What HARD truth have you learned once you became a nurse and/or CNA?

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Good or bad. About the field in general, humanity, or society? How does that truth effect you and how you do your job?

Specializes in ICU; Telephone Triage Nurse.

That the general populace doesn't consider a nurse as a real person with feelings (and perhaps neither does administration). I've had more clear headed, cognizant patient's sneeze or cough in my face and not bat an eye, nor apologize. I've had family members also not consider me to me a sentient being either.

Also, the general populace feels any unkindness dealt is off set by the fact we make a ton of money - which is so not the case.

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Despite so many hospitals' noble mission statements and humanitarian platitudes, I soon learned that so much of healthcare today is all about the money. Sadly, that realization took away my naïveté and my smile:(

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Specializes in ER.
That management just don't care about you or your opinion and that's it's best to keep that mouth tightly closed except to smile through gritted teeth. And to never, ever let anyone know what you're really thinking. It will be used to hurt you.

This deserves a second posting.

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.

1) A nurses job is to jump through the (admin) hoops

2) Most patients don't care that you are there to help them, help them anyway

3) Sometimes a mole hill is just a mole hill

4) Listen to your instincts

5) Don't try to change the unit, procedures etc,. just go with the flow

6) Figure out 1-5 early in your career and save yourself a lot of stress

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Specializes in Travel, Home Health, Med-Surg.
That the general populace doesn't consider a nurse as a real person with feelings (and perhaps neither does administration). I've had more clear headed, cognizant patient's sneeze or cough in my face and not bat an eye, nor apologize. I've had family members also not consider me to me a sentient being either.

Also, the general populace feels any unkindness dealt is off set by the fact we make a ton of money - which is so not the case.

I cant tell you how many times this has happened to me too, I just want to say HELLO do you see me here!!! I have to admit that on a few occasions I stopped and went and got a mask (just for show).

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Education solely is not enough to change people's behavior.

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Specializes in LTC, CPR instructor, First aid instructor..

That the more experienced people will run to the best side of the bed when transfering a heavy patient from a stretcher to a bed. It's how I tore my rotatore cuff.

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

The facilities you work for do not have your back and will throw you under the bus in a heartbeat!

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

That life is fragile.

Life can change in an instant.

Grief has no rules and does not discriminate.

Do not wait to do what matters; do not leave the important things unsaid, to those who matter to you; don't go to bed angry over trivial things; find reconciliation wherever possible.

:angel:

Also, plan. Get you **** together and keep it in order. I 100% mean this. Write a will. Do an advance directive/Healthcare POA. A consultation and basic prep with an estate attorney should cost less than a fairly nice handbag in most locations. If anything changes in your life (new job, new house, new family member/marriage, death in family, birth, inheritance) -- you UPDATE these documents. Check these yearly on your birthday for the need to update.

Make sure your beneficiary info is current on life insurance/retirement policies through work. Also, check your banking/investment accounts outside of work (you can check with an attorney on how to add a name to an account in the event of your death if this person may need access to these funds to immediately care for your loves without delay of probate if you die, or access in the event of serious illness)

All these documents spell out YOUR wishes for your healthcare and will in DETAIL name someone/and an alternate how YOU would like them to take care of your kids, pets, house, stuff, pics? Don't assume that everyone will just know.

I've seen a lot of bedside anguish. It's something that could be prevented. Prevent it, folks.

:angel:

And then live your best life. We get one go on this marble. Do it.

Don't wait if there is something you want to do.

Love like you mean it.

Forgive freely. Speak kindly.

Go hiking. Spend time in nature.

Advocate for those that cannot protect themselves - Children, animals, elderly.

Don't contribute to suffering.

Everyone struggles with something.

Smile more.

Pay it forward.

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

Your license is yours.

Protect it. Carry - if you don't have it, get it today.

Document like you mean it. If you need to improve, take classes to improve. They are out there.

If the **** hits the fan, do not expect the facility to protect your interests.

If the blame game starts, it goes deep, but those P & P manuals are there and can be used as ugly tools.

I've seen punitive actions where a minor issue (label on IV dressing - though time/initialed labeled with tiny piece of tape, not the stick on commercial label) and they tried to use that as the reason the IV site was infiltrated on the floor some 18 hours later.

A traveler friend of mine started the IV in the ER on an admit that infiltrated after floor admission and went unnoticed.

Because of a 1/4" piece of tape vs a sticky label off the tegaderm with date and initial? Ridiculous.

The floor staff nurses (at least 2) did not assess the site properly.

But, technically it was a P & P deviation due to the commercial label not being used.

This is why nurses will flee when tested.

I guess the correct action would have been to open another prep pack to obtain a mini-label.

:angel:

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That the hospital has the magical ability to bring families of nh residents out of the woodwork.

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Specializes in ambulant care.

Never expect, that your employer keeps his promisses.

Care about yourself.

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