This week, I learned.... (7/25)

[ixchel]

This week, I have learned....

1. Meth is a hell of a drug.

2. When meth is combined with cocaine and booze, it can destroy a 28 year old heart.

3. When you have one random patient across the unit from your other patients, and that patient is the only patient without psych issues, that poor patient is unfortunately going to be a bit neglected.

4. A discharge with EMS transport, ICU transfer and admission happening simultaneously (literally all less than 5 minutes apart from one another) 2 hours before you're supposed to be giving report means you'll be giving report before your last round of (very late) meds will be given.

5. Never been happier for vacation time. (Today is day 4/15.)

6. All play and no work makes ixchel a very happy girl. :)

That's all I got this week! Not much to learn when all I've been doing is playing! :)

What have you learned this week?

[WellThatsOod]

There's an introduction forum. Sometimes I think about formally introducing myself but

[Jensmom7, BSN, RN]

I learned that helping facility nurses get over their fear of working with Hospice patients makes me very proud of them; Hospice is a 180 degree mind flip for an acute care minded nurse.

And, these are young nurses-scared to death of patients who are dying but don't get sent out to the hospital, but able to work through that fear and see that treating symptoms IS "still doing something", and feel that satisfaction you get from watching an anxious, dyspneic patient relax and become comfortable after medication, O2 and a comforting touch.

God, I love what I do.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

OMG!!! This is so cool!

See I told you!

Thank you, ladies. She would always dance when I'd sing. Her favorite was Phantom.

We moved to another house and we couldn't keep her. She is being well cared for at a pet store that specializes in birds. She is about 14 years old now.

Cheeky bird.

[ixchel]

I went ahead and started this week's myself. :) Add nursing stuff so it doesn't get tossed to blue side!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/this-week-i-1002289.html

[TriciaJ, RN]

Oh, I have to add after reading the heart wrenching thread I don't think I can ever work in a hospital. No one has a heart wrenching post about corrections.

At first I thought "That can't be true". I worked corrections for over five years and you know what? You're right. I can't think of a single heart-wrenching thing. Then I worked in a hospital. I can easily think of many heart-wrenching situations in the hospital.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I learned that I'm more overwhelmed at my new LTC job than my corrections job medicating big burly murderers. I dont know why but just walking in the LTC facility makes me a little anxious. I guess I'll get the hang of it soon enough. I'm guessing it's because I haven't grasped the computer system yet. If I can medicate 160+ inmates at my other job, then why do I feel swamped medicating 27? Blows my mind.

I could do a fast med pass in corrections but was frazzled in LTC. Probably because the inmates didn't have any peg tubes, IVs or other paraphernalia to try to get meds down. Just tossed the pills down the hatch and onto the next one.

[TriciaJ, RN]

I've learned that some people will never understand the hell that is addiction and that while it's not okay to say obese people don't deserve medical care because they did it to themselves it is okay to say addicts don't and that they should just put a bullet in their brain. Saying that about any other type of person people would be scrambling over each other to declare the wrongness of that statement. But saying a junkie should just put a bullet in their brain, no one bats an eye.

I learned this week that I'm still so thankful that I did not actually put a bullet in my brain like I wanted to so sooo badly every single day of my life that I was a pill crushin IV slammin junkie, and that I am grateful that I had the chance to get better and live a happy productive life.

I don't think the person who said that really wanted anyone to put a bullet in his brain. I think she was just feeling demoralized having to watch a slow, agonizing death. And did say she'd had a very difficult week.

It's best not to take personally someone else's discouragement, even if it does hit close to home. And I am happy for you, too.

[Ruthieruth]

This week I've learned to have patience and believe in myself, after taking my nclex-pn. Won't know results for another 6 weeks 😵 patience is a virtue.

[AcuteCare4Life]

[COLOR=#000000]2. I hate my job. I love my future job (I'm in school), but I wish I were a med/surg nurse right now. I'd unclog PEG tubes all day rather than hold down one poor soul to give them antipsychotics to prevent them from hurting me or themselves. I love my coworkers, though.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=#000000]I'm a med/surg RN. In the years working on the unit, only had to unclog 1 PEG, however, the poor souls who are psychotic... too many to count! At our hospital, med/surg gets the majority of the "crazies, yellers, unoriented and non compliant patients". Our unit keeps these souls until they are medically safe to transfer to another facility with drug/ETOH rehab and/or psych capitablies. Earlier this year we had a "gentleman" who was physically scary, 6'6", >280lbs, muscular,wild hair, and full beard. He reminded me of Rasputin. A scary dude! Administration sent a 18 year old girl to be one on one with him! My thought?, "You have got to be kidding me!". As Charge RN that day, I told the girl to stay out of the room and out of his reach! Called security to come stay with "Rasputin"," Sorry, don't have the personnel to send.". Again, "You have got to be kidding me!" Was never so glad to see a patient leave as I was with "Rasputin"! Escorted out by the State Police in handcuffs behind his back, to his next stop! [/COLOR]

[gibsongirl]

I learned that a 1/2 day is never a half day. I need to take the whole day off.

I learned I work for a terrible company that abuses it's employees then expects perfection from them.

I learned that making memories with my family is worth making less money and you have to turn on a dime sometimes to take advantage of the opportunity to do so.

[MissAnteater]

Farawyn, I was crying with you...

*hug!*

[rnsrgr8t]

Thank you, ladies. She would always dance when I'd sing. Her favorite was Phantom.

We moved to another house and we couldn't keep her. She is being well cared for at a pet store that specializes in birds. She is about 14 years old now.

Cheeky bird.

Sort of singing??? Holy cow you have an amazing voice! Your bird was precious!