So...What Kind of Nursing Task Do You LIKE?

[VivaLasViejas]

We've got a really good thread going on the kinds of nursing tasks we hate, so I thought I'd throw this one out there to get people talking about the kinds they actually enjoy doing.

For me it was IVs. I stunk at them for the first couple of years after I got out of school because I didn't have much of a chance to start them in the LTCs I worked in. But when I got into acute care, I didn't have a choice but to learn, and within a year I was getting calls from the ICU to come down and start an IV in someone they couldn't get a line in. Frequent flyers would actually request me by name to start their IVs because I could do it quickly and on the first try. I don't know why I had so much luck with the hard sticks, when sometimes I'd miss a big plump one in the hand; there was also the occasional shift where I wasn't "in the zone" and couldn't hit a barn door with a two-by-four. We all have those days. But I sure miss holding a 20-gauge angiocath in my hand and sliding that baby in smoothly and effortlessly.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

I like wound care. Examining and dressing wounds is really cool.

Plus .. nobody's got time for that. Turf that to wound care:)

[Karou]

I like giving bed baths and showers. It makes me feel good to know that I have thoroughly cleaned someone who really needed it. It also is the easiest way for me to asses skin.

I like charting. When I have the time to finally set down and chart, I really like to dig in and learn everything about the patient and connect dots.

Used to dread IV's, but now I actually like doing them. I am not close to being a master but am good enough now that I get approached by my coworkers for assistance.

I also like irrigating Foley catheters, and emptying JP drains (that squelch noise!)

[walkingthecow]

Stripping chest tubes!!!

[K+MgSO4, BSN]

Dropping decompression NG tubes. There is something horrible about putting it in but the relief that a pt feels as I pull off about a litre of contents is satisfying.

Washing LOL hair. Or anyone really who has been sick for a while and all sweaty scalp or worse. Admittedly I am terrible at hair styling but I'll dry it with a hair-dryer and brush it out.

[klone, MSN, RN]

IV starts and phlebotomy, staple removal, inserting foleys, and patient teaching on contraception and abortion.

[RNNPICU, BSN, RN]

Trach changes and CVVH. Keeping track of all the Is and Os and balancing it out with CVVH is really fun

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

Starting ivs (exception noted on other thread), fixing hypo/hypertension, fixing rapid afib, fixing asthma, titrating drips to get just the correct results, educating patients families ("so, what did the doctor say?" Then expanding on that). Getting a smile out of the terrified kid. Inserting ngts. There's more, but that's just off the top.

[Libby1987]

Things I love and do daily..

teaching disease mgmt, procedures, meds

wound care

comoression wraps

the first colostomy change (not daily actually)

positioning/repositioning with pillows for comfort

teaching other nurses

probably forgot something..

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I love a big old train wreck of a fresh peds open heart. Eight drips, open chest, itty-bitty foley, chest tubes, vent, RA, art line.........not kidding, it's my favorite thing to get them all settled, stable and then clean them up for mom and dad. Just enough work to stay busy, but no running the halls. Excellent.....

[Emergent, RN]

IVs are fun, but there's nothing as gratifying than helping with draining an enormous, purulent abscess. Oh yeah!

And, I love the team effort of getting a STEMI off to the cath lab in 20 minutes. What a rush!

[Nic0co]

IVs IM SQ wound care Med math

[rnsrgr8t]

It has been over 10 years since I have had to do it but I used to LOVE accessing PortaCaths...not sure why but always thought it was cool.

Still like giving IM injections. Like it when kids barely react or tell me they did not feel it at all!