After a week of deliberation on the WILTW threads, I can honestly say I'm glad for a new week! I have only worked one day this week so far, so not a very giant list to share.
This week in nursing, I have learned....
There is a very sad line between moral and legal decision-making in healthcare. When a DNR can be revoked by family only to prolong torture and a DNR not granted on an already terminal suicide attempt, we really need to find a way to make moral and legal stop being mutually exclusive.
After a month of horrible patient acuity, I'm realizing that now "normal" days actually feel a bit slow. Amazing how being pushed beyond your limits teaches you to increase those limits.
I've learned what pleurx drains are. Now I want to play with one.
It takes a lot longer to bring up a 2.3 potassium than a 1.1 mag. A lot.
I have a way about me that makes patients confess very, very strange things to me. (Apparently?)
I'm going to learn tomorrow if short hair is easier at work than long in a braid, bun or ponytail. Also, tomorrow I will get to compare my steps at work on my new Fitbit vs. the app in my phone. And..... Tomorrow is my last day in the 18-34 demographic.
I've realized that hospitals would be more mom-nurse-friendly if shifts were 9-9.
Looking at community health job postings has made me realize I have no idea how to figure out government pay scales. I understand the grade, but how does your starting step get determined?
I've included my children in the "daddy's schedule is changing, so mommy's might have to, too," conversation. It was hard to say no when my girl asked if I could "just" not work for awhile.
Crack is a hell of a drug.
Almost 1.5 years since graduation. I think I've decided I know how to nurse now. It's an amazing feeling!
How about you? What have you learned?
The weekly WILTW threads will remain in yellow as long as we remember to keep the majority of posts/comments focused on things nursing related. Students are welcome to share what they learned in their journey to becoming nurses, and of course, CNAs/PCTs/MAs and other unlicensed people who are part of the nursing team are welcome to contribute as well.
As this thread doesn't really have one single topic, it's very nature is to evolve into conversations that are off topic from individual points shared. This is okay, as long as the majority of posts in the conversations remain nursing, nursing school and UAP-related. Questions or comments on this can be shared in the site feedback thread with "WILTW" in its title.
More like a "Yo, check out my big brother. He's freaking awesome."
Yeah, I've been hearing about sexy vaccinations facts lately. Apparently I learned the wrong facts. Or, the amount of nerdiness oozing out of me overwhelms the otherwise obvious sexiness of knowing about continuous glucose monitors (the sexiest of all the endocrine interventions).
Yeah, I've been hearing about sexy vaccinations facts lately. Apparently I learned the wrong facts. Or, the amount of nerdiness oozing out of me overwhelms the otherwise obvious sexiness of knowing about continuous glucose monitors (the sexiest of all the endocrine interventions).
I ain't mad, though. The diabetic women love it.
Sometimes I wonder if you're one of the HAM radio geeks my cousin talks to.
Sometimes I wonder if you're one of the HAM radio geeks my cousin talks to.
Everything I know about HAM I learned from Smokey and the Bandit.
P.S. on topic, Far asked what you learned about the Tdap... did you get a booster for nursing school? I had to get the Hep B series when I started because I'm apparently too old and they didn't recommend them for school age kids when I was there the way they do now. Or something. Anyway, the ladies at my Employee Health (where I worked in cardiac telemetry) weren't supposed to give them to me for free because my job didn't involve patient contact, but they did anyway and said, "We're all nurses here, we want you to be safe and school is expensive enough." Not the best gift I've ever been given, but pretty sweet, right?
Glad the streak is over! I was in an ABG funk for several weeks; I could not find an artery to save my life--even if the pt's pulse was stronger than mine.
I learned how to use the cannulas at my most recent place of employment.
I finally got several IV starts after being in a drought. I used to teach this, you'd think it wouldn't be such a big problem.
It's all about loosening the cannula (which you aren't supposed to touch for sterility reasons).
I don't understand why they make one that you HAVE to touch so it is usable.
Oh, well. I just touch the hub and pray my clean gloves are actually clean.
Everything I know about HAM I learned from Smokey and the Bandit.
P.S. on topic, Far asked what you learned about the Tdap... did you get a booster for nursing school? I had to get the Hep B series when I started because I'm apparently too old and they didn't recommend them for school age kids when I was there the way they do now. Or something. Anyway, the ladies at my Employee Health (where I worked in cardiac telemetry) weren't supposed to give them to me for free because my job didn't involve patient contact, but they did anyway and said, "We're all nurses here, we want you to be safe and school is expensive enough." Not the best gift I've ever been given, but pretty sweet, right?
Way to bring it back ON topic, D.
Nerdyness is indeed oozing!
How did your paper go?
I had the Hep b 5 times and I'm still not "immune".
I've heard that the body will recognize "immunity" if it came in contact with the virus. I am not looking it up right now because I haven't even had my coffee.
Everything I know about HAM I learned from Smokey and the Bandit.
P.S. on topic, Far asked what you learned about the Tdap... did you get a booster for nursing school? I had to get the Hep B series when I started because I'm apparently too old and they didn't recommend them for school age kids when I was there the way they do now. Or something. Anyway, the ladies at my Employee Health (where I worked in cardiac telemetry) weren't supposed to give them to me for free because my job didn't involve patient contact, but they did anyway and said, "We're all nurses here, we want you to be safe and school is expensive enough." Not the best gift I've ever been given, but pretty sweet, right?
Yes, booster for nursing school. I got step 1 of my TB test, going back Wednesday after class to have it read and part 2 administered. I also got 1 of the 3 part Hep B series. I'm getting titers done for chicken pox, because scars don't prove you've had them 😛 and for MMR.
Yesterday my arms just itched a little. I woke up this morning and can't hardly move them. Darn those IM injections.
It's not just IM in general. Tdap specifically causes pain. I'm sorry Ood. Hope you got it in your non dominant arm.
About the brain zaps. Now that I've outed myself as trying to withdraw from SSRI's at one point, so meh, what the hell...
Lexapro 10mg.
I felt good, so I figured I didn't need it anymore, which is the dumbest thing ever. I felt good because it was working, Duh. So, I start the taper. I tapered for almost 3 months, I did it sooooo slowly. Still got the brain zaps. The first time I got one I was driving, and heard and *felt* the zap. Bzzzzzt!
It kind of felt good, like my brain was waking up again. Oh, and I was also incredibly euphoric.
Yesterday my arms just itched a little. I woke up this morning and can't hardly move them. Darn those IM injections.
Did you baby it? Rule number one for IMs is to move the muscle. A lot of people guard it because it hurts, but if you use it like normal (or more than normal if you're a T.rex and don't normally use your arms) it'll hurt less.
Did you baby it? Rule number one for IMs is to move the muscle. A lot of people guard it because it hurts, but if you use it like normal (or more than normal if you're a T.rex and don't normally use your arms) it'll hurt less.
Not yesterday, yesterday I was moving all around. I guess I didn't flop around in bed enough last night.
And yes Far, you're right. The tdap side (which is in my dominant arm) hurts more than the Hep B side.
I feel like I should be keeping track of this for a paper during Peds or something.
I was in an ABG funk for several weeks; I could not find an artery to save my life--even if the pt's pulse was stronger than mine. 
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
I liked brain zaps, and they feel like a brain... *ZAP*