5/29 This week, I have learned... One year later!!!

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One year ago today(ish) saw the birth of WILTW. In that time, we've been able to grow together as people and nurses, and it has been awesome!

I've been wanting to put together this massive, awesome recollection of each week, but then I realized how ridiculous that would become. So, I wont do that. But, I did want to peek back at some of my more monumental lessons, and encourage you to peek back, too, if you would like.

As always, please share present day learnings, too.

What I learned, over the last 52 weeks...

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/this-week-i-991434.html

Making sure your nurse knows you have breast implants can prevent an embarrassing ICU transfer when a dislodged boob looks like a hematoma.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/what-i-learned-998813.html

If you're going to give a nonresponsive patient a titty twister in an attempt to establish they are actually responsive, warn the other people in the room first.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/9-5-what-1007775.html

When you read a patient's chart notes and see they couldn't be stopped from punching and spitting on staff with 25 mg haldol and 10 mg Ativan, you might actually think to yourself, "thank god he's only felt me up this shift".

9/12 What I learned this week...... | allnurses

This is one of the threads that was moved to blue. It is, however, the first WILTW after Brian died, and feels worth it to include.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/10-31-what-1021192.html

Herpes can literally get in and on every part of the body. I'm glad my innocence was already shattered by sidepockets because for real, people. EVERYWHERE.

(It was in the lungs.)

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/12-5-what-1026131.html

If a coworker is charting in a darker, quieter space, YES, they are are hiding. Go away.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/12-19-what-1028089.html

Never remove an African American woman's wig.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/1-9-what-1030794.html

This thread was linked on social media and people were royally pissed off by it.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/2-27-what-1038754.html

This week, I learned the end of a patient story and I celebrated with a happy cry.

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/3-19-what-1042681.html

If you shave your dog to determine if she has a heart block, you may be a little unbalanced. (And that stethoscope I mentioned? Gone. Thanks, AHole.)

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/4-16-what-1047607.html

Why is the end of a straight cath ribbed? It certainly is NOT for her pleasure!

(Incidentally, my husband learned how to change an instead cup post op.)

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/5-21-wiltw-1053097.html

It comforts me to know my LEO hubs and his coworkers have devised an apocalypse plan. I also just realized being nurses makes us all valuable (like, save the nurse, kill that guy instead, valuable).

And what have I learned this week?

5 hours of driving in a day when almost 6 weeks post op from lumbar fusion can make the rest of the week complicated. So can carrying a ~15 lb load of groceries.

My time away from work could be as long as 6 months. I miss it, and I don't miss it.

When a person awakens during a focal epilepsy seizure, they will potentially continue to interact as though in the dream still, while also interacting with their real surroundings.

So, friends, with that I say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WILTW! You all have been wonderful to share my nurse growth with. Every time we get new posters, I feel the excitement of this weekly installment growing. What began as sort of a journaling process for me has become a highlight for many on AN, and I love that! Thank you all!

[video=youtube_share;MjF1bG5LUcs]

What part of Michigan? I know of some openings on the SW side....

I've been looking in Wyandotte area and Royal Oak area, and everywhere in between.

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Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.

Happy Anniversary to What I learned this week

I don ' t often post but I love reading the posts .

Organized chaos Happy Birthday to your son.

Like Jensmom my baby will be 32.

I learned this week that even though I've been gone from my job up north , for almost a year I still miss it.

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WILTW:

Being single at 24 apparently means that all your friends want to set you up with a "nice guy" that they know.

Yea...I'm 29....it gets worse. 'Cause then it's not just your friends. When I first started a job last year one of my co-workers hounded me for WEEKS about dating her son. Um, no thank you. :cautious:

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
This week at work I learned that if you put a banana in the microwave in the peel, it will catch on fire after a certain amount of time.

ETA: I was not the one who put the banana in the microwave. I feel it's important for people to know that.

Working in an ICU that has no blanket warmer (this was years ago) we had staff that would put blankets in the microwave and catch them on fire periodically.

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
WILTW:

Being single at 24 apparently means that all your friends want to set you up with a "nice guy" that they know.

I'm taking the NCLEX tomorrow, and I'm not sure how I feel. I guess I'll find out if my 2 years in nursing school has taught me anything.

I didn't get the job offer. However, I'm determined that one interview doesn't dictate the course of my future. I'm going to continue to apply here in MI, and I believe that the right opportunity will present itself.

Being near a lake in MI during a rainstorm and high speed winds can cause huge swarms of bugs to stick with you underneath the picnic shelters. I don't mind bugs usually, but this moment has deterred me from going to a lake for a while.

Phenytoin can cause gingival hypertrophy, so regular dentist visits are a must.

Having medical friends, we collaboratively are hoping to do medical missions in a few years, after alll of us have graduated and have some experience.

You will find a good place here in MI. Good luck on your NCLEX. I know you will pass. I know of openings here in the SE MI area too.

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You will find a good place here in MI. Good luck on your NCLEX. I know you will pass. I know of openings here in the SE MI area too.

Thanks! I hope that when I have my license, it'll be a bit easier to secure a job. I'll let you know if I have any lucky with HFH. I found out my friend who has the extra room works at BASF, which is literally down the street.

ETA: Went to Belle Isle today and kayaked for the first time. It was gorgeous outside.

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.

A year does go by very fast. My daughter is going to be a senior, my son is entering high school and I only have 5 more months before I can transfer after a write up.

I learned this week that you most definitely need your co-workers when things are crazy (and when aren't they). I also learned that sometimes, a friend will make all the difference when you need a shoulder.

And that sometimes, you will become attached to some of your patients (especially when you care for them long term) and it does hurt when they die. Tears are okay!

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Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.
I've been looking in Wyandotte area and Royal Oak area, and everywhere in between.

If you move over to the Grand Rapids / Kalamazoo side of the state, lemme know and I'll hook you up!

Also, if you need "just a job" to get you some experience on your resume, check into private duty. There are lots of agencies that will hire new grads -- just make sure you're comfortable with the case and know what to do in an emergency before working on your own.

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I've learned so much reading this thread over the past year!

I did something I didn't think I would - I hate confrontation and I called someone out on something. I'm really surprised I did it.

I've learned that while I've become more comfortable trying to live my life on call hearing my phone ring and caller ID showing the OR charge nurse is always depressing. I was having so much fun before having to go to work. PS working 8 hours after being up for over 12 hours is never fun. That part never gets better. I *will* say there is *far greater* interdepartmental teamwork (OR and PACU) during weekend off shifts. If we could only get along so well during weekdays on days/evenings. On the bright side - I got to work with a surgeon I rarely get to work with anymore, so that was kind of nice. It wasn't all bad, and between not having been relieved one night, therefore having to stay to finish a case we'd already started *and* being called in, the overtime plus shift differential is pretty nice. :)

This whole grad school thing is really happening. I'm rapidly approaching orientation part 1.

This next week will be challenging for me for several reasons (anniversary of some not so nice stuff), but I'll make the best of it. :)

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If you move over to the Grand Rapids / Kalamazoo side of the state, lemme know and I'll hook you up!

Also, if you need "just a job" to get you some experience on your resume, check into private duty. There are lots of agencies that will hire new grads -- just make sure you're comfortable with the case and know what to do in an emergency before working on your own.

I actually considered moving over that-a-ways as well, but I have a solid support system over here in Detroit area. But I will let you know if things change - I was at Kalamazoo on Saturday, and the area was very homey. I liked the neighborly feel.

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Yeah, I've seen that happen also.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

1) I really, really hate poison ivy. Lucky me, I got cellulitis and a fever from it on my arms, that required an urgent care visit. My arms are wrapped up like a mummy's from the weeping sores, I'm on a prednisone taper and cream, NSAIDS/Tylenol, antibiotics, and so many antihistamines I'm dry as a bone. Blergh.

2) I have total sympathy for any patients of mine on prednisone, makes me feel really weird, jittery, and hungry. Also blergh.

3) Apparently, this poison ivy is going to take 1-2 more weeks to clear my system, and I might have permanent scars. SO. AWESOME.

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