What are you best work tips?

[punkydoodlesRN]

There are so many fabulous nurses around here and I'm sure that there is probably equally awesome advice that has never been shared... So, what is your tip? It can be ANYTHING related to your job... bringing meals, cluster care tips and tricks, laundering scrubs, etc.... I'll go first...

1) Cleaning my scope. Instead of using alcohol wipes between each patient, I just squirt extra hand gel into my palms, then reach up and rub around my bell and ear pieces. Then I proceed to wipe my hands until dry.

2) When I'm working 2 - 3 shifts in a row, I bring a gallon of ice tea to put in the fridge to refill my cup - get tired of water and plain decaf tea is healthier than sodas. I do the same for food, bring a meal, divided into threes, the first night of my series. That way if I sleep late or am running behind, I know I always have a meal already at work waiting on me!

Next

[Nursetastic]

Keep a menthol chapstick in your pocket for those times when you need to "filter" the odor in a room. Just rub a bit under your nose or in a mask. Toothpaste works well, too.

Stock your rooms at the beginning of shift. I take flushes, 10 cc syringes, needles, oral care kits, bath wipes/peri spray, full set of linens, chux, etc. I work ICU and save a lot of time with this one.

I do my line reconciliation the first time I walk in a room. If tubing is not labeled, I grab new ones and change and label them; unless the patient is a fresh admit. It also affords me the advantage of catching any gtt or compatibility errors that may be going on and point them out/deal with them before the previous shift leaves. I've found some big no-no's this way. I've also ticked off a couple of nurses, but oh well. They created the problem, they get to fix it and admit to it.

Do as much as you can by yourself before asking for help. Don't drain your coworkers. If you have a vented/sedated pt, bathe as much as you can before dragging someone else in. The only time you REALLY need help is for the linen change and to turn the patient. Don't be helpless, be helpful!

Take high protein snacks. Peanut butter, boiled eggs, cheese, yogurt. Avoid candy, chips, cookies, etc.

Put your name on EVERYTHING! Food and equipment disappear constantly in my unit.

I like to arrive about 10 minutes before group report. I can decompress with my coworkers before the shift starts.

There is surely a lot more, but this is off the top of my head.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I have read some very good tips on this thread so far! Smart bunch of nurses here. :)

What I learned over the years was CHART AS YOU GO, as much as you can. The days that sucked the most were when I had everything to chart at the end of the day, it's a massive pile to get through. It's also much harder to remember to put down everything you'd like to.

I also am a stickler for writing times down. One of my pet peeves is looking at all of the charting from the nurse before me, and it would appear that EVERYONE was assessed at exactly 0030. I put down the time for everything, and cross things off as I chart them. I'll even make a little note to myself for what time I paged the doctor, since hours can run together in your head later on!

My shift sheet was downright anal, but I could see at a glance what I had done, what I had left to do, and what I had charted, etc. It would help me pinpoint what hours would be the busiest (that I had a lot of meds to give) so it helped me to plan around it. I could leave for the day KNOWING I didn't miss anything, as long as I stayed on top of keeping that sheet up to date.

[Poi Dog]

All of that and bring lots of snacks. I don't know about all of you but I'm a witch when I'm hungry.

Me too. I turn into an ogre...

[Palliative Care, DNP]

Tips include

1) Organization: Do not be the nurse who appears clueless because you don't have everything together.

2) Show up to work on time! Your co workers do not appreciate having to wait on you after working 12 hours.

3) If you do not know ASK! Please do not wing it when it comes to patient care:uhoh3:

4) If you are having down time and see a co worker who is obviously drowning help them. You just may need their help one day.

5) If you ask me to switch a day with you for something don't have amnesia when I need you to switch I day with me...Plus I wrote it down date and time:D

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

God gave you two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly

[Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN]

An hour or half an hour before your shift ends:

• Let your pt know that you are leaving in X minutes and what you can do for them to hold them until the next shift comes in around X time.
  
• Offer/give pain meds (most will say no and then ring right at change of shift when the new nurse is taking report, argh! I encourage it and this minimizes the interruptions).
  
• Offer bedpan/change to those who can't go to BR
  
• Change IV bags if near 100 cc or have an extra bag hanging on the pump
  

[arnie1234]

Great tips

I think it is very important to help your coworkers when you have down time. You never know when you will need the help reciprocated.

refrain from spreading gossip/negativity

Be on time- don't call out unless you are really sick!

Try to explain things to your patients as you perform them. We often forget that our patients don't always understand what is being done to them.

treat your patients the way you want to be treated.

[tiredstudentmom]

Keep up the good thread everyone! As a student in the midst of clinicals, it helps to have some good tips to survive on!

[handyrn]

I have to admit 2 things.

First of all I have one tip that is really quite dumb, but works for me: Have 3-4 different colors of highlighters and paper with you at all times! This helps me during a med pass. If most of the meds are given at 8am and I have an "odd" 10am, I write down my med times on a piece of paper when I am organizing at the beginning of my shift and make sure to highlight the odd time so it draws my attention.

Second thing I have to admit: I had to post on this thread my dumb idea (see above) just so that this thread could become part of my "subscribed threads" since I don't know how to subscribe to a thread without commenting/posting on it.

[TinyRNgrl]

Awesome thread!

I am a BIG advocate on pt teaching when d/c a pt from the ED. Main topics are.....

1. I teach parents who are leaving with a child that they can alternate tylenol/motrin to control fever. Teach if a fever spikes to strip them down, encourage fluids and home remedies they can try before rushing their child to the ED at the first sign of a fever before even giving tylenol. UGH!

2. I am big on informing pt's, esp my older pt's that diarrhea is a common symptom with antiboitics. I teach them the benefits of yogurt and restoring the good bacteria. And to my female pt's that yeast infections can and often occur and again yogurt can be your best friend while taking antibiotics. AND I ALWAYS stress the importance of taking the FULL course of ANY and ALL antibiotics to prevent resistance strands of bacteria later on down the road.

3. When d/c older folks with narcotics, esp when they live alone, who may have never taken percocet or vicodin that they may experience dizziness and drowsiness. I advice them to pee, get a glass of water, phone, remote control to the tv and anything else they may need and get in their favorie recliner/chair/couch after taking this med to avoid a possible fall. I tell them to remove possible hazards that could cause falls (throw rugs, clutter, shoes, etc) And to take a stool softner if taking this medication frequently because constipation is a big side effect.

I guess those are the three big ones I am always teaching. Never assume that your pt's know.

I usually always explain what I am doing and why. Makes them feel better. When I am giving a medication I try and explain why and what that medication is going to do for them. If it is a sedating drug I explain symptoms they may feel. I tell them to ring the nurse bell if they develope nausea or if hanging an antibiotic if they develop reddness, swelling or pain at the IV to ring for me asap.

Communication is key. And my pt's often leave with a little bit more knowledge that makes them feel good about the care they received.

[orla]

Double glove one hand when anticipating messy clean-ups or when applying creams, lotions, etc. Peels right off and you can still continue whatever you were doing without getting everything messy again!

[MSNICU]

I use handgel for the stethoscope also.

Baby Powder works well to prevent the bedpan suction dilema.

As I take report, I put a box next to everything that has to get done. For instance, two boxes for glucomters (bkfst and lunch), a box next to IV (assess volume left), a box to check MRI results, etc.

I read the doctor's admission and history, and most recent progress note. It's amazing what isn't passed on in nursing reports.

Take a meal break. Ditto with the hunger/ ogre comment. I know you may be stressed and overloaded, but trust me- if you can get off the floor for 10 minutes it will make a difference most days.

Things I carry at all times- dry erase marker update board), sharpie (for drsg changes and Chest tube marking), clamp (good for lots of things, including unscrewing the IV tubing that the OR must have sealed with a welder), scissors, two pens, and end caps (sterile line caps).

Try to stock your cart before you get going down the hall. It will save trips.

Even if not madatory, ask the off going nurse to do a meet and greet with your group of patients. A lot of last minute questions/ situations will pop up that either she can answer/resolve or you can get prepared for- pain meds especially. This will give you peace of mind that you have seen them alive and breathing before you get your meds gathered for the shift. Try to anticipate what they will need within the next few hours- pain meds, nausea, anxiety. Don't pull them too far ahead- you don't need unnecessary narcs floating around on your cart.

Smile.

When all else fails, and you feel as though you will cry if the ER calls again, take a 2 minute sanity break, deep breathe, look at your report sheet/list to refresh what you need to do, and decide what can wait and what cannot. A daily dressing change can be done later in the day shift than a BID or TID drsg change.