Ixchel needed someone to create this week's "What I Learned" thread, so I'll go ahead and attempt to rise to the occasion. I've learned a few things...
I learned that discipline is fundamental. I am referring to self-discipline. After a decade of shift work, I now work from a home-based office and am finding I lack the discipline to get my day started in a timely manner. When I had to report to an actual workplace and punch a time clock, it was enough of an incentive to arrive on time. However, since I now work under a laissez-faire manager and must determine the course of my own work day, it's been tough.
2. Routine is King:
I learned that some people can go with the flow. I have no problem going with the flow, but my work day needs to be routinized. I need a set wake-up time, a coffee routine, and knowledge of how my work day will turn out. I suppose this is how I remained in LTC nursing for six years...I somewhat knew the residents and routine, which made things easier for me.
3. Networking is King:
I learned that our professional lives are made easier by having a network of colleagues that will have your back, answer your questions, and put in a good word for you whenever you need a reference. I got my current gig by having a friend put in a good word about me to the hiring manager.
4. Reciprocation is King:
I learned that reciprocation is important. If someone does something helpful for you, it will be beneficial for you to reciprocate by doing something helpful in return. Karma will reward you for doing to others as they do to you.
5. People are King:
I learned that relationships with people contribute to the spice of life. For example, I returned from a toddler's birthday party a few hours ago. Both his mother and I are nurses. The toddler's father (my friend's spouse) has a wide social circle of longtime friends. My friend complains about her husband's social circle, but I can tell that these people are enriching his life since he enjoys their presence. Without relationships with various people, our lives and worldviews can be limited.
Count this Republican in with your Southern friends. Dude scares the hell out of me. If he becomes president we'll be at war within six months. I won't vote for Hillary or Bernie either, but it's Trump who really sticks in my craw.
Moving on...
6 years?! Pfft!! I give it 6 days... And I'm middle of the road!
1.) Parents are crazy. Said parents believe that school should be closed for out "major lice outbreak"-4 kids, 4 out of nearly 400-that's 1% for those of you following along at home! Also, you can never make them happy-send their kid home sick, they weren't sick when they got home-don't send a kid that looks perfectly fine and is afebrile home and you're not doing your job. There is no pleasing these people
2.) Teachers can be jagoffs. Yes, I know the student is coughing. No, I cannot fix it. No, I will not send them home because they are interrupting your thought process. Nope, not even if they won't cover their mouth. Best I can do is give them H20, a mint, and a lecture about proper coughing hygiene. Sorry about your luck.
3.) Venting other nurses is the way I stay sane.
4.) 4 days weekends are the best!
5.) Looking forward to new leadership, maybe things will be different.
6.) learned this from the 4 y/o boy- Monsters drive cars but they drive in them backwards so that they are looking out of the back window, not the windshield; important stuff!
I learned ( well ,got reminded) that I do not like to precept new grads.
The new grad I had was borderline dangerous as she would pass meds with out telling me,making stupid judgement mistakes, or various other things. Too impulsive.
I started out being nice, using the situations as learning opportunities.She agreed.
Then she still went on to pass another med with out telling me. Ughh!!
I explained AGAIN that just because a med is ordered doesnt mean you HAVE or SHOULD give it. Gosh, no critical thinking AT ALL!
I finally had to resort to being mean. Shes gonna make a big mistake one of these days!
I couldn't follow her 1:1 as I had an additional assignment and the management was making us move pts off the floor for other pts in ED.So not safe!!!
Some people seem to only worry about passing meds and getting donr early so they can play on the phone or whatever.
I fear for the patients for some of these new nurses out there.
I hate precepting.
You aren't being mean. You are maybe saving a patient and/or her license.
Go out for coffee with her and lay out your expectations for her. Be friendly, but not TOO friendly, and tell her what you absolutely will not excuse- "If you do this without me I will..."
Tell her what her weaknesses are, and see if she can come up with ways to improve them.
Please, update it! I'm already on page 20 and DYING from laughter. I love the GIFs. I would love to do a similar blog when I become a nurse. GIFs have a way of describing the situation perfectly.
Death can come for anyone at anytime. Odds are if someone tells you they will die soon, they will. Creepy how well they knew their time was up and it just happened.
There will be a very few patients that impact you deeper than you realized you could be impacted.
Some people live to make others miserable and think they should be helped when they don't do their own job.
Full time work and full time nursing school is hard! I cannot wait to pass my exams soon so a ton of stress can come off my shoulders.
Aside from Starwars, I probably wont actively try to see a movie in theaters until I graduate.
Aside from Starwars, I probably won't actively try to see a movie in theaters until I graduate.
You have more self-control than I do. I love seeing movies in theaters. Comes from when I used to work in a movie theater way back in the day... getting in for free developed the habit of going a lot. Wish I still got in for free. That would be really nice.
I have learned I am probably not going to be able to graduate with an additional degree without going an additional semester longer than I wanted to, due to my school rearranging when some things are offered. Can't decide if I want to spend an extra semester struggling to balance work and school to get the degree or just give up and take only the things I need from here on out. It would definitely make my life easier to only take things I need, but really want that degree! Decision making is hard.
Kiki1970
113 Posts
6 years?! Pfft!! I give it 6 days... And I'm middle of the road!