Things nursing school FAILED to tell us

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

What I didn't learn in Nursing School is that I would become the neighborhood doctor. I hate that !!!! The first time it happened to me I was 6 months pregnant and my neighbor came in with her child and said "does this look like german measles to you". YIKES ! Get out of my house !!!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Sep 25, 2005

Here's a couple more after my night at work tonight:
How not to laugh when an escapee gets his/her wheelchair stuck in a muddy ditch across the street.
How not to laugh when a resident says "I'm going home" and another resident in a wheelchair yells "You stupid a**, you're not going anywhere! You're stuck in this hole like the rest of us"(while 3 family members walk by)!
Not to turn red when a patient who is pleasuring himself moans and says inappropriate things while his roomate is staring at him.
AND FINALLY MY FAVORITE:
They do not teach you what to do if a combative resident hits another resident in the head with her cane and says "That'll knock some sense in ya!".
ROTFL

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

How many times I was told as a student L.P.N. that following graduation we would not have ANYTHING to do with IV's, other than count the drip rate and report it to the Charge Nurse...only to wind up starting IV's, mixing IVABX and hanging piggybacks....not to mention giving an occasional IV Lasix to patients in full CHF.... because the only R.N. in the house was tied up with two simultaneous codes. Welcome to the REAL world, folks! :rolleyes:

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Well I for one learned that I can handle a lot more things thrown at me at once than I ever thought possible.

I've learned that sometimes people die, no matter what we do to them.

I've learned that sometimes people live, no matter what we do to them.

I've learned to act like I know strangers that come up to me at wal-mart and say, 'Remember, you took care of my dad, 7 yrs ago!'.

I've learned that the first thing to do in an emergency is to take MY OWN PULSE.

I've learned to judge the character of my co-workers by how long in the day they wait to give MOM in relationship to MY shift.

I've learned that, many times, 'be nice' is my mantra to some coworkers.

I've learned never to say "I'm bored" or "It's slow".

I've learned that vented patients want to watch on TV basically whatever you want to watch.

I've learned that anger and denial are the first two stages of grief and to never underestimate the lengths to which some family members will go to embrace those stages.

I've learned that there are distinct advantages to being allowed to die gracefully.

I've learned that, regarding supervisors and family members, if it felt good saying it, it was probably the wrong thing to say.

I've learned that there is a direct relationship to how much of an ER co-pay you have to pay and what exactly constitutes an emergency.

I've learned that my interpersonal skills are my most often used skills.

I've learned that family members that 'are going to complain to management' have often complained about so many people that they lost credibility 10 complaints ago - and so I do the right thing and don't consider the consequences.

I've learned to say "NO, THANKS AGAIN FOR OFFERING, THOUGH" after the 3rd call begging me to come in to work when I wasn't up to coming. And this, btw, SHOULD be taught in school.

I've learned that there is a direct relationship between how often an administrator shows up in the trenches to how good an administrator they truly are. (my first DON only showed up 1 a year - to promote the Combined Federal Campaign. When I saw her on the floor, I'd comment, 'Oh, it must be CFC time again).

I've learned that managers that show up for work in uniform are better clinical allies that those that show up in suits.

I've learned to keep a jar of mentholatum jelly in my locker (a smear up each nostril blocks out all kinds of smells).

I'll try to think of more later.

~faith,

Timothy.

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Sep 25, 2005

Well I for one learned that I can handle a lot more things thrown at me at once than I ever thought possible.
I've learned that sometimes people die, no matter what we do to them.
I've learned that sometimes people live, no matter what we do to them.
I've learned to act like I know strangers that come up to me at wal-mart and say, 'Remember, you took care of my dad, 7 yrs ago!'.
I've learned that the first thing to do in an emergency is to take MY OWN PULSE.
I've learned to judge the character of my co-workers by how long in the day they wait to give MOM in relationship to MY shift.
I've learned that, many times, 'be nice' is my mantra to some coworkers.
I've learned never to say "I'm bored" or "It's slow".
I've learned that vented patients want to watch on TV basically whatever you want to watch.
I've learned that anger and denial are the first two stages of grief and to never underestimate the lengths to which some family members will go to embrace those stages.
I've learned that there are distinct advantages to being allowed to die gracefully.
I've learned that, regarding supervisors and family members, if it felt good saying it, it was probably the wrong thing to say.
I've learned that there is a direct relationship to how much of an ER co-pay you have to pay and what exactly constitutes an emergency.
I've learned that my interpersonal skills are my most often used skills.
I've learned that family members that 'are going to complain to management' have often complained about so many people that they lost credibility 10 complaints ago - and so I do the right thing and don't consider the consequences.
I've learned to say "NO, THANKS AGAIN FOR OFFERING, THOUGH" after the 3rd call begging me to come in to work when I wasn't up to coming. And this, btw, SHOULD be taught in school.
I've learned that there is a direct relationship between how often an administrator shows up in the trenches to how good an administrator they truly are. (my first DON only showed up 1 a year - to promote the Combined Federal Campaign. When I saw her on the floor, I'd comment, 'Oh, it must be CFC time again).
I've learned that managers that show up for work in uniform are better clinical allies that those that show up in suits.
I've learned to keep a jar of mentholatum jelly in my locker (a smear up each nostril blocks out all kinds of smells).
I'll try to think of more later.
~faith,
Timothy.

Wow. Excellent post. I hope to remember these in my years as a student and after graduation in beginning practice.

talaxandra · Sep 25, 2005

Good observations, Timothy!

I've learned that the one time you dismiss your wolf-crying patient's reports they really do have something wrong this time...

... but every time you think there might be something wrong there isn't.

I've learned that the most frail looking old people have the tightest grips, and aren't afraid to grab at any of your body parts

I've learned that feeling something wet on my leg, even if I'm showering a patient, is not a good thing

And finally - for now - I've learned to drink that water/take that toilet break/devour that sandwich now, because there won't be time later

CseMgr1, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

I've learned that family members that 'are going to complain to management' have often complained about so many people that they lost credibility 10 complaints ago - and so I do the right thing and don't consider the consequences.

Yeppers. My late father used to refer to these people as "crackpots". Just get out of our way, and let us take care of Mom and Pop, OK? Sheesh.... :angryfire

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 25, 2005

Let me add while I'm thinking about it:

I've learned that, just the reverse of cars that never make 'that' noise for the mechanic, no matter how many times my patient denies chest pain overnight, the moment the doc or day shift nurse comes into the room, patients will pipe up "my chest has been hurting ALL NIGHT!"

And let me name this one Timothy's Razor: "If something goes wrong with a patient, it'll tend to go wrong JUST after I gave report and said it was fine."

~faith,

Timothy.

talaxandra · Sep 25, 2005

Let me add while I'm thinking about it:
I've learned that, just the reverse of cars that never make 'that' noise for the mechanic, no matter how many times my patient denies chest pain overnight, the moment the doc or day shift nurse comes into the room, patients will pipe up "my chest has been hurting ALL NIGHT!"
And let me name this one Timothy's Razor: "If something goes wrong with a patient, it'll tend to go wrong JUST after I gave report and said it was fine."

You are so right, on both fronts.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2005

no matter how many times my patient denies chest pain overnight, the moment the doc or day shift nurse comes into the room, patients will pipe up "my chest has been hurting ALL NIGHT".

Wow if I had a nickel for everytime that has happened to me I'd be able to retire.

grace90, LPN, LVN · Sep 25, 2005

here's a few more...

that sometimes the best way to deal with a grouchy co-worker is to chart somewhere else

that when we're working short-staffed I can't possibly catch everything or give the care that I really want to give

that we would work short A LOT

that when I got out of school I would not know everything

that when I got out of school I really wouldn't know anything except that potassium is never given IV push, noses are suctioned before mouths, and cold water is never used to flush a G or NG or J tube

that an effective way to deal with being chewed out on the phone by a doctor is to draw funny faces and/or write DSIAB on your report sheet while holding the phone a few inches from your ear until they finish their tyrade (DSIAB= Dr. So-&-So Is A Buttmunch)

that I have, do and will make big booboos

how to smile and say sweetly "Can I help you?" when the patient rings for the 50th time on my shift

that a little extra pampering such as a pillow fluff and a warm blanket does a lot to calm an anxious patient -or family member

not to be intimidated when I enter a patient room for the first time in a shift and am received with a glare

kadokin, ASN, RN · Oct 1, 2005

I THINK THAT ALL OF THAT IS NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION. HOW DARE THEY NOT SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THAT STUFF. WHEN I START SCHOOL I WILL HAVE ALL OF THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED BEFORE I SET FOOT IN A CLINICAL:rotfl: . BUT MAYBE NOT. I HOPE I NEVER RUN INTO PROJECTILE VOMMITTING OR TOO MUCH POOP.

Keep dreamin'