Things colleagues have taught me NOT to do...

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Specializes in Medical.

Inspired by the thread Things patients have taught me NOT to do... I bring you a few things my colleagues have taught me not to do:

1. Do not have your mouth open to talk or breathe when doing anything - trache care, catheter removal, clipping nails, peri care - that may involve a projectile into your mouth. There's no such thing as being in a safe spot, either - physics is weird, and some things arc around like a freaking boomerang!

2. If you're allergic to penicillin, either don't draw it up or wear gloves. Or end up on the floor with a crash team around you as your colleagues draw up adrenaline and freak out.

3. If a confused patient breaks through the glass to climb out on to the balcony, don't reach after him, even if it's several storeys up - he may grab your wrist and pull your arm through a shard sticking out of the frame, causing you to need urgent surgery and an in-patient stay of your own.

4. If the spigot on an NG is stuck, there are worse things than replacing it. Like using your teeth to pull the spigot out :eek:

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Don't take your shoes and socks off to shower a patient (so you don't get your new shoes wet). Nasty.

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Specializes in PERI OPERATIVE.

Remember to close the clamp when setting up a sitz bath. Also, do not put your face directly in front of said sitz bath.

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Specializes in Trauma Surgery, Nursing Management.

Don't ever fall for this baiting question from your Chief of Surgery, "Can you guess my age?" Ohhhh nooooo.....

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Keep your mouth closed and hold your breath while removing the socks of someone with extremely dry flaky skin.Not because of potential odor but because you risk ingesting flying dead skin flakes. Be cautious wearing chapstick for this same reason (picture dead skin flakes stuck to your lips):eek:

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Specializes in Emergency.
Inspired by the thread Things patients have taught me NOT to do... I bring you a few things my colleagues have taught me not to do:

1. Do not have your mouth open to talk or breathe when doing anything - trache care, catheter removal, clipping nails, peri care - that may involve a projectile into your mouth. There's no such thing as being in a safe spot, either - physics is weird, and some things arc around like a freaking boomerang!

2. If you're allergic to penicillin, either don't draw it up or wear gloves. Or end up on the floor with a crash team around you as your colleagues draw up adrenaline and freak out.

3. If a confused patient breaks through the glass to climb out on to the balcony, don't reach after him, even if it's several storeys up - he may grab your wrist and pull your arm through a shard sticking out of the frame, causing you to need urgent surgery and an in-patient stay of your own.

4. If the spigot on an NG is stuck, there are worse things than replacing it. Like using your teeth to pull the spigot out :eek:

Happened to a friend of mine with e-mycin, but she was wearing gloves. Scared the crap outta me, as I'm allergic to e-mycin as well. Had to give it PO a while back and you can be darn sure I wore gloves.

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Don't come to work if you feel a bit "stomachy". You'll end up in the toilet most of the shift.

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Never put the syringe in your mouth to pull the top off. Worked with a nurse once who did this during a code and pulled her tooth out.

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Specializes in ER.

Never,Never,Never administer a Decadron IV too fast,becauseeeeee....... it has a very very bad side efect(anal itching),in the indications specify to administer very slowlyy

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