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

shygoofyone · Mar 28, 2009

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.

I do this with common meds, too. Especially after I get paperwork back from my clinical instructors with comments. I make a note of what they want to see written down--I may KNOW the info, but they want to SEE it--big help!

june2009 · Mar 28, 2009

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet but on your exams the initial action by the nurse is usually assess (if that is an option). you can't do anything without knowing everything about the patient.

Also, on the NCLEX, pain is a psychosocial need not a physiological need. i.e.; maslow's hierarchy of needs - pain is with psychosocial needs. all physical needs come first.

you may want to check out kaplans NCLEX prep book. the test-taking tips are awesome, and I have used them in nursing school for our nursing exams with great success!

Unzie · Mar 28, 2009

Wow Great Thread.

I always look people in the eye and smile when I introduce myelf. Having been a patient also, we all will go through that some time or another, it feels cold when someone comes into your room with their head down looking at your chart or whatever and says, i'm so and so, can you tell me whatever. Making your patient feel like you care is an important first step in my opinion.

krltdy · Mar 29, 2009

This thread is amazing! Keep them coming!

Teebee5 · Mar 29, 2009

This is a great thread!

I have just gone back and read alot of the post, thank you for taking the time to share.

Hugs.

Tee

NewEnglandRN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

In Clinical, my instructor always said, "if you need to get your thoughts together, or need a breather, take a minute and wash your hands". This has helped me in my nursing career (ex: when I was in a room and just needed to clear my head, before inserting a male Foley which I had not down in some time).

NewEnglandRN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

I know this has been posted 100's of times, but I cannot emphasize how important completing the '5 Rights' three times before administering a medication. I do it when 1.) I pull the med from the Pyxis 2.) after all my meds are pulled before going into the room 3.) at bedside. I also ALWAYS say the name and dose of medication to the patient. You will be surprised how many people will say " I don't take that anymore" or "the Doctor lowered that dose to xyz."

NewEnglandRN, RN · Mar 29, 2009

- ALWAYS look up compatibility for IV meds.

- Make sure the on-coming shift has a patent IV line.

- Document as you go. Don't save it for the end of the shift because something will usually prevent this from getting done.

- ASK questions. No matter has simple, silly or 'stupid' they may seem. ASK!

- The Nursing world is truly a small world. Do not burn any bridges. You never know when it will come back to kick you in the butt.!

JMG2207 · Mar 29, 2009

I don't know if this has been said already, but if I'm cleaning up a soiled patient or performing another potentially dirty task (suctioning, emptying drains), I shove one or two extra pairs of gloves in the next size up in my scrub pocket. I cuff them on the bottom. This way, when I soil the pair I have on, I can slip the new ones on over the soiled (holding the inside cuff) and I won't contribute to any further contamination. I also don't have to leave the pt in order to take the dirty gloves off to put on new ones.

truern · Mar 29, 2009

For those really smelly sticky messes, nothing freshens up your patient like shave cream :)

Does wonders for those that come in and haven't had a bath for some time, too! Just add some shave cream to the wash water.

GGT1 · Mar 30, 2009

Then I would have gotten this wrong. I thought, before a nurse could act on either of these interventions, the nurse would have to call the doctor. I thought only the doctor could order either of these....D was wrong, eh?

It is very rare that "call the doctor" is the actual answer to a nursing question. Nursing school is designed to teach you to critacally think...not the doctor. There is usually a nursing intervention that could/should be done.

ShortStackRN · Mar 30, 2009

These are some awesome teaching tools! I agree with everyone...never EVER procrastinate or you will want to curl up in the fetal position when you see what has piled up. You will get to a point where you feel that student care plans are your enemy but honestly, I LOVE doing them now. Not only does it help me to understand what is going on with my patient, but it definitely helps the critical thinking skills to develop. Get yourself a good book to learn but please don't rely SOLELY on the book...it will only hinder not help you. Another thing I have learned is to LEAVE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AT HOME!!! I have never ever been in this situation but I have seen many a classmate be reprimanded on clinical day for not being on the ball because, "My child is sick and I'm tired", "My boyfriend dumped me and I'm sad"...instructors do NOT care and do NOT want to hear it...not because they don't care about you but because it's irrelavent. You won't let these thing effect you when you become and RN, don't let it affect your becoming an RN. Try to make an upperclassman buddy...our SNA did this for us and it was awesome to have someone to talk to who had gone through it and also to help with study questions when possible. Understand that nursing school will be your life until you are finished. You will have to learn to delegate your time properly. I know these aren't necessarily "academia" related, however I wish I would have had someone to tell me these very important tips on entering the program. It will be a long, scary, anxiety-ridden, awesome, fun, exhilirating ride and it will all be worth it in the the end!!!!