What I learned at rotation this week.

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I had a great week, filled with learning things. I even taught a patient a thing or two they didn't already know. Like:

~If you have a whoopsy stomach at the sight of blood, don't lean over and watch me change the surgical dressing on your leg. That will lead to vomitus in the wound, and several other people in scrubs answering my call for help. It will also wind up with you in the OR again getting irrigated to make sure everything that was in your stomach which is now on your leg is not in your wound.

Or this one...

~If you're a gang banger, got shot in a drive by (for the third time), please don't have your homies come into the hospital and scare other patients by their presence. And please, when I (the student nurse, at that) enforces the 2 at a time rule, don't threaten me with 'making sure' I get mine. And then don't get miffed when I don't run down to the cafeteria to get you a double bacon burger. And it really doesn't help to have an escort watching everything I do. *I* am not the bad guy here...and I don't need monitors. And no, they can't come into the med room to 'watch me dispense the good stuff.'

And then this one...

~When you're limited to bed rest because you've had hardware put in both your legs, and PT hasn't cleared you for movement and not given you any assistive devices (like that wheelchair you so greatly desire...), don't get your girlfriend to get a rolly-chair from the nurses' station, manage to get into it, use the toilet, and then get back in bed. And when asked, you didn't get that idea from me.icon_mrgreen.gif

~And yes, when you urinate dark green colored, putrid smelling urine, you're probably not going home tonight. The Dr will very likely think you've gotten an infection in your abdomenal gunshot wound, and bring you down for emergency surgery. Tell your Dad dark green urine is not normal, and he doesn't have to yell at me because he wasted a trip to take you home. I already know parking's terrible...I walk more than 1/2 a mile to work from my parking place in whatever weather is going on. Have a towel, and relax a bit. It's probably going to be a long wait. And no, coffee on the floor is for the RNs, so we can keep up with people's needs.

~And expect the nurse, and the student nurse, to chastise you when you're caught trying to shoot illegal drugs in to your already ravished body via the IV we put in so we could put medication in there. Dude, where'd you get that stuff anyway? And yes, we really did have to call the police.

~When you've asked for yet another ice pack, and I have to make one out of a latex glove because you've used the two dozen we keep on the floor, don't be mad that it leaks. That's why I wrapped it in a towel in the first place...and yes, ice melts when you've got it under your head.

~And yes, I will ignore you wolf whistling at me to get my attention. And don't get embarrassed when, in front of your homies, I explain that using the call light will indeed work...and I know you know where it is, because you've used it before...quite a few times. If you're wolfwhistling, you're breathing...and sometimes, that's all I need to know.

Hey, and thanks for:

~leaving the poop in the potty for me to look at. I really do need to chart what it looks like; I don't do this because it's fun.

~making sure I know you need your pain meds. Other patients informing me of the screaming woman doesn't actually make my feet move faster, but it does make me laugh.

~Keeping your eyes closed and holding your breath when I come in the room, just "to see" what I'll do, especially if I've just given you medication for that pain you were screaming about. I will come and thump your shoulder. Be happy I stopped before I decided chest compressions were a good idea.

And for that patient who listened to me, who helped me help him, who asked good questions about his illness, and who hugged me when I told him I was going off shift, thank you, thank you, thank you. Because of you, I was able to leave the floor in a good mood. Because it only takes one person saying 'hey, nurse, thanks...' to make our day.

And just as a last note, spitting at me and calling me names doesn't really make me want to do anything extra for you, like bring you that burger you're demanding. It was a good idea, and it was a good dinner...sorry you smelled it on me when I came back in the room after lunch.icon_wink.gif

Just thought I'd share how my two *yes, only two* days on clinical rotation taught me this week.

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Lovin' Learning

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Wow! I don't know what to say ..... other than very interesting two days you had! BTW, are you at an urban, trauma center?

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Wow! I don't know what to say ..... other than very interesting two days you had! BTW, are you at an urban, trauma center?

I am at a large public/county hospital, on the trauma floor...second semester to boot. We start hard and go fast, apparently. LOL.

Yes, wow is one way to describe it. Actually, looking back, I find it pretty darned funny in some respects. I sure didn't find it funny while it was happening, but boy, I have been laughing all day today. Learned a lot - like don't let your patient watch you change the wound dressing...

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Lovin' Learning

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I still can't get over the patient trying to infuse their IV with illegal drugs!

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I have to say....double-wow! I just busted out laughing at story 1!!! So, then I had to share with my nightshift peers...who all started laughing. We feel for you, darling....hope all is well next time. And, give this homies hell!

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NewGoal, me either. But if you're an addict, you'll do whatever you can for a fix, including using the hep lock. Sigh.

Shygoofy said

I have to say....double-wow! I just busted out laughing at story 1!!! So, then I had to share with my nightshift peers...who all started laughing. We feel for you, darling....hope all is well next time. And, give this homies hell!

There were some very funny things that happened...in 1, I was trying to keep the wound covered, get him to turn his head, and avoid getting vomit on me at the same time, and hollering for help.

Glad that you all are seeing the humor here...at one point, dealing with my banger patient, I was holding on to the last shred of patience I had. Then once that was gone, I was holding onto my self control as hard as I could. It was just hard...but 48 hours later, it's rather funny.

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Lovin' Learning

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What an experience you had and thanks for sharing. I will be sure to watch for signs of queasiness and have them turn their head away. You handled it perfectly.

Good job!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OMG!! It's like we were separated at birth - that's exactly what MY first student rotation was like. I think I had those same patients ---- >25 years ago.

I still vividly recall dealing with a "lady of the evening" busy at work with my patient - his buddies had sent her as a token of their appreciation because he hadn't narked on them when he was busted after getting shot in the drug deal gone bad. My clinical instructor was great! She helped me figure out how to document the patient's unorthodox 'range of motion'.:D Ahhh - fond memories.

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences - and demonstrating that wonderful appreciation of the absurd that characterizes our Nursing 'tribe'. Don't ever change -- You made my day!:yeah:

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you get all kinds of crazies at a county hospital

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What an experience you had and thanks for sharing. I will be sure to watch for signs of queasiness and have them turn their head away. You handled it perfectly.

Good job!

LOL, yes, but also remember that signs of queasiness don't always accompany vomiting. I didn't see any signs (but then again, I wasn't looking, either...took his word for it that it wasn't a problem). LOL. I don't think I handled it perfectly, but it was good enough, I suppose...managed to get some other hands in there double quick.

Rbezemek, I am so glad to hear someone else had a similar experience even if it was years ago. When I think back to how short the shifts were, and how much happened, I get startled. Who knew all that could happen in such a short time?? And yes, I do appreciate the absurd...and just wanted to share so others could chuckle and laugh right along with me. Although, I must admit, I came back to my car exhausted and not seeing too much humor at the time. But by yesterday morning, it was too funny not to share. :)

Inland, we do get crazies here...but none of these were certifiable...which worries me about my upcoming psych rotation. Know what I mean? LOL

Thanks for understanding and seeing the humor with me...

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Lovin' Learning

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Thanks for sharing, you gave me a good laugh this morning!! What an interesting career we have all chosen!

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Wow what a week!! Mine wasn't near as exciting, just sad. Had to call the police on the mom who's baby was born with drugs in their system, then the 13 YO who gave birth. I did have a wonderful married couple with a new little guy 6 1/2 pounds. He was a total cutie with a full head of hair. I changed my first diaper ever (no experience with babies at all here), no one said anything about warming up the wipes so of course he peed on me, but it was just a little one.

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