What are you best work tips?

Nurses General Nursing

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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 :yeah:

Specializes in Critical Care & Medical-Surgical floor.

WOW! What a terrific question and some great ideas from so many. Trust your "gut" feeling about all things, it usually is right. There will be shifts when you donot accomplish all you hope for, remember to appreciate that you did your best and the next shift will pick up where you left off. Treat your patients and their loved ones the way you would like to be treated in a similar situation. Stand up to physicians who order potentially harmful medications/interventions or fail to order therapeutic interventions. Always go up your chain of command when there are pt. care issues which you cannot resolve and document it when you do. Always assess your sickest patient first. Help your coworkers even if they may fail to help you, it's all about helping the patients and we can't let them suffer because of ill feelings (even if justified) we may have about our peers. When you are notifying your manager about anything important, whether it is a schedule change or a pt. care issue, put it in writing and keep a copy for your records. Don't gossip about anyone, sooner or later those people you are gossiping with, will be talking about you. If you are the person everyone is talking about this week (negative talk), remember what my Mom used to tell me: If they are talking about you, they are leaving someone else alone. Sometimes we all make mistakes or experience a family/pt. fire you. When that occurs, take a deep breath and learn from the experience. Forgive yourself. Try not to take your job home with you. This can be difficult, try to have some fun at least once a week, you deserve it. Cherish your loved ones and let them know how much you care.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Progressive Care.

I've made up a quick worksheet that I fill in when I get my assignment. I have a max of 4 patients, and working nights, no discharges (ok, maybe the rare one). It just gives me little check boxes next to things like braden scale, pain, fall risk, IV, Assessment x2, injection site, monitor (charted and posted a tele strip), Accucheck figure and units given, med times, and vitals. I also have a blank spot for abnormal labs, and an other section for things like wounds, etc. It helps me to check things off as I chart them; I don't know how many times i've charted pain on a patient (even if they have no c/o pain) to find that no one has assessed their pain since admission.

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Specializes in cardiology/oncology/MICU.

I believe in doing all of my work as soon as the time for the tasks arrives. We use computerized charting as well as flow sheets that are scanned into chart. I make my new flow sheets and bathe my 2 patients and give meds and do everything as it comes so that I do not get behind. This also allows me to help my coworkers if they need it. I certainly do not want ot find myself hurrying in the morning because I spent too much time messing around all night. I never understood why so many nurses are staying late to finish their charting and stuff unless they had one crashing that is. Whenever something comes up or I get that admission at 0630, I am not behind when it comes time for report. I use a systematic approach to all of these tasks that is comfortable for me. I have found this to be the most efficient way to work.

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Don't touch your face (hello keyboard germs!!).

Wear the best shoes you can afford.

Get a closed container you enjoy drinking out of, fill it with cool water, remember to drink it!

Always have a food bar on hand, three minutes to a fuller belly when all you have is 5.

A few discreet yoga stretches in the bathroom, linen closet or empty room feel sooooo good.

Breathe!

Use lotion on your hands when you can, keep your skin healthy.

Find a speck of joy in your super crazy day.

For me to do what I need to, I gotta feel good. Because I'm going to be running all shift!

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Specializes in New PACU RN.

Always, always, ALWAYS check the allergy of the pt. I once gave a pt Tylenol #3 when he was allergic to codiene. The surgeon who wrote the order, the pharmacy who transcribed in the MAR, the nurse(s) who gave the med before me all missed it.

The only way I caught it was because I like to explain the meds as I give to the pt and I said that T3 contained tylenol and codiene. The pt then informed me that he was allergic to codiene. Thankfully, he was fine and nothing happened but that really freaked me out. I now check the allergy before each med draw instead of just begining of the shift and whenever I remember.

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Specializes in Sub-Acute/Psychiatric/Detox.

1. There is no easy job.

2. Focus on your current job.. until someone tells you to stop (you get laid off, etc.) or you find a new job.

3. Unless so and so tells you directly it is hearsay (example a Nurse said that another nurse from 1st shift said this about me). Basically unless someone tells you something to your face don't be getting angry and if the person does tell you something assess the situation. 1. Does it affect patient safety? 2. Could it cost you your job. 3. If the person is a non administrator then ignore them if you answer no to 1 and 2.

4. Be prepared to work.. if possible leave the cellphone in the car. If you have kids give them the #.

5. Don't trust anyone.. get documentation.. When giving a new med I like to see the order.

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Specializes in Peds Hem, Onc, Med/Surg.

Stay away from nursing groups on the floor.

Be nice to everyone, you never know you is going to save your behind!

Use technology. My iPhone was a huge help to me. I had med info on there, I would set alarms on there when I had something I had to remember for later. I am a horrible speller and so I had the dictionary on my phone. I also had a check list on my notes page that for every patient I would check off.

Clump everything you can together.

Tell the patient the truth. Don't say I'll be back in 5 minutes when you know you have to give that patient who takes his medications at very slow pace his next. The more truthful you are to your patients, the more they are willing to cooperate with you.

If you are giving something unfamiliar or doing something unfamiliar or are unsure of look up the policy or the manufacturers' instructions first. Don't trust your fellow nurses when they tell you how to do something. Sometimes they can be doing it wrong too.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Just a few more little ones...........

*gloves blown up make a cute little balloon for little kids.

*xtra large glove filled with ice makes an excellent ice pack and I personally prefer over the manufactured ones.

*10cc saline flushes make awesome water guns for a quick little laugh when you shoot your coworker in the butt. :lol2:

*for my pt's I see several times a week, for the same complaint, demanding the same narcotics, that are "allergic" to toradol, ultram, tylenol, NSAIDS, and you get the drift. I usually draw up the medication and shoot it in a 50ml bag of nss and infuse it wide open. They get the medication but don't get the quick "high".

*alcohol swaps are great for sanitizing your cell phones.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
1. There is no easy job.

2. Focus on your current job.. until someone tells you to stop (you get laid off, etc.) or you find a new job.

3. Unless so and so tells you directly it is hearsay (example a Nurse said that another nurse from 1st shift said this about me). Basically unless someone tells you something to your face don't be getting angry and if the person does tell you something assess the situation. 1. Does it affect patient safety? 2. Could it cost you your job. 3. If the person is a non administrator then ignore them if you answer no to 1 and 2.

4. Be prepared to work.. if possible leave the cellphone in the car. If you have kids give them the #.

5. Don't trust anyone.. get documentation.. When giving a new med I like to see the order.

Yes to this!

I am particularly anal; if I am in a room with a doc and he says something (like, we'll take out the drain/NG, start on xx med, etc), I'll wait until they have written the order to actually do it. If the patient asks why (and I CERTAINLY can understand being impatient about having their NG out!), I tell that EVERY once in a while, the doc will change their minds once they've left the room (if you've had that happen ONE time, you learn to wait EVERY time!). Sometimes they'll see the patient before they look at the xray, for example, and realize that there was something on the xray that they didn't expect, and will decide to leave it in another day. I'd rather wait 10 minutes than have to go back in and tell the patient it needs to be reinserted.

ALWAYS lay eyes on the order first!

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