(8/29) This week, I have learned......

Nurses General Nursing

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(Forgive the early submission this week. Got a busy day tomorrow and last week's thread has just changed its code status to DNR, with a discharge to hospice. Thankfully, most of the family agrees. Unfortunately, one person thinks I'm trying to get more inheritance than Farawyn, but thankfully that's what probate lawyers are for.)

This week, I have learned:

Creatinine can go from 9 to 1.9 in 12 hours. Then 0.65, 24 hours after that, with 13,000 mL out in two shifts.

If you're prepared to ask if your patient group can be split up tomorrow, be prepared to be made out to be an a-hole in front of the rest of the staff just for asking.

My legs are a-holes.

Furry woodland creatures are terrifying.

Metoprolol is a hell of a drug.

Cardiologists should consult nephrologists for beta blocker dosing once a creatinine hits, like, 2.

Some patients would rather walk across the room to pull the code blue button rather then push the nurse call button on their remote they've had glued to their hands for days.

It appears the end of August is "Celebrate Right Before Shift Change Disasters" season.

There are two miserable ladies who post in every thread. But now I'll never know who they are.

There is a person with an STD in their colostomy stoma.

An iPhone can delete all of your contacts in one area code and rename all of your contacts 'Steve'.

I am incredibly frustrated that hospitalists don't clarify code status at admission. Families are SHOCKED to consider that just because their kids know what they want, doesn't mean we'll know.

The State Highway Administration employs archaeologists.

My baby turns 8 tomorrow. I remember feeling impatience at the end of that pregnancy because I wanted to KNOW her. She was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen, and has grown more so with every passing year. As fulfilled as I am by being a nurse (I was one of those disgusting "called to it" nurses. Wear gloves when you read my posts, friends. That icky stuff might be contagious.), being Mommy is my one true superpower. :)

What have you learned this week?

- I am apparently the only nurse in my program in public health that likes taking nursing students

- Attempting to coordinate nurses from other programs into doing outreach events in the community where they actually have to leave the building is simultaneously like pulling teeth and herding cats. This is not new information to me, but the last couple weeks have certainly reinforced it!

Specializes in Behavioral Health.
There is a person with an STD in their colostomy stoma.

I had a patient with chlamydia in her stoma. She was a prostitute. Men are gross.

About offensive humor - we have a pain in the ass monitor tech who frankly is more full of herself than I know how to deal with. She called to ask me to check on a person coming up asystole. The patient was being bathed at the time, so I knew she was okay. I said, "she's alright, I just put a pillow over her head." Apparently that was taking it a bit TOO far.

On my cardiac unit we used to call that "pillow therapy." We also had "liquid therapy," which was code for getting drinks after work.

I don't think monitor techs have a sense of humor. I think they were specially raised in the monitor tech cave from birth, where humor is strictly avoided at all times lest it turn them into regular human beings who can take a joke.

I was a tele tech for three years before I became a nurse, thank you very much!

... but my coworkers were a bunch of real weirdos. One of them was always angry and once told another tech she shouldn't waste her time on dating sites because she was going to die alone. Another fretted visibly if the radio were changed from Praise 106.5, and I later found out she believed (like, really, really believed) that "rock music" (anything not on Praise 106.5) was inspired by Satan.

Specializes in hospice.

This week I learned that you can't help someone who insists on being a **.

Specializes in Cardiac and OR.

That working my last 5 shifts before going to a new job makes me walk slumped over while singing funeral dirges. I don't wanna go innnnn!! :no: Damn being responsible and fulfilling your obligations can suck sometimes. This too shall pass.

*my teeth are not in the best condition. This is really sad, considering I'm not even 30 yet.

*I've decided to blame genetics for this, as both my parents have had extensive dental work done before 50.

*i found the absolutely best dentist. Like I didn't know dental care could be like that! I will most definitely be having my 100% covered twice yearly cleanings now.

*getting a wisdom tooth pulled last minute under general anesthesia was not bad at all. But maybe it's because I'm still 8 hours post OP and my face is still numb? I've only taken one Motrin 800mg and I'm ok.

*I've learned that multiple students that graduate from my school get employed at a hospital less than 10 minutes from my home, convenience at its peak!

*I start school in 3 days. I'm silently freaking out (in my head I know it'll be fine, especially thanks to AN) but I'm still freaking out internally.

*I'm torn between introducing my future fellow nursing students to AN, or just keeping it all to myself. I've learned SO MUCH here, I am constantly I found out about this or learned about that on AN.

Specializes in ICU.
Not gonna lie. I get patients I wish I could just intubate. Just wake 'em up all better and bounce 'em out.

I managed to get that lucky last night with the crazy combative one referenced earlier. He ended up seriously hypercapnic midway through the night despite the BiPAP. There is nothing better in the world than that sigh of relief when you know unequivocally that that patient is not going to be able to hurt you or himself anymore because he's sedated and restrained, and you can just let your shoulders down and get your work done without fear. :)

Dogen - You are obviously the exception that proves the rule!

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
There is a person with an STD in their colostomy stoma.

Anything I learned this week is completely negated by this. :confused: I was eagerly awaiting this week's thread -- it delivered well above my expectations!

Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

*getting a wisdom tooth pulled last minute under general anesthesia was not bad at all. But maybe it's because I'm still 8 hours post OP and my face is still numb? I've only taken one Motrin 800mg and I'm ok.

*I'm torn between introducing my future fellow nursing students to AN, or just keeping it all to myself. I've learned SO MUCH here, I am constantly I found out about this or learned about that on AN.

*When I had mine pulled, I took the Vicodin I was prescribed once just to stay ahead of the potential pain and I never needed one after that. It doesn't always hurt -- thank god!

*You can tell them and they'll either look at you funny or they will mention it to you a year later like it's something brand new they discovered all on their own.

Specializes in critical care.
I had a patient with chlamydia in her stoma. She was a prostitute. Men are gross.

But how hard was it to refrain from asking how much she'd charge for that?

That working my last 5 shifts before going to a new job makes me walk slumped over while singing funeral dirges. I don't wanna go innnnn!! :no: Damn being responsible and fulfilling your obligations can suck sometimes. This too shall pass.

I also felt that way the last week before I changed jobs...

Specializes in critical care.
Anything I learned this week is completely negated by this. :confused: I was eagerly awaiting this week's thread -- it delivered well above my expectations!

Yay!! Glad to deliver!

I actually kept a list this time. The last few weeks I was scrambling last minute.

Specializes in critical care.

Crap. We made up for the smut-free thread of last week quite nicely so far.

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