What I Learned This Week: Retired Nurses-Where Two Or More Are Gathered...

[OCNRN63, RN]

Since ixchel is taking a much deserved break, she was gracious enough to allow me to fill in for her. Here's hoping I don't blow up her thread.

My next door neighbor is a retired nurse. She frequently comes over to visit me, which leads me to the title of the thread: where two or more retired nurses are gathered, the talk eventually turns to nursing.

Sharon (not her real name) has a son who works at a local hospital. He frequently fills his mother in with his experiences. She'll often share them with me, and many times the two of us end up shaking our heads in disbelief at how nursing has changed, sometimes for the good, often for the bad.

So what did I learn? I know that now, with greater certainty than before, that I dearly miss nursing, but not what it has become.

I've also learned that I must have some sort of invisible "Welcome, Free Lodging" sign over my head that only respiratory bugs can see. Every year like clockwork these invaders turn me into a coughing, sneezing, snotting host for them. It will get better, but by Oct/Nov. it will happen again.

And when a doctor gives you abx. for a sinus infection from Hades and tells you to make sure you take it with a probiotic, believe. him/her.

So, what have you learned this week? Hope you had a good one!

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

I've learned that being sick & poor is not a good combination. I don't know if I have a cold, URI, bronchitis or what but I can't go to the walk in clinic because they don't take my insurance. But I can't bear the thought of going to the ER for my minor complaint & the bill to follow.

I also don't know if I even have health insurance at the point because I don't know if we paid that bill. Kinda had to go through which bills to pay & what not to. Even though I really need health insurance, the insurance through the marketplace is expensive.

[smf0903]

I've also learned that I must have some sort of invisible "Welcome, Free Lodging" sign over my head that only respiratory bugs can see. Every year like clockwork these invaders turn me into a coughing, sneezing, snotting host for them. It will get better, but by Oct/Nov. it will happen again.QUOTE]

Ugh, I hope you feel better soon!!

What I learned this week:

-Pericarditis: classic sign is pain lying down that is relieved once pt sits up. Also that there are expected PR and QT changes which should not freak you the freak out when you see them (specifically PR depression and ST elevation).

-Poison control can apparently ask you to call back "in about ten minutes". What. The. H-E-double hockey sticks?!?!

-I thought I had experienced days of being hot (temperature hot, not boom-shaka-laka hot ) until I had to don for TB precautions this past week. Holy spontaneous combustion N95!!!

-Some patients have zero boundaries. Zero. Nada. None. I was asked this week to "help finish pulling out a poop" by a patient In a million years I swear I could not make this stuff up...

-How to change the dressing on a post-op total knee. I don't have much experience with wound care/dressing changes, so I like the opportunity to learn more!

It's been an interesting week!!

[OCNRN63, RN]

What I learned this week:

-Some patients have zero boundaries. Zero. Nada. None. I was asked this week to "help finish pulling out a poop" by a patient In a million years I swear I could not make this stuff up...

I would have loved to have heard your response. How old was this patient? Sheesh. I think I would have laughed and said "Nnnyyeah, I don't think so."

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

What I learned this week:

- I have a doctor I have to add to my list of who I never want to treat me, particularly if I have to be emergently intubated.

- I prefer my patients in the PACU to have not been on a heparin gtt that day. It makes them oozy.

[Farawyn]

I've learned that once hamsters run away they are gone for good.

[Undone]

I had a hamster come back after several days on the lamb, don't give up hope.

[pixierose, BSN, RN]

I've learned that once hamsters run away they are gone for good.

But their memory will live on in your heart forever!

[purplegal]

* You can lose a job as a new nurse, and other places will show interest. In this past week, I applied to eleven or so jobs, seven of which requested interviews, and three of which I have managed to schedule an interview with (still playing phone tag with a few).

*Indeed.com is a great place to apply for many jobs AND get a good response. I created an account and uploaded my resume, and started applying away. The seven responses I got were because of Indeed.com

[nutella, MSN, RN]

What I learned this week:

Nurses looks a lot at other "professions" to come up with problem solving strategies. While I did not enjoy the "lean" idea that came from Toyota (and literally turned the hospital I worked at back at that time upside down to improve work flow), I find the Crew Resource Management (CRM) from aviation actually interesting. There are application of how strategies that have been successful in aviation can improve safety in healthcare. For example by overcoming authority gradients through assertive communication or other communication skills.

Developing a policy for something in the inpatient setting is necessary but hard work and includes research on what other places "do".

When a narcotic user and suspected "mis-user" does not receive iv dilaudid as "requested" that person may actually just jump up from the bed and walk out AMA. But not without insulting all staff.

I guess I am not dieting the right way. After trying the Mayo Clinic diet for some weeks now and zero weight loss, I guess I can as well stop.

Advanced Care Planning - one of my favorite topics - is getting more popular.

[OlivetheRN, ADN, BSN, RN]

I found a gerbil after 6 months. He was still alive. A lot more feral but still alive.

[Davey Do]

I've learned that once hamsters run away they are gone for good.

I've learned that Hamsters are like spouses... one runs away, you can always get another one.

Davey (Divorced x2) Do