2 decades ago, I entered nursing. 2 decades ago, it was emphasized that nurses should carry themselves with dignity. 2 decades ago professionalism and patient safety were expected. Unprofessionalism and unsafe patient conditions were not tolerated. WOW how our culture has changed.
Last week, I attended a MANDATORY skills fair. It was graciously started at 7am for the night shift, I seriously feel the neurons firing with the new knowledge I gained. If you have never felt this, it feels very much like a headache. I was seriously drunk with the knowledge I was gaining.
The station that made my neurons fire like the morning after drinking 3 bottles of champagne was entitled ABG interpretation. I saw the sign and decided to go here first because I was thinking ROME, CO2 acid/respiratory, Bicarb base/metabolic, got it! I'll be on my way home in 30 minutes! I was greeted with you are having a baby, we have to figure out WHO DA BABY DADDYâ€. I stopped looked up and confirmed that I was at the ABG table. 30 ABG's were listed on the page for each one I was never asked what the result interpretation was, I was told what was wrong and asked now, WHO DA BABY DADDY?†My hand was literally slapped for attempting to make it end and work ahead, just to make it end and show what I already knew. The presented told me NO JUST STOP! Listen to me!†WHO DA BABY DADDY?†I got the picture, this was an exercise for me to be dazzled, the only was it was going to stop was if I played along and stroked the ego about how intelligent the presenter was and how beneficial knowing WHO DA BABY DADDY†was to my professional practice. Once I was amazed, it went fairly quickly and I was finished with THIS STATION in about 45 minutes.
Next, I moved on to accessing a port a cath. Again, something I had done a million times, just needed to be sure I was following policy to a tee! I knew had the drill down, stroke the presenter's ego and you will be done. I couldn't! I just couldn't. She had on ill fitting pants that were downright Mediaographic. Nothing on the anterior perineum was left to the imagination. The pants filled in all the crevices and folds. The long head of hair was uncombed except for a perfect roll of the bangs in the front. Again, not once was I asked if I knew how to do this and just checked off. No, I had to be dazzled by someone else touching the equipment and telling me all that she knew. After another 30 minutes, I was done here.
1hour and 15 minutes- 2 out of 10 stations done.
The last station I went to had another staff development educator with uncombed hair, it was on positive communication with patients. I looked at her, looking like she just rolled out of the bed. 8:45 am on my watch. I COULD NOT DO IT ANY MORE.
New nurses missed the strict nurse educators who were crisp and polished. Now those of us who scurried when they showed up on the unit, are left realize you don't know what you've got until it is gone. Now our new nurses on have the role models of WHO DA BABY DADDY? CAMEL! And SLEEPY.
Has anyone ever stopped to think that the way we enculturate our young dictates their behavior and what they deem as appropriate.
