What is a day in the life of nursing like?

LilyBlue · Mar 18, 2009

I really don't know how to explain it without writing a book, but I'd say 1/3 of my day is spent gathering meds, checking meds, and administering meds. Another 1/3 is spent attempting to meet the requests or deal with the complaints of patients families. The rest is spent documenting.

RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

Goth I think that varies hugely depending on the kind of nursing/setting......ICU vs. ER vs. floor nursing, adult vs. child, psych vs. L&D or post-partum, Dialysis or OR....I think the daily tasks are REALLY different--other then the one common thing which is documentation!!! You get that everywhere. Though some on paper and some places more computer....If you can maybe think of what area you THINK sound interesting to you that might help us help you better........me personally, I do psych--did L&D, a medical/respiratory unit, ER a little, LTR a little and ended up in psych....like it but it took some trying some different things to find my nitch and some have to do that and some are lucky enough to find it with their first job........either way that the beauty is there is something for everyone cause it is all so different.

Let me know if you want to know what psych is like--I have done both inpatient adult psych and am now in psych ER....

katy81 · Mar 18, 2009

I was wanting to do oncology, but that can always change after learning new things in school! :wink2:

Beady2 · Mar 18, 2009

A day on med/surg floor: show up at 6am, listen to taped report and look at care plans - write all info on my own "brain" sheet. If no patients are immediately pushing call lights I look at all my patients' labs on the computer then each chart (5 patients) and write down medication times, blood sugar check times and any other scheduled tasks for each patient during my 12 hour shift. Do an assessment with each patient, pass medications, respond to calls from patients, answer phone calls from family, doctors. Admit and discharge patients (paperwork and peoplework involved in both). Decide to take 1/2 hour lunch break when it will put me the least behind scheduled medications. Very rarely take one let alone both of my allowed 15 minute breaks but do take time to drink and eliminate as needed. Keep my eye out for flag showing that I have new orders from the doctor on each patient.

My legs hurt at the end of my workday because I walk a lot - need to find pedometer to see how much. I have been a nurse for 6 1/2 months. I shadowed before nursing school and worked with nurses, of course, during school. There is no way to describe the amount of pressure and responsibility when you are on your own. School and shadowing gave me only a vague idea. I love my job and it's really hard.

MMARN, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

A day in the life of a nurse is busy, overwhelming at times, and filled with anger, sadness, and happiness. All at the same time. That's been my experience so far at least. :rolleyes:

IHeartPeds87 · Mar 18, 2009

I'm not a nurse but am going through the same things you are. Just some suggestions, there are a bunch of books that talk you through several "days in the life of a nurse."

"A Nurse's Story" by Tilda Shalom is a great book....really gives you a look at what an ICU nurse does/feels. Best book about the day in the life of a nurse that there is, I recommend everyone wanting to get into nursing to read this!!

"The Making of a Nurse" by Tilda Shalof is also good....explains her background and really completes the whole picture...i'd read a nurse's story first though.

"A Critical Care Nurse" - by Echo Heron is also good but its older

"The Nurse's Story" by Carol Gino is also good but really really old.

"Trauma Junkie" I don't remember the author but it's about a flight nurse....shouldn't be too hard to find on amazon.

You can also check out "NurseTV" on youtube.

It is difficult to find jobs shadowing nurses. The best bet would be to work as an aide alongside them, because while aide jobs and nursing is clearly different the fact that you are just in the environment and see what they can do will give you a better picture.

I totally understand where you are coming from....I do a lot of reading, I check these boards often, and I have worked/volunteered as a direct caregiver in the past and am looking for a job now again! I have worked/volunteered in a number of environments...camps with kids with disabilities, respite care, rehabilitation clinics and the hospital. Look around, it really varies based on the department/type of nursing.

I'm' also taking my prereqs and will be done next year! keeping fingers crossed!

azhiker96, BSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

See if you can find a volunteer position in a local hospital. I did that when I was taking my pre-reqs. I only had to commit for 4 hours a week and I got to see nursing from the inside.

diane227, LPN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

As the charge nurse of a 34 bed med surg floor I get to work between 14:15 and 14:30. The first thing I do is print out a copy of the census and get my work sheet (keeps track of all admits, transfers, and post ops that come throughout the shift) and get a very brief overview of what additional pts are coming, who is going to be discharged, transferred etc and who is on isolation or hospice care, post ops. I get my staffing from her as well. We work a combo of 12 and 8 hour shifts. The charge nurse usually does the staffing for the oncoming shift. If not, I do the assignments trying to give the nurses the same patients they had the night before. After the staff get their assignments, they go out and get report from the nurses from the day shift and I get the final formal report from the day shift charge.

Once I get out of report I check to see where my empty beds are and what beds are clean.

I start taking off orders at the desk. The secretary puts labs etc into the computer system and I place all med orders on the MAR. I check all charts and sign off all orders.

The supervisor then comes around and gets a list of my empty beds and gives me any admits, transfers that they want me to have. I make bed and nursing assignments for those patients. Meanwhile I am still constantly signing off orders.

I trouble shoot patient/ family problems.

I try to make rounds on all pts, especially new admits and post ops. Sometimes I don't have time. I also have a charge nurse check list that I have to do (equipment checks etc).

I work with the nurses to communicate with the physicians regarding issues that come up. I try to call for the nurse so that he/she will not have to take up time to do this.

I start most of the IV's on our floor and do procedures that others can't do or they have trouble doing like placing a foley or accessing a port.

All through the shift I am in contact with the supervisor re staffing. We start early trying to staff for the upcoming shift.

I check all lab and test results and call the doctor with any abnormal results if they have not already been called.

I constantly reassess to see if assignments need to be changed: if one CNA has more pts. than the other, I might make a change in the assignment.

I assess patients who are not looking well and I take the appropriate action depending on the circumstance. Example: pt who is having chest pain. I assess and if needed get stat EKG, CXR, cardiac enzymes, apply O2 and call the MD.

I help the nurses trouble shoot, find information, act as a resource. I get called to other areas to start IV's, etc.

It makes for a very busy shift.

JeepDudeRN · Mar 18, 2009

Well I have been licensed now a little over a month... I havent been able to get a position in a hospital because locally they are not hiring new nurses right now, so I took a position in a sub acute rehab/nursing home.

I get to work about 2:30p, and get report and count narcs. Then its off to do my 12 accuchecks and admin insulin before dinner, and any meds that need to be taken before dinner. During dinner I am in the dining room making sure no one chokes or has any other er's. Then comes the med pass from hell. 30 patients and one nurse...lol it takes a while. Usually I finish just in time to do the 9pm accu checks and insulin, take a quick break and start the 9pm med pass. I finish that about 10:30 and sit down to do charting which usually takes me to 11:30. During all this I answer questions from families, docs, therapy, etc Check labs, take off new orders, etc. Thank God I have some really good CNA's working with me, otherwise Id be in trouble! God forbid I have to send someone out to the hospital, then I dont get outta there until 12:30 or 1am! But, I love every minute of it, and I wouldnt trade it for anything. I may feel different in a few years, but right now, Im lovin it.

Tait, MSN, RN · Mar 18, 2009

I could of sworn I had written out a long detailed post in this thread...

:confused:

Tait