Things you only learn on the floor...

[leonurse]

Sooo...drop some knowledge! What are some tidbits, tricks, secrets, and just-so-you-knows of nursing that you did not learn in nursing school.

I was not taught about the sternal rub...my co-workers could not believe that.

I did not know you cannot give marinol in the morning (pharmacist told me that today)

Having a brain fart...please share yours:)

[Hoozdo, ADN]

Be very, very, careful cracking the glass tops off of Fentanyl vials. Act like

the top of that glass vial is just waiting to slice your hand open.....because

it is.

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

I've learned how to do veinipunctures and now and trying to learn IV's. My nursing school spent no time (and I mean, it wasn't even zoomed over) on IV or lab draws

I learned that sometimes, pts will lie to you.

I've learned that sometimes, you need to be firm with your pts, especially teenagers.

I've learned that's it's ok to cry.

I've learned to never be afraid to speak up and tell a doctor my concerns about a pt.

[HollyHobby]

I've learned that old people are going to fall down, unless you are right up on them, holding them, which they will insist they don't need. The second you let go and stand back, they will fall.

There are only like 10 men in the entire world who can pee unless they are standing up. Alone. No one anywhere near him. Refer to my first point. And only 1 out of a million men will agree to have a foley catheter even if his actual life is at stake. They would rather die, and the paperwork is horrendous when they inevitably fall down.

Old people with fragile skin and veins who need an IV: don't use a tourniquet. The vein will blow. Also, there are some good IV sites in the upper arm/chest area, but again, don't use a tourniquet.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

There are only like 10 men in the entire world who can pee unless they are standing up. Alone. No one anywhere near him.

And 50% of the time they are just trying to prove they are macho enough to stand up, even if their blood pressure is 69 over nothing.