10/24: What I learned in nursing this week - moral & legal decisions, patient acuity....

[ixchel]

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.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

I've learned what pleurx drains are. Now I want to play with one.

Pleurx drains are a lot of fun to play with. So cool to be able to see the immediate symptom relief in most cases.

Another drain that I was recently introduced to is "Aspira", same manufacturer as pleurx I believe.

[Farawyn]

I love Pleurx drains! I still take awhile to assemble them and plug 'em in though, because my preceptor is standing over me. They are very cute and fun and work so well!

I did HH years ago and I'm amazed how much sicker/ more acute the patients are now.

I've learned the SW I share an office with has a daughter who is a rock star. She can sing. I've also learned that if you hang out with the guy that runs SADD and you drink he will drive you home.

I've learned that I won a bet with a poster here who now owes me a dinner, which I will collect in 3 weeks- LET'S GO METS!

I've learned that next week in school will be crazy. I am running a blood drive. I have to do pre screening for sports clearance and staff clearances (read: All the work) and I still have mountains of data to enter to make the immunization deadline .

I've learned that my RL friends miss me. I walked down the hill last night to see SW's daughter sing, and I thought everyone was busy. 3 of my friends and their hubs came down to hang with me. It touched me. I was hugging a lot because it just felt so good to see them...

2 jobs is rougher than I thought.

I've learned that my kids wiped me out of tampons and it's only October!

Happy Bday, ixchel!

[Farawyn]

Happy birthday, hope it's a good one.

I learned that clonidine can suck it, hydralazine kicks butt for my pts.

I learned that it is better to turn off the water before turning off the machine that uses said water, else you will get sprayed by said water. TBH, this is not the first time I learned this TB even more H, it will probably not be the last time I learn this :bag:

I learned that I do not like the sausage egg and cheese toaster from the red button place. But I keep ordering it because it sounds good, but it isn't. Also, at the same place, you can get your choice of a traditional chicken sandwich or a classic chicken sandwich. I really don't get that.

Buying a book to read for pleasure will anger the gods and I'll have to work 90 hours/week for my arrogance. I think ixchel passed her black cloud to me. thanks.

What book did you end up with? I just started The Martian.

[WKShadowNP, DNP, APRN]

Happy birthday ixchel!! Love you!!

I learned.... I GOT INTO NURSING SCHOOL!!!!

That is all. Bye.

I never doubted it! Congratulations! !

Happy birthday ixchel!

I learned i should not pick my son up for a piggy back ride any more because my back hurts now and that realizing he's such a young man and not a baby is hard. I was crying picking out birthday cards.

I learned that it is hard to support an octogenatian's independence when they are still very with it but not recognizing their deficits. It is also difficult to connect them with resources that will impose on their lucidity and self-worth. The system is failing this demographic and I feel helpless to intervene other than getting case management involved.

Alcohol is a hell of a drug.

I'm sure there is more.

Stay tuned.

[Dogen]

Happy birthday ixchel. Also, congrats on the new haircut?

I learned that my progress notes become really interesting to read when I've been writing them for 12 hours. I really appreciate my preceptor, and she's skilled and wonderful, but just like in nursing school I find that having two people try to do one job together (i.e., being trained) is sometimes much slower. Necessary, but slow. So, I'm dropping one client slot at the end of each day to give me time to catch up on the things I can't do when I'm waiting for my preceptor to come sign off on my treatment plans and prescriptions. Hopefully that means fewer 12-hour days.

I learned that amantadine can be used for a whole lot of things. All off label, of course. Including attenuating the weight gain from antipsychotics.

I learned two of my classmates treat anxiety with alcohol. Also, that two others had never connected the dots, even after watching one of them drink herself sick at a faculty party.

I have two friends battling depression right now. I feel like a jerk, because that's kind of my wheelhouse now (or, becoming my wheelhouse) but I'm working 60+ hours a week, plus homework, and so I'm struggling to keep in touch with them. Ugh.

Damn, it's been a bummer of a week. I'll try to have better updates next week.

[Farawyn]

I've learned that neither of my 2 patients in my HH job were discharged so now I have no patients to see, but I am getting cleared next week and I need a patient. NEED ONE!

I've learned HH is fickle.

[AcuteHD]

What book did you end up with? I just started The Martian.

Moby Dick. On my nightstand, untouched. DW and I are going to my parents cabin for 3 days next week, Yea! I need to get recharged, it's been a busy couple of weeks in the hospital.

[AcuteHD]

...I've learned that my kids wiped me out of tampons and it's only October!

I hope you mean your school kids.

[Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN]

Bwahaha, good question! (My apologies for not posting on topic; honestly I hadn't read the OP yet, but remembered some of these having life-related things on them.)

I tried it once, just so I could say I have. My family is Norwegian -- I'm 3rd generation American. I'm set for life.

Now you've got me curious.

Happy birthday, ixchel!

Amen to that! Don't care for raw fish myself, but lutefisk? Man, that stuff is a special torture. I live in an area where weekly Lutefisk dinners are a common holiday season church event and many households have the traditional Lutefisk holiday meal.

Now to keep this marginally on topic...I wonder how many cases of food poisoning are reported from improper preparation of what is essentially poisoned fish?

[Dogen]

I hope you mean your school kids.

Why, because otherwise it would be off topic?

[Farawyn]

Moby Dick. On my nightstand, untouched. DW and I are going to my parents cabin for 3 days next week, Yea! I need to get recharged, it's been a busy couple of weeks in the hospital.

That's great!

Tip: Don't bring the book.:Emoticon-Devil:

[Farawyn]

Why, because otherwise it would be off topic?

And also, because I have boys.

Yes, my school kids. Is it bad that I call them my kids?