This week, I have learned..... (6/13)

Nurses General Nursing

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1. That I can get sucked into this place for entire days at a time when I'm sick, off, and in an empty, quiet house.

2. When I have an electrolyte imbalance, my heart goes into trigeminy and I have seizures (not scary tonic clonic ones, so not as scary as that sounds).

3. Throwing up a potato when you are dehydrated is seriously horrible.

4. Wounds can smell THAT bad.

5. Then the next day they can smell worse.

You?

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

There really is some pure evil in the world, and that some families are never going to be the same again. Some horrific traumas this week, only one made it to the ER and then the OR.

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Learned this week:

1. My 22 yo daughter has Marfan Syndrome.

2. That sometimes it is necessary to turn off your nurse brain in order to stay (somewhat) sane. (See #1)

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

More about urine specimens and cultures than I ever thought I would want to know.

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Learned this week:

1. My 22 yo daughter has Marfan Syndrome.

2. That sometimes it is necessary to turn off your nurse brain in order to stay (somewhat) sane. (See #1)

Oof. :(

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Specializes in Oncology.

I learned that you shouldn't have diarrhea for a week before coming into the ER...surprise! Your electrolytes are all wackadoo.

-Don't eat hamburgers that sit out overnight unrefridgerated...hence said diarrhea.

-I will not stop getting paranoid everytime my assignment changes on the third day of the week. Did the patient fire me? Is it because Patient X. is now neutropenic? Do they think I can't hack it anymore? It is because patient A is super crazy?

-Finding a per diem job was relatively easy, rearranging your work schedule for a week long hospital orientation is hard. Especially when you work nights.

-When you tell a recruiter you're available for part-time oncology night positions, she should probably tell you the position she's referring you to is outpatient infusion, before said interview.

-Sometimes its ok to bail out on a in person interview and do it over the phone because of "car trouble" because you'll find out at the end of the interview, said job is for an outpatient infusion center.

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I learned that I can get called names/get screamed at by my dementia patients all day, but as soon as my alert and oriented resident decides to rip me a new one, I'll cry a little in the supply closet.

Also, "off-roading" in an ambulance on a mutual aid call, in the middle of nowhere, with no cell service/gps, at 1am, in the middle of giant thunder storm.... is actually kind of fun and memorable.

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Specializes in Inpatient Oncology/Public Health.
I learned that there are few things that rival the utter soul-sucking nature of CALL BELL abusers. !

*ding. ding!*

"Yes, Mrs. H?"

"I need my nerve pill."

"Let's see.. it looks like your Ativan is due in an hour."

"Oh, okay"

3.5 seconds later...

*ding. ding*

"Can I help you?"

"Pleeeease can I have my nerve pill?"

"I can't give it to you for an hour, I have to follow the doctor's order, and he already said he's not going to order it more often."

"::sigh:: ok."

2.3 seconds later.

*ding. ding*

"Yyyyesss?"

"How about a pain pill?"

This was my lesson this weekend too. Totally demoralized. Except mine was wanting me to rearrange the room, move her body parts just so and so on in addition to medication. Did I mention she can't communicate verbally? I understand it but it doesn't make it any easier when trying to care for other patients. And you know, chart and sit for more than 30 seconds at a time.

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Specializes in Oncology.
This was my lesson this weekend too. Totally demoralized. Except mine was wanting me to rearrange the room, move her body parts just so and so on in addition to medication. Did I mention she can't communicate verbally? I understand it but it doesn't make it any easier when trying to care for other patients. And you know, chart and sit for more than 30 seconds at a time.

Reminds me of my night last night.

*Ding ding*

"I have to go to the bathroom"

"Ok, stay in bed, someone will come help you."

*Ding ding*

"I have to go to the bathroom"

"Someone is on the way, stay in bed"

CNA helps patient to bathroom, patient is sitting on side of bed, I come in to help CNA.

"I need my meds!"

Me putting on gown...patient is on contact precautions "I have your medication"

"I can't lie back, I need my meds. Where did you go"

"I'm right here, I'm still putting on my gown"

"Don't leave me!"

CNA opens curtain "She's right there, she hasn't left!"

Patient gets meds, lies back in bed..."where's my ice pack?"

"Its by your side"

"Cover me with the blanket" *covers patient*

"Uncover my feet" *uncovers feet*

"Where's my water? I need my water"

"Its on your table"

"Lower my head"

"Too far"

"Where's my pillow?" *repositions pillow*

"Turn off the lights"

Laaassst chance before I leave...anything else???

Sorry this was so long...it was a long night.

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Specializes in critical care.
Reminds me of my night last night.

*Ding ding*

"I have to go to the bathroom"

"Ok, stay in bed, someone will come help you."

*Ding ding*

"I have to go to the bathroom"

"Someone is on the way, stay in bed"

CNA helps patient to bathroom, patient is sitting on side of bed, I come in to help CNA.

"I need my meds!"

Me putting on gown...patient is on contact precautions "I have your medication"

"I can't lie back, I need my meds. Where did you go"

"I'm right here, I'm still putting on my gown"

"Don't leave me!"

CNA opens curtain "She's right there, she hasn't left!"

Patient gets meds, lies back in bed..."where's my ice pack?"

"Its by your side"

"Cover me with the blanket" *covers patient*

"Uncover my feet" *uncovers feet*

"Where's my water? I need my water"

"Its on your table"

"Lower my head"

"Too far"

"Where's my pillow?" *repositions pillow*

"Turn off the lights"

Laaassst chance before I leave...anything else???

Sorry this was so long...it was a long night.

These are the ones who always wait until the gown off to remember one last thing.

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Specializes in Registered Nurse.
Learned this week:

1. My 22 yo daughter has Marfan Syndrome.

2. That sometimes it is necessary to turn off your nurse brain in order to stay (somewhat) sane. (See #1)

Sorry to hear this. Hope she has great doctor (s).

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.
These are the ones who always wait until the gown off to remember one last thing.

And drying your hands.

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Specializes in ICU.
-Finding a per diem job was relatively easy, rearranging your work schedule for a week long hospital orientation is hard. Especially when you work nights.

Hallelujah, someone who understands what I have been going through the past two weeks! Going to general orientation, general nursing orientation, two days of computer training, facility-specific nursing orientation, and facility orientation while attempting to hold down a full time job is a nightmare. M-F 8-5 orientation and Friday and Saturday 7p-7a, lucky enough to only work two nights because I figured out my schedule early enough to get one PTO day each week. I have no idea how I'd do M-F 8-5 and work 3 night 12s too.

Also - hey new job, I am only PRN - you really don't have to orient me to death!

/thread hijack.

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