9/5 What I learned this week.....

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Ahhhhh this week. Kids in school, a nice run of chill nights, and here I am, wiiiiiiide awake knowing my body needs to flip back to awake in the day (for only two flippin' days) this weekend until I have two more nights this coming week. *sigh* I need more summer. Fall means back to mom taxi and learning 3rd grade math. Ugh! No thank you!

Alas, this week I have learned.....

There is a man with a 19 inch member. The head of it is 10 inches in diameter.

Xarelto is a hell of a drug.

Being an assertive person by nature, and after receiving guidance through nursing school and as I've been a nurse on concise and direct communication (how to deliver and receive it), I was reminded this week that not everyone effectively communicates, and it can be upsetting to them to be asked to.

In addition, the very nature of nursing education through school and orientation teaches us how to be able to initially be subordinate, in a way, to those who mentor us, but seamlessly transition to being peers after. This feels like an endemic part of nursing because we all do it, and a good preceptor takes his/her role seriously to ensure safety and adequate care is delivered. That ease of transition doesn't apparently exist in all levels of patient care, though. I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me, but it was placed directly in my face when I was informed that a preceptor tech should not be responsible for correction of an orienting tech, because the orienting tech is a peer to the preceptor. (Huge needs for education, there - I am not the (disciplinary) supervisor of the aids, even as the nurse, and a preceptor is responsible for the learning process of the one orienting - they need to learn how to communicate errors in practice without worrying about the consequence to the peer relationship later.)

I've decided my melanin is useless.

On a related note, I would rather go without a shower than shower with sunburn.

#JunkOff is trending right now. And in the name of science, there is this - The Icelandic Phallological Museum

I want a high and mighty horse to ride in on.

And speaking of horses, never look a gift horse in the mouth. If the whole floor has wild and crashing patient assignments, check in and offer help often, but keep it to yourself that your group was/is easy.

When you read a patient's chart notes and see they couldn't be stopped from punching and spitting on staff with 25 mg haldol and 10 mg Ativan, you might actually think to yourself, "thank god he's only felt me up this shift".

I've decided I'm going to write a book called "You Can't Make This **** Up".

Agony, sweet, sweet little old man reaffirmed for me that we have a desperate need in this country for social services. A person shouldn't decide to attempt suicide because lack of access to adequate care has ultimately (decades later) led to homelessness.

I very much love and miss NOC. It felt so good to do a week of nights!

I've learned how very close to death a person can get during ETOH detox. It doesn't help that the person is 4 months older than my mom, who is 15 years sober right now. Counter transference is a hell of a drug. :(

Lots of psychosocial stuff this week. Very heartbreaking.

I've learned that simply being in a sinus arrest rhythm while already having a HR in the 30s is not a qualifyer for a pacemaker. (Apparently?)

I've learned that the cutoff for a pause to ring asystole on our tele monitors is somewhere between 4.8 and 5.6 seconds.

I've learned our hospitalists have this magical locked room filled with iced cream. And if you're really nice (and they're tired-giddy at the end of their 7-day NOC stretch), they'll tube some up to you.

Adding with compatible numbers makes no freaking sense to me whatsoever. I am a math smart person with a rather high IQ (logic and I are BFFs) and yet, compatible numbers? Seriously, why?! I should be able to tutor my 8-year old in math without having to learn what it is first, right???

Have you learned anything worth sharing this week?

I feel bad for the floor nurses then though, having this shadow they probably don't want.

Especially if it's those individuals in that thread.

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Especially if it's those individuals in that thread.

My classmates better hope I never hear any of them talk to any of our nurses like that.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I learned:

1. I think I have become the new Difficult Family Whisperer.

2. I actually really LIKE being assigned the (gasp) "His daughter called and reported the nurse to the CEO, CNO...everyone with a C in front of their title...." patient. Challenge accepted.

3. Having a patient circling the drain makes me want to just ask for a darn bluetooth so I can put.the.phone.down.already.

4. Nothing makes me happier than receiving a patient wrapped up with a bow on top....clean, shaven, sheets lined up and no wrinkles anywhere.

5. Taking AN HOUR to give me report because you are too scattered to speak in complete sentences almost completely erases the joy I felt when I saw my patient looking like the perfect Christmas package.

6. Stress incontinence is not just for the old. Next time I help you turn your 300lb patient, I'm gonna take a potty break first! And I'm not gonna apologize for making you wait for 2 minutes. The struggle is real. ;p

ETA: details ;)

#2--Me, too. But it does get old being the "service recovery" RN after awhile.

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OC, yes, your new avatar does look like you, (how you are are, all enthusiastic and tenacious) but you are clearly not as fuzzy, and you must be fuzzy.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
OC, yes, your new avatar does look like you, (how you are are, all enthusiastic and tenacious) but you are clearly not as fuzzy, and you must be fuzzy.

The ears are fuzzy, does that count?

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The ears are fuzzy, does that count?

Purp's gonna shut you out when she comes back.

Where is she?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Purp's gonna shut you out when she comes back.

Where is she?

Awwww :( Boo.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Purp's gonna shut you out when she comes back.

Where is she?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Indubitably.

"Ash Shadow, she's so good with that type of thing."

I'd rather show the others how to be respectful and patient.

RIGHT?!? Ugh.

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Specializes in critical care.
I thought preceptors were (mostly) floor nurses who (mostly) volunteered for the job? Am I wrong? (Remember I haven't started yet, so I don't actually know.)

Most clinicals, as others have said, the students are assigned to patients, and if the CI is doing their job, the CI handles all the stuff the students needs help with in the day. It sounds, by that thread, like CI's are actually dropping off groups of students and expecting the floor nurses to do the job of CI in their place.

If the school includes an internship/externship, the student will be assigned to a nurse, but at that time, the student should be somewhat able to function independently but with training wheels. It should be their last semester. If a CN is nice about it, they'll choose a nurse to follow based on whether the nurse likes to get students or not. My internship, I was allowed to make as much of it as I wanted. Usually I took 1-2 patients, doing all independently but meds. But then on some days, I asked for experiences elsewhere, like with the case managers, CN, in the cath lab, etc. It was my responsibility to direct my own learning experiences because it was MY internship. And, of course, it was also my responsibility to remain safe at all times by admitting to my own limitations.

On the job, orientation includes being assigned to one preceptor who hopefully volunteered for the job. That person monitors your progress as you go through training. At the end, it is the preceptor's responsibility to determine whether you are safe for independent practice.

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Check for spraying on walls, furniture, etc. Males and females will do this. You can see urine spots best with a small hand-held black light; a worthwhile investment.

No, I have no idea why they start doing it. Some sort of insecurity, usually, makes them urgently need to mark their territory. If s/he's an indoor cat, s/he may be seeing a new cat outside the window. Or you may be petting a dog or another cat and the smell comes home with you on your skin or clothes.

They like peeing in the laundry basket, too, so make sure it's not on you.

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I've learned that OC is even LOUDER with this new avatar.

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