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

Published

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. :yes:

Art sticks! As long as the patient is sedated..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You all might think I'm weird but I like being the nurse when we have nothing left to do for the patient but keep them comfortable. I like making sure they have the right meds to ease their suffering, putting chapstick on their lips, coming their hair, rubbing their backs when turning them. Just feels like the least I can do at the end of life.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
For those nurses who don't do it well I recommend becoming a T1DM. At some point, around 22 years and ~38,000 insulin injections, they'll get really good at it. Trust me. ;)

There is definitely truth to that. I did lupron for IVF, and when I did it myself, I'd go fast, straight in. I asked my hubs to do it once. ONE TIME. That man pushed that tiny little SQ needle in so slowly that it might as well have been a 16g 2" needle, it hurt so much. Never again! An experience like that teaches you - pinch it tight, stick it fast. So much less pain!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in critical care.
You had me at BC but OOB to chair is a PITA. I know it's a good thing. I just don't like doing it.

Oh, I do like incentive spirometer teaching. Most underrated post op toy ever.

I really hate transfers.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Love giant pus filled abscesses!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

I like inserting caths and IV starts.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L&D.

I also like teaching patients.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
IM injections are my forte but ear lavages really take the cake. It is so rewarding and instantly satisfying when a huge chunk of wax build-up comes out of someone's ear and all of a sudden they can hear again.

I also love seeing how much junk I can get out of an ear. Once cleaned out a farmer's ears and found pieces of corn and hay. He was so happy that he could hear and his ears didn't itch anymore.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I also love seeing how much junk I can get out of an ear. Once cleaned out a farmer's ears and found pieces of corn and hay. He was so happy that he could hear and his ears didn't itch anymore.

I am SO jealous!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Suture and staple removing, I find it fun lol

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology (OCN).

I worked oncology my entire career and loved it so a lot of my likes are kind of specific to that area. Accessing ports. Line draws (picc lines, ports, etc.). Patient teaching, especially related to chemo or new diagnosis. Administering chemo, but especially a really intensive or complicated regime. My absolute favorite--induction chemo for leukemia patients. (Hated it for them) but just the intensity of it, chemo, followed by nadir, countless transfusions of blood products, and then when you finally start seeing bone marrow recovery. I loved all the patient teaching involved. Patients were often with us for 6-8 weeks so you really developed strong bonds with them. We didn't have a BMT unit but I often thought I would enjoy that also.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg, Precepting, Education.

Sterile nursing procedures like catheters and central line dressing changes. Maybe its because I have to slow down and take the time to think each step through to ensure that sterility is maintained. The change of pace (mentally and physically) for a few minutes is a nice change during a typical hectic day. Although, thinking back to my most recent catheter insertion I came close to getting kicked in the head by a sweet little 92 year old...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion