Things You Need To Know To Be A Nurse...

Published

things you need to know to be a nurse...

if it moves, rattles, shakes, falls down, or won't stay in place: tape it.

(share and add your own below)

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

an order for a stool spec is the best cure for diarrhoea!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

What you classify as an emergency and what the general public classifies as an emergency are very different things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Calling someone by their given name automatically puts you ahead. It can re-orient the mildly confused as well.

Mistakes can no longer be hidden, glossed over or "forgotten"

You'll get used to hearing things like "....Smells like C-diff"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

Remember that the confused, combative elderly patient never dreamed she/he would end up like this. They were just regular folk like us, trying to make a living, going to work, coming home to dinner, raising their children. Ending up demented, confused was not part of their life plan. Everyone is someones daughter, son, mother, father, sister, brother. Treat them the way you would treat your own.

Never ask someone to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself.

Never be afraid to admit you don't know something. It is much more frustrating when someone thinks they know everything and someone else has to clean up the mess. Remember, no matter how long you have been doing this, something new will always show up.

Ask for help. Trying to do it all yourself is stupid. You will burn yourself out in no time.

Always carry tape, scissors, hemostats, and gloves in your pocket. If you don't, you will need them.

Never leave your pen unattended. It will walk away. The same goes for your stethscope.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The average daily human excrement weighs 454 grams. I so wish I didn't know that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

Reality orientation does not work . . . therapuetic fibbing on the other hand works great!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Just because your shift ends at 1830 or 0630, does not mean you will walk out the door at that time!

Very important....NEVER complain about being "bored" or "had nothing to do" and then in the next breath tell the oncoming nurse you "didn't have time" to change the PICC dressing, get a med re-order, or do the AM dressing change!

NEVER say "I didn't go to four years of nursing school to answer call lights"

Treat your CNA's well. They can either make your job easy, or a living nightmare!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Eat 30 minutes before your shift, pee right before you clock in. The day you don't will be the day you are expected to power through 8 hours before your first break.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Never take a book, That will be the night you will question your very decision to enter the Nursing Profession.

This is sooo true, the nights I take something to do, all hell breaks loose

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in none.
The average daily human excrement weighs 454 grams. I so wish I didn't know that.

Of course here in the NEW Jersey, our politicians do more

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Some Older doctors at these small hospitals can diagnose most any disease from a UA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 3 years MS/Tele, 10 years total ICU, 5 travel.

The filthiest word in a hospital is five letters long and starts with Q.

And if you should say this word, all He!! WILL break loose.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion