What are the huge "DO NOT EVER DO" things that new nurses need to know about? calling

MIA-RN1, RN · May 9, 2007

count your narcs. Every time.

greenjanell · May 9, 2007

NEVER NEVER say the "Q" (quiet) word, if you do, it wont be for long, and people may throw things at you.

also never ask anyone to do something that you would not be willing to do or have not done yoruself. Your CNA's and LPN's will have a TON more respect for you and be more willing to help you out.

edc1951 · May 10, 2007

re:i beg to differ with you. i doubt very much that the only reason anyone treats nurses badly is that the nurses have been tolerating it. if the person didn't have the tendency to treat nurses badly, he wouldn't know whether or not they would tolerate it!

well, as eleanor roosevelt said: "no-one can make you feel inferior without your consent." no doctor, or anyone else in th healthcare setting will mistreat or disrespect you if you do not allow it. if it happens once make sure the perp understands it's not to happen again. we work with doctors not for them. just as aides work with us and not for us. working as part of a team, not as a subordinate, helps lessen the chances of dsiprespect towards you and helps you less disrespected. a doctor can no more do his/her job without you than we can without them. but yes, there are some real jerks and they are to be handled as such-like the new intern i had once:he had ignored my 3 pages so i had him overhead paged. he called with an attitude and told me to "get on with it." i had called him because he had not had the resident co-sgn his orders and i wanted to give him the chance to change the colace t.i.d. he'd ordered for a 79 y.o.woman admitted with diarrhea of unknown origin. instead i told him i would see him in 1 minuyte ( i knew where he was) or i would call his orders directly to the resident. his curiousity got him. he changed the order and actually thanked me. sometimes it is the same stresses that we have that affect them as well and age old hierarchical patterns make them think they have powers and priviledges they do not.

other than this i agree wholeheartedly with all that has been said, especially about meds, respecting the more experienced nurse and all the other members of the team as well, and above all, the patients and their family.

i would add: wash your hands and observe sterile technique. the highest number of infections acquired are nosocomial and the most common of them is uti. whether it is a straight cath or indwelling for lt or temp do not let down your guard or take shortcuts and make sure perineal care is being done properly.

grace90, LPN, LVN · May 10, 2007

If your hear the statement "Holy s###, I've never seen such a thing, and smell an odor coming from that room, turn around and busy yourself with other matters. Never peak in that room to offer help, or you'll be stuck in a major code brown clean up.

:trout: :nono: Lending a helping hand when another nurse's patient has just made a disastrous code brown mess will win their respect and they will be willing to help when it's you staring at a big mess wondering where to start. Same with CNAs. Cleaning up patients isn't just a CNA's job.

edc1951 · May 10, 2007

A HUGE ditto to what Grace90 just wrote. Walking away when you know you'd appreciate the help in the same situation is not just rude it is disrespectful. It's why the thread about nursing myths is so long. I believe the orifginal post was meant to be funny though and I'd like to believe that most nurses would help a fellow nurse or CNA though I know that isn't true. If we want respect from others it's a good idea to act in a way that will engender it.

RNDreamer · May 10, 2007

OMG! :lol2: [

quote=rngreenhorn;2194235]

If your hear the statement "Holy s###, I've never seen such a thing, and smell an odor coming from that room, turn around and busy yourself with other matters. Never peak in that room to offer help, or you'll be stuck in a major code brown clean up.

PJMK · May 10, 2007

First of all let me say congratulations and welcome to the best career in the world.:welcome:

The most important thing I have ever been told is "Treat ever patient as if it were your mother or father in that bed". Patients can be very trying when they are sick. Always be patient, caring and most of all double, triple check your meds and pt ID's before you give or perform a procedure on anyone.

One last thing. NEVER NEVER let someone make you feel stupid for asking a questions.

Best of Luck:balloons:

pawashrn · May 10, 2007

Be honest and up-front. Be confident in what you know and be just as confident in stating what you don't know. Don't flirt to get things done for you, eventually you will have to stand on your on two feet. The best statement I ever said coming out of school to doctors, fellow nurses and patients was, " I am new to this field, but I am willing to learn and prove to myself and to you (doctors,patients,fellow nurses) that I have the ability and the confidence to succeed" it has never failed me. People respond to honesty and forthrightness. Good luck and :welcome: :balloons:to nursing.

Nursechick07 · May 10, 2007

Although we all know from school, never give a med you did not prepare or don't forget to lock your med cart- it is so easy to do once in the "real world" DONT do it!

missrose · May 10, 2007

Always check your meds, never pretend to know something you don't.

DO NOT EVER call a doctor after 9pm to ask for an order to dc a foley catheter that the patient adamantly insists be removed. DC the cath, chart specifically that the patient "insisted".... carefully monitor the patient for urine output, or lack of, and call the doc if the patient cannot void after 6 to 8 hours WITH a bladder scan which indicates greater than 350mL bladder volume. Trust me on this one.

missrose · May 10, 2007

DO NOT EVER call a doctor after 9pm to ask for an order to dc a foley catheter that the patient adamantly insists be removed (even though the doc's order says, "remove at 6am". Go ahead and DC the cath, chart specifically that the patient "insisted".... carefully monitor the patient for urine output, or lack of, and call the doc only if the patient cannot void after 6 to 8 hours WITH a bladder scan which indicates greater than 350mL bladder volume. Trust me on this one.

EarthChild1130 · May 10, 2007

ALWAYS know where your restraints are, how to apply them properly, how to assess for proper maintenance, and how to document that they are properly applied.