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

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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!

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."

Mid-40s maybe? And that was my reply, pretty much verbatim :yawn:

I learned how my administrators see me. The new schedule is out and they switched my weekends off with no notice. And changed my department. And oh, that means that after working the holiday weekend for most holidays (anyone working every other weekend will know what I'm talking about), the calendar is finally switching and I'll once again be working the holiday weekend. The DON referred me to the Assistant DON, who refuses to talk with me. Our Human Resources person won't touch it.

I'm assuming I somehow put out a signal that says, "squash me", and "my family isn't as important as yours". So I plan to stop coming in when called, call in occasionally for no real reason, and generally work at becoming a poorer employee so I'll get treated better. Sad reality. I'm also keeping my eyes open for a better job.

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

I got that once as a nursing student. From an elderly-ish guy, probably early 70s. While I'm pretty sure my outside voice said "oh, I'm sorry, that's not in my scope as a student," my inside-my-head voice was saying "oh my god no. Never. No."

* 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

I have found Linkedin to be somewhat helpful as well. I agree that indeed.com is pretty darn good. Good luck with the job hunt.

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

Davey (Divorced x2) Do

Dear Davey "Bluebeard" Do,

True. Unless you get stuck on that wheel.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I learned that the next schedule is STILL not out yet! Sorry coworkers at PRN job...

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

Um...even better - airborne precautions for an procedure spanning 6-8 (or more) hours in the OR. Because TB can exist in places other than the lungs/respiratory tract. Better knowing and suffering than not knowing and being exposed?

Also of equivalent torture level (though maybe worse when you really think about it)? When the HVAC system goes kaput, no AC, middle of summer. The thermostat on the wall reads 88F, in the corner, it's much hotter everywhere else. Progressing to using the cool feature on the bair hugger for the patient to maintain normothermia. I am amazed that nobody passed out that day.

I've learned that I had a lot of body parts (meaning wounds and sore throats and rashes, you pervs) on my phone so I decided to delete them. It took me 2 hours. Why I saved these pics? I have no idea. Fun Fact! I remembered whose they were! :woot:

I've re-learned that tough guys of a certain age will always refuse pain meds, even while I am packing half his big toe with gauze. I kind of scolded him after that, and then called his family member to fill his @#$%^&* Percocet!

He gave me a hug goodbye. I love the tough old guys.

OCNRN63, my mom is still friends with all her nursing school peeps. Once a season they go out and probably drink their faces off :woot: I know she misses nursing. When I started my SN job, she was the one who showed me how to use the Audiometer. Once a nurse, always a nurse.

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Isn't she cute? :inlove:

I learned how to do a body audit. One of my favorite nurses taught me how so that I can help her with them more efficiently. On a related note I learned that I can see a huge, gaping decubitus (seriously this wound looked like a great big scoop of flesh was removed) and not want to lose my just eaten lunch.

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Last edit by Farawyn on 10:26 pm : Reason: Mom, don't kill me..!

Hey Far, maybe this will be what it takes to flush your mom out and get her to join! But if we don't hear from you in the daily thread tomorrow...

I've learned that I hate having to make staffing assignments. Can't wait for the full-time charge to come back from FMLA so I can return that duty to her.

Specializes in ICU.

I learned that trachs do come off when turning and mucous will spew all over you when the pt. has pneumonia!!!!

I learned that trachs do come off when turning and mucous will spew all over you when the pt. has pneumonia!!!!

I miss suctioning!

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