things I didn't learn in nursing school

[mygirlsmom]

Hi, I am wanting to put a list of the top 10 things nurses don't learn in nursing school. You know like on Letterman. I would really appreciate any and all input.

[Elenaster]

:rotfl: :rotfl:

Funny Ruby!

How about:

A confused 70-year-old woman with a central line and an EVD has the strength of Arnold Schwartzenegger and can get out of a posey and 4-point restraints better than Houdini.

It never fails that the medical student will decide that your "pleasantly confused" patient is fine and doesn't need to be restrained and you won't find out about it until your patient has removed their foley with the balloon up, pulled out every IV, and is midway over the bed rails.

[prmenrs, RN]

That an 900 gm baby can squirt stool 3 ft from his incubator, and get some down inside the incubator, requiring ~ 3 hours worth of cleaning time--just in time for the next diaper change. Or that a 700 gm male infant can urinate over the side of the open warmer into the trash can @ the foot of the bed. Impressive to see really. Don't these kids know they are on strict I&O? How am I supposed to calculate THAT?!!

That somedays I'd feel more like a plumber/electrician/electronics tech than a nurse. And why the heck do they put electrical outlets that would sprain the back of a yogi? I feel like a ballerina sometimes trying to find a place to plug something--I don't LOOK like one, unfortunately.

[Morguein]

Things they don't teach you in nursing school (at least not at my school):

1. How to ORGANIZE your care and plan your day out at the hospital even if things

don't usually go like clock-work.

2. Definitely starting IV's. It's ridiculous that they don't teach students this skill. I

tried 2 sticks and then I was on my own. Can you believe that? The first stick,

I totally blew it. The 2nd stick, I had my preceptor guiding me the entire way

(which was cool) and I got it in. But then that was it. So, I was TERRIFIED to

start IV's when I was on my own, I felt that I didn't get a thorough training in this.

So, students should do many many IV sticks in order to feel confident when they

start work.

3. That at many facilities, you won't ever have to look at a nursing care plan.

4. To critically think while at clinicals. I found that the most I got out of many

of my clinicals, was AM care. I felt like all I did was give baths and

medications. That's it. The instructor should go to each student while in clinicals

and go over their plan for the day and allow the student to explain what they feel

is a priority with their patient and what it is they are going to do for their patient

etc... I rarely ever felt close to being a nurse while at clinicals. I felt more like an

aid and just a helper...but never a nurse. The only time I felt like I was truly

learning nursing skills was when I had my 2 days in the ICU. I got to do a lot of

things and assess my patients as an ICU nurse would do. And the nurse I was

working with actually MADE me critically think about what I needed to do with my

patient. She sat down and drew pictures for me to help me understand what

was going on in our patient's body. Now, THAT is what all our clinicals should be

like.

5. That many nurses eat their own.

6. That it takes about 2 years before you feel comfortable with your skills.

[sparkyRN]

OMG! Now they come up with that. How I would have loved to have those when I was in nursing school, and spent untold hours sweating over my care plans. While I tried to balance numerous reference books all over my lap and desk. Let me tell you - enjoy them and never complain. You are very lucky.

I didn't have those in nursing school. Would have been nice though. No, those wonderful inventions just came to our unit very recently..JCAHO was putting the pressure on and the admin. had to do something because NOBODY had time to do careplans on their pts.

[Kiwi, BSN, RN]

Never let a detailed, written care plan interfere with hands on experience with a patient. Go figure!!!!

[DDRN4me]

I agree with Ether...we need to remember to rely on our skills and not so much on machinery and technology!!

Biggie for me ..this patient (for me its pedi) Is a PERSON (CHILD) first and foremost!!!!

[renerian, BSN, RN]

Very good and true/huge smile....

renerian :rotfl: :rotfl:

[UM Review RN, ASN, RN]

I never knew...

that I'd have to learn to repair mechanical equipment like IV pumps, TVs, beds, toilets, call lights, computer printers, computers, feeding pumps (there should be a special place in hell reserved for the idiot that designed the auto-prime feature), and Pyxis drawers--among other things. :uhoh21:

[sparkyRN]

Good one Angie!

I'm glad to know ours isn't the only unit where the nurses have to be mechanics, housekeepers, plumbers, locksmiths, and engineers...I can rig up some amazing things with 1 inch bandage tape and a pair of hemostats!

[Monica RN,BSN]

No such thing as "according to the textbook" procedures... like foley's ...legs going everywhere, and the real big ladies who need two people to hold up the belly.. :)

[redraccoon, BSN, RN]

lol.. ya, definately no "according to the textbook"

How about cathing a confused, obese, elderly patient with what could be best described as floppy and unusual genetalia (where do I put this thing?!) while she's kicking, screaming, and trying to bite you??

They DEFINATELY didn't teach us that in school!

[Kcwodie]

That it's ok to cry with the family when your patient dies. They usually appreciate it!