Things you learned the hard way? (funny)

Published

I'm sure we all have many stories to tell on ourselves how we learned something the hard way.

The first one for me was learning that it's not a good idea to squat down to a little boy's level when you're assisting him with a urinal. Also, that leaving a gown down as a 2nd barrier isn't a bad idea either. :lol2:

Good thing urine's sterile, right?

Specializes in CVICU, Burns, Trauma, BMT, Infection control.

From long ago times;

No matter how thin you are don't wear paper scrub pants,that cold draft you're feeling is from guess what.

Blue food coloring in TF makes the poo a lovely azure color.

Put the top tightly on that liter of TF that you just mixed or it will leave a large blotch on the ceiling that will never get cleaned off.

If the blood is running slowly don't pump up a blood bag on it really tight unless you want a huge mess.

Hide all possible containers from burn pts in resus because they will go nuts from extreme thirst and be filling up the graduated cylinder that you just measured urine in with tap water to drink.

Don't put anything on a confused or non english speaking person unless you want them to drink it. Betadine and and/or hubiclens are not particularly good for the GI tract.

With all pressure devices,bag tycos release the pressure before doing anything with the fluid or you will have a shower/fountain.

Once when I said it was too quiet to the administrator in the Burn Unit he got an immediate page to ask if there was room for a burn pt and guess who got to take him.

No dangly ear rings around children,watch the stethoscope,can be used to grab you and pull you closer and that nice,confused old man who just wants to hold your hand will never give your hand back without considerable assistance from others,who will ride you unmercifully after they rescue you.

Don't underestimate the tiny CABG X 5 who after extubating himself will hold off 7 nurses and security will not arrive until after you had to drop him with some versed to keep him from coding. Security arrived in force to see 7 nurses standing around the bed of a tiny man who was now sleeping like a baby. "Umm,really ah he was kicking our a$$es,oh forget it"

Don't underestimate any pt's who are intubated ability to slide,twist or otherwise grab that ETT for a good pull no matter how little or sick they are. The minute you walk away they will go for their tube necessitating a leap through midair by you to keep that tube in. My superhero abilities :wink2: Have declined with age. Now I can muster a quick walk but that's it.

Using a teaching code cart and leaving it near empty by the sickest pts room and telling the resident that you tried but you couldn't wake him will not endear you to their service. Hehe

Up Vote Up Vote ×

It's best to use a large slip-tip syringe to empty ostomy bags, at least on babies. Otherwise, you may end up with a pocket full of poop and throwing away your favorite scrub jacket.

Also, if you're having to do a bowel prep on a kid with a colostomy, forget the bag. Use a diaper. After so much Go-Lightly, the bag won't stick anymore anyway, and you just get sprayed while you're trying to stick a new one on.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
I,m retired now, but learned this the hard way years ago working in a LTC fac. Never kick at anything brown lying in the floor!!! LOL!! And I had on a brand new pair of nursing shoes.:no:[/quot

That's too funny. I work in LTC and don't kick at anything on the floor............ever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in M/S,TELE,ORTHO,ER.

Did anybody say double glove yet? Sometimes when you have to clean something really nasty this is a good idea for several reasons. When the outer pair is soiled you can remove them in order to roll the patient or whatever without donning another pair. Works very well if giving charcoal too. That stuff will get absolutely everywhere.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

Don't underestimate any pt's who are intubated ability to slide,twist or otherwise grab that ETT for a good pull no matter how little or sick they are. The minute you walk away they will go for their tube necessitating a leap through midair by you to keep that tube in.

Don't underestimate the ability of a BABY, who theoretically has no ability to intentionally do anything motor-skills wise, and who is sick enough to be intubated, to yank out their ETT with one hand and their umbilical arterial line with the other.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Don't underestimate the ability of a BABY, who theoretically has no ability to intentionally do anything motor-skills wise, and who is sick enough to be intubated, to yank out their ETT with one hand and their umbilical arterial line with the other.

Yikes!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If a patient has projectile vomit and it hits your face, you can't open your mouth to scream for help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
If a patient has projectile vomit and it hits your face, you can't open your mouth to scream for help.

Ewwwwwww!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in IMCU.
when you go in to spike a new bag, make sure you invert the old bag BEFORE you unspike it :)

Don't spill D5 on your shoes or walk through any spills!

Mahage

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER.
If a patient has projectile vomit and it hits your face, you can't open your mouth to scream for help.

That sounds like a tag line from a horror movie!:jester:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab, Infection, LTC.

I've been meaning to read this whole thread. I bet if I had, I wouldnt have had to learn the lesson I learned today.

When sticking an IV in an elderly, dehydrated woman...it's a real good idea to DEFLATE the BP cuff when you get the canula in. Otherwise, you are just gonna blow that sucker up like an egg.

And when it blows up like an egg and you realize you are going to have to take it out and try again....again DEFLATING the BP cuff will prevent blood from squirting out about 4 inches onto your white sweater.

just sayin'.....

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I once was giving blood to a confused pt and everything was ok for a little while. Was going in to do vs and there was blood everywhere. He had moved around or pulled on the line but the tubing came undone from the bag and just drained the almost full bag and splattered on the floor and everywhere. Family arrived just about then and had to encourage them to stay out while we cleaned it. It looked like a very bad murder scene.

Always reassure new nurses that they will not lose thier job or license if medication accidently gets wasted. (for the most part)

I had just started as a new lvn and was getting ready to hang rocephin. well needless to say I didn't clamp it(i really think it was my 1st or 2nd one to do) and it just drained into the sink(i had went to go answer a lite and came back it was empty) when i told my charge nurse she told me i was going to get written up. i was so upset i called my manager at home on a weekend to tell her about it. she started laughing.

also, i don't know when critical thinking kicks in but i also remember around the same time as above a pt that had mom everyday. Well she also had diarhea and my manager said"you know if your pt is having diarhea it is a sure sign that you should hold the mom...lol

i will always remember those things...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion