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 that my critical thinking is really improving. I got high fives and great compliments from the peds nurse I was with this week. My patients Doctor also made a point to tell my CI that I had made very good observations regarding meds for the patient.
I also learned that I got a 94 on this weeks OB test. I only had 3 incorrect answers out of 70 questions. Quite a big change from the 64 I got a couple of weeks before. That first exam had to have been a fluke.
I learned this week that some things in nursing apparently haven't changed all that much and cat fights do happen (often) over subjects you least expect. I have to figure out how to not let other people's issues affect me--I'm old enough I should have this down by now.
I learned that nursing administration thinks absolutely nothing of life altering inconveniences when it comes to staff or new hires. I'm coming back to healthcare from another unrelated field that would NEVER have done some of the things to me that I've experienced the past 3 months. Just wow.
I also figured out (confirmed) after having witnessed the latest "tattoo thread" here on AN that I was right about the strong potential for judgement from potential managers or employers about my dreadlocks. So as they RIP it was not for nothing that they left for awhile.
Biology. I know it doesn't make a ton of sense at first. It's sort of a way to make the most of your pre-reqs.
Basically, You have "School A" and "School B." School A is a small liberal arts school, School B is a nursing school at a state university.
The majority of the pre-requisites for the nursing program at school B count towards the biology major/gen ed requirements for school A. So you do all your pre-reqs at school A. Then you go nursing school (School B), where some of your credits are also accepted by school A's biology department (through an articulation agreement), earning you a degree from both schools.
It takes a lot of planning and hard work to make sure you get a) your Gen Eds b) your bio major requirements and c) your pre-reqs done on time, but it's not that bad.
And believe it or not, both schools are not only legit but very well respected.
Just remember to pack the IV NAC and give it within 8 hours. You can give it orally,* but it's dosed at like 140mg/kg, and tablets are usually 600 or 1,000mg, so it can end up being quite a mouthful.* IV is a lot easier. Though it does make walking on the beach or whatever more cumbersome... but the wrenching stomach pain probably does, too.
Just remember to pack the IV NAC and give it within 8 hours. You can give it orally,* but it's dosed at like 140mg/kg, and tablets are usually 600 or 1,000mg, so it can end up being quite a mouthful.* IV is a lot easier. Though it does make walking on the beach or whatever more cumbersome... but the wrenching stomach pain probably does, too.
Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Strolls in... arches eyebrow... wonders what happened to keeping it nursing related.
I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I got spoiled by lots of downtime last week, and there's no way it'll happen two weeks in a row. Instead, we'll make up for all the downtime by going crazy with urgent surgeries.
Lulu Belle, RN, EMT-B
229 Posts
Not til fall of 2017, so there's time for things to change! I'm in a dual degree program. What about you?