I thought it would be interesting to see what tricks or procedures or aspect each nurse prides themselves in!
Not sure if I'm wording this clearly... but for example, maybe someone might put an emphasis on making sure pillows are fluffed and flipped for patient comfort, and another nurse might pride themselves on really going in depth with patient education.... or you came up with a trick on how to do something an easier/more effective way!
Of course, all aspects of nursing are incredibly important, and they are all to be incorporated, but what aspects do you pride yourself on emphasizing?
Sorry if this is confusing!
Also, I haven't entered my nursing program yet, so maybe this is just a dumb question altogether, but I thought it might be interesting!
I pride myself in keeping my patients well and live until 645!
No, seriously. I rock as a nurse. I'm great at what I do and I love with other nurses come to me with questions and I have the answer. I'm kind of like the resource nurse. I love it!
I have this strange intuitive sense of being sure something is up with a patient, which prompts me to assess in a 'detective' way. When I get that intuitive feeling, I have learned to act on it, whether it is getting a CXR, labs, looking at meds for adverse reaction, there is always proof that I was right on. It took a while to trust that intuition, now I never ignore it. I guess that counts as a nursing skill/talent?
I don't do bedside anymore, but I used to be a real whiz at assessing and managing technology. Gimme an intraaortic balloon pump, a testy ventilator, a fussy hemodynamic monitoring system, a touchy external pacer, and I could have it calmed down and working like a top in no time. And teach other people how it works so they could do it next time.
Now I'm a whiz at ferreting out hidden facts in medical records to explain them to attorneys, and why they matter.
And I'm a dab hand at nursing process for students. :)
I am great at teaching laypeople and peers. In school, we called it Patho for Kindergarteners. I also seem to be good at walking in on folks as they are trying to hang themselves. It's a useful skill in Psych. :)
My charting. I've been noted several times but the DON, other RN's etc on how detailed and thorough my charting is, especially when it comes to discharges and admissions. I like to give a full adequate summary of what is going on that way the next shift doesnt have to quiz me on any incident, they get the full story through the notes. Plus any behavioral/pt complaints can be fully noted that way I can say I tried everything I could and was aware of any dissatisfaction.
* Making patients and families feel comfortable despite high stress situations and environment. Making them smile or (even better) laugh!
* Patient education. I'm a big "use hands while he talks" person in general - and I carry that over to grabbing the nearest sheet of paper towel to draw diagrams to help illustrate what I'm trying to say. When I was in school, I had a patient who was about to be discharged home with some new BP/CHF meds. He was a Navy veteran who had served on nuclear powered vessels. I used the analogy of the coolant pump system used in nuclear reactors (Thanks also to Tom Clancy and "The Hunt for Red October"!)to explain how important it as to maintain coolant pump-efficiency (the Heart) and how problems in the "piping" (arteries) could reduce the efficacy of the "pump". I swear he saw the problem in a whole new light! :-) I'm also prone to using similar diagrams to explain to patients why they have the "urge to pee" even though they have a foley. Or what is "congestive heart failure". Or a myriad other things!
* As a tie-in with the above - talking "doc" using everyday words. I've routinely helped break down "pressors", "heroic measures", "metabolic acidosis", "temporal arteristis" and many many more terms and conditions. Of course, if I feel the patient/family needs more info, I promptly insist the Doc goes back in to talk to them - this time stressing the need to use simpler language!
* Also as a tie-in with the above (working with docs) - anticipation of what route they are likely to go and anticipating/advocating for my patients as I see it. Anyone who has worked Emergency with a bunch of doctors knows what I'm talking about.
I have the ability to get everyone to work together as a team. Despite the lack of extensive experience, I am utilized as a resource nurse to novice and experienced nurses as well. I earn over patient's trust easily. I have the courage to address admin like no other nurse is bold enough to do for fear of job security.
BSNbeauty, BSN, RN
1,939 Posts
I pride myself in keeping my patients well and live until 645!
No, seriously. I rock as a nurse. I'm great at what I do and I love with other nurses come to me with questions and I have the answer. I'm kind of like the resource nurse. I love it!