The most valuable thing(s) you've been told

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 31, 2014

Even though you get report, LOOK at the pts; you may find something completely different that what you heard in report.

ICURN3020 · Aug 31, 2014

Don't wait to do later what you have time to do now....

Amen to this! Play around and chat your whole shift and you're just begging to have ten things go wrong at once....and usually when it's close to the time you are scheduled to leave.

OnlinePersona, LPN · Aug 31, 2014

Save your back, it's your pay cheque!
Raise the bed to working height EVERY time!
When boosting someone in bed, raise to your working height, lay bed flat, place into trandelenberg, have pt grab side rails, bend their knees and help you boost them.
Make it a routine that the last thing you always do in a room is check that the bed is low and locked and call bell is on place.
Make it routine that when you enter a room after assessing your pt, check IV site, rate, solution and O2 rate.
If you have a problem with always placing the brief too high, or too low at the back; line the top of the padded lining with the top of the crack, you will always have it in perfect position.
At beginning of every shift, fill pocket with alcohol swabs and IV caps!
Use a four color pen for your brain sheet. One color for report, one color for lab values, one color for med times another for priority items.

Just taught me something:-)

brownbook · Aug 31, 2014

Let's say it all together....read the label....read the label.....read the label......of all medications three times before you dispense it.

WittySarcasm, BSN · Aug 31, 2014

Along with everything else a nurse taught me a quick trick to remembering which port I flushed on PICC with more than one lumen (it works if this is your flag colors). Always go Red, white and blue. Blue can be can of the other colors that they use. This way you can always remember what ones you've done and where you're at. Because you know that patient or family member will break your concentration at least once.

paramedic-RN · Aug 31, 2014

We spend 90% of our time trying to please folks who won't be pleased no matter what we do. Try to recognize those folks early and spend your time pleasing those folks who CAN be pleased.

Amen! good grief this is so true, I recently had an experience that highlighted this.

paramedic-RN · Aug 31, 2014

oops duplicate post

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Aug 31, 2014

Along with everything else a nurse taught me a quick trick to remembering which port I flushed on PICC with more than one lumen (it works if this is your flag colors). Always go Red, white and blue. Blue can be can of the other colors that they use. This way you can always remember what ones you've done and where you're at. Because you know that patient or family member will break your concentration at least once.

Great tip. Thanks!

Vwpenn · Sep 2, 2014

"One momma can take care of ten kids, but ten kids can't take care of one momma" that's for those little ole ladies in the hospital who get stubborn and won't listen to the pleads of their children for certain care

chiandre · Sep 3, 2014

As an Labor and Delivery nurse, the first day in the OR, I learned this important lesson, "No matter what you do, DO NOT drop the baby.

My preceptor taught me this,"When it comes to accounting for Narcotics, do not trust anybody."

mariebailey, MSN, RN · Sep 3, 2014

I was told once that if I treated my superiors with all the compassion & understanding that I awarded all my patients, I would get a lot further a lot faster in my career.

paramedic-RN · Sep 7, 2014

As an Labor and Delivery nurse, the first day in the OR, I learned this important lesson, "No matter what you do, DO NOT drop the baby.
My preceptor taught me this,"When it comes to accounting for Narcotics, do not trust anybody."

How often are babies dropped? What happens when that happens? I'm assuming incident report, head CT, etc. but what do you tell the parents?