill you for doing something you weren't sure of....you hate to bring bad news, but sometimes it's what you have to do...I've had to tell them many times of falls, drains popping out, pts. tearing out IVs, etc...I've heard it all.

4. Nurses are busy. PERIOD! Sometimes they get looks for supposedly "sitting" but they have meds, doctor orders to check, things to do every shift, monitoring to do, charting....NEVER figure that nurses are lazy....unless they're reading tabloids or people instead of working.....

5. Be aware of baselines for VS, and report any variations in those....B/P of 150/100, or 92/50....I'd just give a heads up....

6. Be as friendly as you can to EVERYONE!!!

The other thing to keep in mind is that you are a STUDENT (Magic Red flag sticking up out of head!)....me 2.....Professionals may have had bad exp with students or just view them as bad without remembering where they started. However, never judge staff dynamics without actually working there......Occasionally, I feel inadequate as a student RN...but I'm there to learn, and that's what I do every day I work clinicals.....do your best and you'll be fine.....oh, and never walk out on a "code brown"!

ariannasmom · Jul 26, 2007

Thank you all for the comments. Lots of very usefull information. I did notice that a lot of the cna's at the facility were not doing as much as they could. Thanks again!!