12/12 This week I have learned (as I struggle to stay awake)

Nurses General Nursing

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I have very little to share this week. Truth is, it's been the hardest week I've had in a very long time.

This week, I have learned (relearned):

Mental health crises do affect all of us at some time.

It's a good idea to have Life Crisis's phone number and a local phone number for a local group similar to life crisis saved in your phone whether you think you'll need it or not.

Hyper vigilant anxiety/stress will leave you utterly exhausted. It might also rip up your tummy.

We still have so much further to go before the stigma is removed from mental illness and the medications used to help treat those who need them.

Forgive the abbreviated post. I hope your week has treated you well!

I have learned that once I talked about my sleeping problems due to menopause almost every other nurse my or above my age came forward to complain about it - not sleeping well due to menopause is real...

I learned that applying to college is so much stress and that it is a huge relief when the first acceptance letter comes home (for my oldest child)...

I learned that when you try to treat pain that requires around 300 mg of Morphine in 24 hours without breakthrough doses a 25 mcg fentanyl patch instead is not going to do anything - I was surprised somebody even attempted that low of a dose and thought it could be "very effective" - this is why specialty certification makes sense, as a certified hospice and palliative nurse I did the math and knew it is not going to work...

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

This week I learned that loyalty to a particular employer is a relic of a bygone era.

I learned that it is perfectly okay to take a leap of faith and separate from the aforementioned employer if the career move will result in more work/life balance.

This week I have learned that there are not many people that deserve to be trusted. People are generally not the person they portray themselves to be. Learning this has been a very sad lesson because I learned that a person that I have respected as a superior for YEARS really didn't deserve any of it.

On a positive note I have learned that I LOVE a warm December!!! We have been wearing shorts when normally at this time of year we are knee deep in snow and wearing winter coats.

Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

I learned that severe hypoglycemia can be massively devastating to both mother and baby. :(

I learned that sometimes even our attendings who have worked there for many years can say massively stupid things, such as "Why did your baby sneeze twice? Babies don't sneeze that much." Have you ever met a baby?!:mad:

I learned (or just am continuing to feel) that I'm in a bit of an identity crisis at work. I don't feel very smart or like a good colleague or like I'm clicking with parents much lately. Hoping that this is just a temporary slump. :no:

Specializes in Cath Lab.

It's ok to say no to coworkers and patients

It's also ok to say "I don't know" when you don't

I also learned it's difficult to transition from nurse assistant to nurse and then have to delegate to people who still see you as a PCA.

What I learned most of all, is I'm not going to have my dream job for a while, and I'm going to have to really step it up to make it as a new grad in cath lab, and my director hiring me there means she really believes in me (or is just that desperate for staff).

Specializes in Neuroscience.

This week I learned that first year med students are not taught to think on their own. If I have to threaten one more with a call up the line, I swear I'm going to scream.

This week I have learned that I need to let go of some baggage.

I am a good leader only if there are people around me who want to be led.

I passed all of my classes and have one semester left before I graduate!

I'm very very excited to start my preceptorship in the ICU!

Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

I learned that I have yet to find a good compression stockings that will stay up on my fat calves and not slide down.

Look up Total Compression Solutions.

Expensive but you will send them your leg measurements and they will send you the size that will fit and stay up.

Congrats on completing your program! :)

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I learned that my boss has an even stranger sense of humor than I do (and that's saying a LOT!).

...that my sister is an idiot.

... that 62 degrees in mid-December in Indiana is awesome.

... that you REALLY should read up on the symptoms and physiology before you try to fake a rare illness. As they say on Mike & Mike -C'mon man!!!

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I've learned that:

-pneumonia resulting in empyema that doesn't respond to medical management smells bad enough to make an entire OR team gag when we open the patient up to clean them out.

-I work with an amusing group of people. Let's just say Cards Against Humanity at the annual Christmas party was definitely as sick and twisted as we are, but more so under the influence of alcohol.

-I like unexpected extra long weekends when it's low census time.

Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

I learned as a newb nurse to my specialty:

1) what subcutaneous emphysema actually sounds and feels like, because I had 2 patients with it (snap crackle pop!)

2) drawings labs off a PICC line according to the patient's wishes actually works better than following our protocols

3) how to bladder scan and threatening someone with I and O cath magically works to get that urine out :)

4) sometimes your patients might be trans and not know how to express that in their generational language (70+)

5) There's always a good vein somewhere to start an IV in, according to a former IV drug user.

6) My clinical trials company needs to get their communication together. So.Many. Calls.

Wrench Party, I always forget you are a noob.

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