The "Teach a Student Something-a-Day" thread!

[agent]

In an effort to not enter nursing school as a completely nieve individual, I was hoping that some 2nd years or RN's could share something beneficial with us students each day.

It can be anything little or totally meaningful. Whatever you contribute will be greatly appreciated and hopefully will help me to be a better student and nurse

Thanks!

[AmyLiz]

Originally posted by jadednurse

Here's one that's very important...

If your uniform includes white pants, please, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY, do not wear striped, colored, polka-dotted or thong underwear.

Our school makes it mandatory to wear "appropriate undergarments" because of that.

:chuckle

[agent]

Luckily im a guy so I dont think that'll be a problem.

It looks like our scrubs are blue *YEAH!*

Raphael -- great advice, sounds like you speak from experience

Originally posted by EmeraldNYL

Don't forget about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.... the patient's physiological needs always come first.

Maslow, from psych??

What would be an example of a physiological need??

[nekhismom]

Originally posted by Rapheal

Never make excuses. If an instructor does not like your technique on something tell them you will work on improving it. Then follow up with a note to them telling them when you practiced it in lab or what you researched.

Do not get caught doing nothing on a clinical. If your patient is down in MRI or something like that-ask a nurse if you can follow her/him until your patient gets back or ask your instructor if you can follow another student to learn from his/her patient.

Some of my friends used to ask me why the instructors never picked on me in clinical--My secret was to always be doing something.

I AGREE!!!! This was also my secret in clinical. Also, NEVER, EVER EVER EVER act nervous on the clinical floor. DO NOT JUMP AT THE SIGHT OF SQUIRTING MATERIALS!!!! On my first med/surg clinicals with my hardest (male) instructor, I approached the med cart just as he was squirting some medicine out of a syringe. I was caught off guard and slightly jumped. He chewed me out for that. Told me that if he was a nervous person that I would have just made him nervous and then it would spread throughout the unit and before you knew it, the whole structure of the unit would be messed up. I didn't think it was that big a deal, but he was still mad at me for that 2 clinical days later!! So, be AWARE!!

[nekhismom]

Hmmmmm.....important stuff...... Ok, I got it, Legionairre's pneumonia spreads in wet environments. Think hot tub, spa, pool, etc. This is why you should never stick your hands into a public display of a swimming pool, etc. Sorry, that was the best I can do today after a GRUELING day of respiratory lecture!

[MandyInMS]

Great thread idea agent :)

Best advice I can think of is study hard and know your A&P.If your know your body/systems and how each relates to another it will make your nursing judgements a lot easier...take what you know...then use some COMMON SENSE...to me nursing is 25% knowledge 75% common sense.You have to know the basics/rationales behind interventions..Application comes with experience.Always ask questions if unsure of something.No matter how long you have been a nurse there will ALWAYS be questions..the only foolish question is the one NOT asked.

[agent]

I was hoping that we could have a nice little learning experience each day.

If everyone contributes a little, by the time I start clinicals I might not be such a brainless n00b

[Noney]

Ok how about this? Do you have a sthoscope yet? If you do get it out and start practicing. Listen to your own heart and lungs. Move it down to your abdomen divide it into 4 squares and listen in each for bubbly sound this is your bowel sounds. Practice counting yor heart rates with the steth. Practice on you wife also.

It might lead to something funner!LOL

Noney

[LilgirlRN, ADN, RN]

I have a thing about spelling, make sure you spell EVERYTHING correctly before you turn a paper. The most important thing to remember is that there is never a stupid question, remember someone is putting their life in your hands, if you're not sure what to do in a given situation, ask for help. And.... even though you're a big, strong, manly type person ask for help when moving or turning a patient.

[kimtab]

Do all your care plans on the computer and save them and then when you are writing a care plan for "Pain" or "Infection, risk for" for the umpteenth time, you can recycle most of the old one instead of starting from scratch.

I just figured this one out, sigh.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Just remember: There is no situation that cannot be made worse by panicking!

[pokey sn]

Alway keep a straight face even if the patient thinks he may be dying....never let a staff nurse intimidate you (I think they love to see student nurses get nervous)--be polite, but insist on being treated like a real person.....in clinical, if you don't understand something that a nurse or your instructor wants you to do, let them know immediately that you don't.

In clinical and lab, always remember to raise the bed to a working level when demonstrating a skill in lab [like dressing changes] You can't imagine how many people had to do skills demonstrations over because they did not do this!

Lastly, try to keep a low profile. Like someone posted earlier, stay busy in clinicals and keep your mouth shut in lectures (ask the teacher at the end of the lecture if you don't understand something).

Good luck!

[Jennerizer, ASN, RN]

Don't skip class & don't be afraid to ask questions. Definitely be prepared for clincals every single time. It gains the respect of your clinical instructor & believe me-----you want their respect, otherwise clinicals will be intimidating rather than beneficial.

Try to bond with at least a few of your fellow students. It makes going to class more enjoyable & you never know when you might need to borrow notes, study or review something that isn't making too much sense. Sometimes another student's perspective is easier to understand. Stay organized!!!