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.
This week I learned to not lean very close to the mouth of an old man whispering. Seriously. He nibbled on my ear the way a lover does. *shivers*. I jumped back so fast, and stated that "we need to keep our hands to ourselves" only to realize the futility of that statement. His hands were in restraints. Ugh.
I also learned that I love lists. Lists are what get me going, allow me to organize my thoughts, and make my shift run smooth. I feel like I'm getting the hang of it now. That is a great feeling.
After a waaaay too long spell of monster-daughter-in-laws and monster-daughters, today I had the sweetest, most gracious, loving patient and patient's daughter ALL DAY. Patient spoke gibberish mostly, but occasionally had a few words put together that made sense...
"Thank you"
"You girls, I love you"
And I heard "I love you" more times this afternoon than I've heard in the last 6 months from all my loved ones combined. What do you say to that?
"I love you too..."
Weird, but for the first time in a while, I was smiling allllll the way home. Still smiling. I wish o was working tomorrow so we can have a love fest again. Lol
After a waaaay too long spell of monster-daughter-in-laws and monster-daughters, today I had the sweetest, most gracious, loving patient and patient's daughter ALL DAY. Patient spoke gibberish mostly, but occasionally had a few words put together that made sense...
"Thank you"
"You girls, I love you"
And I heard "I love you" more times this afternoon than I've heard in the last 6 months from all my loved ones combined. What do you say to that?
"I love you too..."
Weird, but for the first time in a while, I was smiling allllll the way home. Still smiling. I wish o was working tomorrow so we can have a love fest again. Lol
3. If you use a little skin-tac or mastisol on the skin (not recommended by Dexcom) you can keep that sensor on twice as long. Some people get 30 days out of one, I get maaaybe 10. Adhesives don't stick to me, which is annoying for a lot of reasons)
Try Flonase on your skin, odd, but nothing sticks to me either, I started doing skin tac, then flonase, then allowing it to dry, viola I get 30 days! Before that combo I was only getting 15 days max.
After a waaaay too long spell of monster-daughter-in-laws and monster-daughters, today I had the sweetest, most gracious, loving patient and patient's daughter ALL DAY. Patient spoke gibberish mostly, but occasionally had a few words put together that made sense...
"Thank you"
"You girls, I love you"
And I heard "I love you" more times this afternoon than I've heard in the last 6 months from all my loved ones combined. What do you say to that?
"I love you too..."
Weird, but for the first time in a while, I was smiling allllll the way home. Still smiling. I wish o was working tomorrow so we can have a love fest again. Lol
Try Flonase on your skin, odd, but nothing sticks to me either, I started doing skin tac, then flonase, then allowing it to dry, viola I get 30 days! Before that combo I was only getting 15 days max.
Huh, okay. I'll try anything once. You just get the nasal spray and spray it on your skin? Have you tried Mastisol?
I'm curious to know how you ended up testing an allergy med as a skin barrier.
After a waaaay too long spell of monster-daughter-in-laws and monster-daughters, today I had the sweetest, most gracious, loving patient and patient's daughter ALL DAY. Patient spoke gibberish mostly, but occasionally had a few words put together that made sense...
"Thank you"
"You girls, I love you"
And I heard "I love you" more times this afternoon than I've heard in the last 6 months from all my loved ones combined. What do you say to that?
"I love you too..."
Weird, but for the first time in a while, I was smiling allllll the way home. Still smiling. I wish o was working tomorrow so we can have a love fest again. Lol
I had a demented LOL who used to tell me what a good boy I was (definitely a girl) and how much she loved me. I took care of her for so long that I started responding that I loved her too. It always made her smile.
Tex.
232 Posts
I think I just threw up a little. EWWWW