A fairly new nurse asked for help bagging a body, as she had never had to do that before. On the way in I stopped, grabbed her arm and said "dead bodies make noises!". She just looked at me with a "yeah right, pull the other one". The other nurse solemnly agreed, yes, they make noises. Newbie couldn't quite decide if she believed us or not, when we kept insisting that dead bodies really do make noises!
So as we were turning the poor fellow onto his side, (he was rather large), the air rushed out in a loud "AAUUUUGHHHH".
She froze looked up at us, totally wide eyed and exclaimed "I am SO glad you warned me before!! I didn't believe you!"
Coming up to a year qualified now and I have had so many of these run through my head, but I've forgotten them to write now, so I'll just leave a couple.
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The quiet kids and babies are the ones you need to most keep an eye on.
Some experienced nurses really do try to eat their young. Find the ones who care, let those ones help you, and if you feel like you are being bullied or something is unfair, speak up. In some cases they just don't realise how they come across, and in some cases they need someone in management to tell them to back off.
Don't rush to get every skill signed off as competent from the second they give you the sheet. You have enough things to learn as a newly qualified nurse without that pressure too. (Obviously do still work towards them though)
When the next lot of new nurses come in, take time to do two things. 1) Realise how far you have come since you were in their position. 2) Support them.
There are days that will make you cry. You will cry on the way home from work. After a while you might even cry on your way to work. Just keep on trucking and eventually it will all weave together to form something sensible. Usually after a year or so.
Sometimes being a nurse will suck, and it will suck a lot. You will doubt everything, including yourself, hurt all over, be afraid, be angry, be frustrated, and ask yourself why you decided to do this. Even in those moments, you are what you choose to be.
Take the time to double check your meds....The speed will come...
ASK QUESTIONS. I can't read your mind if I am working with you, and trust me, I would rather explain it to you and have you understand than have to constantly clean up your messes after you leave.
Google is your friend. Just make sure it is a real medicine site...
Breathe. You got this....you just are too scared to know it yet.
Leave your home problems at home and the work problems at work...you will be much happier this way.
Learn to smile and be friendly...no matter the smell, pus, screams....just take the time to think about how what and HOW you say something, look at something, or hold something might make a patient feel. They don't want to know that you are scared or grossed out....they just want to know that you have their backs.
- don't let " I have a million things to do in a small time frame" freak you out. You are only one person and you can only attend to one thing at a time. Stop, think, plan out your next few moves, and proceed to the next task, its better to be late than unsafe. Also bundle tasks, this will help a lot with time management.
Specializes in Mental Health, Gerontology, Palliative.
Also "dont panic, it solves nothing". I've recently started doing the lead/charge nurse role on a weekend. 'And yes there are times when its utterly insane, however you can only do one thing at a time. Start with the one who is at immenent threat of dying/serious harm" and work your way back from then"
I had the same exact experience.! A CNA was assisting me with post mortem care.. the deceased exhaled air when turned. She dropped him ... and ran out the door.
I'm hard nosed... it was too late to tell her anything.. laughed my butt off.
Later.. I tried to explain the physiology.. It was like talking to a dead person.
I still pretty new myself, just started in June of this year, but I have learned to figure out which nurses will help you and which will "eat their own"! This has made a world of difference for me! I tell them all the time that I am sorry I ask so many questions but the ones who have decided to help me are always awesome and tell me they would rather me ask then to just do. Also...your CNA's are your lifeline, they can truly make or break your day/night!
If it happened on your shift CHART IT. If you are confused or unsure what to chart Mosby has a little book that will fit perfectly in your nursing bag. I have been a nurse going on 4 years. I can not STRESS enough of the importance of charting. If you get behind and think "oh I will finish that charting tomorrow. The pt did not sustain an injury with that fall anyway." You come back the next day to the nurse giving report they sent out pt FOR HEAD INJURY OR WORSE. Cover YOURSELF.
sistrmoon, BSN, RN
842 Posts
Our manager says, "What you permit, you promote." :)