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?
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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.
In high school I was once unprepared and did not have tampons so I went to the nurse. All she had were these gigantic pads and I asked if she had tampons. I got a 20 minute lecture on why girls should not wear tampons because virginity and how I would be robbing my future husband of pleasure...yeah I was mortified. All that to say I would have loved a school nurse like you Farawyn.
In high school I was once unprepared and did not have tampons so I went to the nurse. All she had were these gigantic pads and I asked if she had tampons. I got a 20 minute lecture on why girls should not wear tampons because virginity and how I would be robbing my future husband of pleasure...yeah I was mortified. All that to say I would have loved a school nurse like you Farawyn.
I wrote that lecture.
I keep them in the bottom draw near my desk so I can control the supply. The teachers are worse than the girls.
SWM2009- Re your difficult orientee, I've had some success by casually mentioning that one of the reasons I love nursing is because I have the opportunity to learn things constantly- even having been in the field for 15 years- just to let them know it's ok that they don't know everything.
Then gently remind them orientation is part of their education and they should use it because when it's over, those careless mistakes can be dangerous.
Sometimes that works. But I've had 2 that blamed everyone & everything else for their mistakes and never took personal responsibility for one thing. One didn't make it off orientation because she was dangerous. The other made it about 2 months out but was fired basically for just not being able to handle the job. I wish you good luck!!
Thank you for the suggestions and the good luck wishes. I am trying not to dread going to work on Monday and hoping the weekend off will replenish my supply of patience.
I got a 20 minute lecture on why girls should not wear tampons because virginity and how I would be robbing my future husband of pleasure...yeah I was mortified.
My husband was not happy to find tampons in our 13 y/o's bathroom. She was a competitive swimmer for crying out loud! He's from a culture where apparently only married women use tampons (at least it was the case when he lived there -- he's lived in the US for 20 yrs.)
I advised him 1) that any man who equated cotton with member, and cared about such more than about her comfort is **** under her shoes, and 2) I'll worry about periods in our home.
I'll have to catch up tomorrow night, but, three more lessons:
My nurse voice sounds nothing like my mom voice. That kinda surprised me.
I'd rather a doctor prove me wrong than prove the doctor wrong, because if I'm the one proving the doctor wrong, it means the patient has gotten worse, and we could have prevented that.
I learned why OBs fear VBAC. (Which reaffirms my choice to not become a midwife.)
They were getting very far away from VBAC in the clinic. It's not done or encouraged too often anymore, but I don't have stats on this, just what I saw at the clinic.
SWM2009
421 Posts
In high school I was once unprepared and did not have tampons so I went to the nurse. All she had were these gigantic pads and I asked if she had tampons. I got a 20 minute lecture on why girls should not wear tampons because virginity and how I would be robbing my future husband of pleasure...yeah I was mortified. All that to say I would have loved a school nurse like you Farawyn.