The best nursing advice you've ever received

[findingmywayRN]

I was just thinking back to the advice and wisdom I'd received over the years and laughed at how true so much of it was!

Can anyone post the best nursing advice they've been given here?

Here are some of my favorites:

1. You control the room, the room doesn't control you

2. The best doctors are the ones who listen to nurses

3. Always trust your instincts

4. Never suction anything with your mouth open

Anyone else?

[wbc]

The best advice I received as a student many years ago was to do whatever is necessary for the patient's benefit regardless of your title. This advice came to us in postconference when a BSN nurse refused to help a patient to the bathroom because she was the BSN and "besides that's the aides job." I remembered that and told it to my own students when I began teaching,

Winona, BSN, RN

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

Don't spend a lot of money on scrubs, because there are those days when you will be covered with who knows what and throwing them away becomes the best choice.

:yeah:A couple of weeks ago my first patient of the day (18mo postop T&A) slimed my shoulder with mucus and blood as I held her waiting for parents to arrive. I had to grab a set of surgical scrubs to continue my shift.

[wbc]

Been there, done that. Got new scrubs. You just gotta love it, though. I had my career halted by a simple fall in 1997. I miss working and regret those times I just didn't want to go to work.

Winona

[Dangerous]

1. You can always put more in (e.g. prn medication). You can't easily take too much of a larger dose out of the patient.

2. Assess the situation.

3. You are not in nursing school, you can hold charting till later. (Worked fine for me--I carried a covered clipboard, w/ a sticky note for each patient--jotted times, along w/ pertinent info).

4. For RN to BSN students--some of your courses and hassles may seem like B.S. Just hang in there, it will be worth it.

5. Get a Masters degree.

6. Or, don't go into nursing, until there is enough ancillary help and/or staffing is done by patient acuity and not solely by "numbers."

7. Get a cardiology background. It will be invaluable.

8. Work at a teaching hospital, even if only for a few years. One year there is equivalent to working many years at a community hospital.

9. Get the doctor gloved in sterile gloves. Then he or she will be at your mercy.

10. If a patient tells you something is amiss, check into what they are saying! For example, if they say, "That's not the pill I take" and even if you think you are right, ALWAYS go and check again.

P.S. Credit to former colleagues and friends for 2, 3, 4, and 9.

[AussieRN_1292]

• Ascultate positioning of ngt in stomach when assessing pt and prior to giving ngt meds. Don't assume it it in the correct place.
  
• Always dilute meds well before administering via a ngt.
  
• Always cover the opening of the ngt and do not stand directly in front of the tubing prior to aspiration, giving meds or reconnecting the ngt feed tubing (in case patient coughs). :)
  

[Copper4]

...way back in the olden days I worked as a nurse's aide-- this was before any certifications were required, I was 16yo and needed a job I could walk to -- the woman training me at the ecf told me to treat the patient in the bed as if she were my mother...she would want to be clean, and dried, covered to be warm, and to maintain privacy and dignity,etc. and treated generally with respect--I have never forgotten that advice!

[TigerGalLE, BSN, RN]

Your pts care can be seen in their tongues,heels and bums.

If the first is furry with thrush and the other 2 broken it doesn't matter that there fluid balance is spot on and that they have had vitals every 4 hours and all their drugs are done.............you haven't CARED for you pt. you have treated the disease and not looked at the whole person.

Love this!

[VAC]

1. CYA

2. Never assume.

3. A Code is a group project, not a solo act.

4. We do not have the ultimate power over life and death.

5. We cannot change reality for patients, families, etc.

6. In the ICU, everything you do has consequences.

7. Watch for red flags and NEVER ignore them.

8. Resolve patient complaints/ concerns asap.

9. We DO NOT have the power to control anyone's attitudes, actions, words, or opinions other than our own.

10. CYA

[RPN_2012]

It was really interesting reading all that advice! I'm sure it will come in handy once I start NS in Sept! :)

I've got one stupid question , but I'm going to follow the advice, and ask it anyway, 'cause I'm in doubt:

What does CYA sand for? Is it "Cover Your A**" ?

[nancynicunightnurse]

Don't be so afraid of failure that it prevents you from learning.....Take the more difficult patients...Do the procedure that you've never done before...It's better to learn while you are just getting started in nursing than to be lacking experience when you've been a nurse for years. That's the best advice that I NEVER received but I wish I had!

[Who?Me?]

1. Think before you speak.

2. Smile--it confuses the doctors.

3. Be silly sometimes-humor helps.

4. You only have two hands and can only do one task at a time if you want to do it right and well.

5. Never skimp on spending money on your shoes.

6. Take your breaks!

7. If you don't chart it, you didn't do it.

8. You are NEVER "just a nurse." Take pride in who in you are and in what you do.

9. Keep up to date on changes in care practices.

10. Get involved with committees-don't just complain about it, take an active part in making it better for yourself, your peers, and your patients.

[brillohead, ADN, RN]

I've got one stupid question , but I'm going to follow the advice, and ask it anyway, 'cause I'm in doubt:

What does CYA sand for? Is it "Cover Your A**" ?

Yup!