What did you learn today as a nurse?

[minnib]

Greetings fellow nurses, I thought it would be interesting to have nurses tell what we have learned at our place of work in the course of our shift....

Yesterday I learned that 2 nurses should indeed check a heparin drip calculation upon learning the PTT as our facilities protocol states! If not...yikes and well just one wrong calculation not caught will throw off the rest of the calcs!!! and NOT good for the pt and could possibly lead to some serious problems...GI BLEED:uhoh21: And since I am an LPN I usually am not too involved but an RN kindly gave me an inservice on how to follow protocol, which is pretty self explanatory on the paperwork provided by the hosp. and WHY it needs to be followed EXACTLY!!!

[jonear2, RN]

On my last shift I learned that if there is a biohazard bag pinned to the inside of the patient's chart with a bunch of clear tubes in it, and the patient has had a lumbar puncture, then it is very likely that the tubes are NOT in fact empty but have CSF in them and should be taken down to the lab lest the resident see that they are still in the chart and get mad. DUH!!!! But I am new so what do I know?

I also learned that Gatorade is not permitted on the Na rrestriction diet.

And that nurses spend more time on the phone than I ever thought possible. I learned that playing phone tag with CT, LAB, the interns, the pts family, RT, and case management take up too many precious minutes from my day.

And finally, I learned that the correct medical term for "butt crack" is "gluteal fold between the buttocks."

amy

[bladensburg,OHrn]

Just a quick sidetrack...LOVE the quote,hassled. I do a lot of orientations, and teaching....what good words to practice by!

[LisaRn21]

And finally, I learned that the correct medical term for "butt crack" is "gluteal fold between the buttocks."

I'll have to remember that one.. lol the other day I was trying to write what an abrasion looked like lol and i wrote the word *****... meaning puss lol and the doctors all had a good laugh.. I didn't realize what I wrote till after everyone read it and I begged them to tell me what I wrote lol... oh well!!! I'll never use that again lol

[MS._Jen_RN, ASN, RN]

The last day I was working was Sunday and lets see... The thing I last learned that night about nursing was that Kayexalate can be taken PO and Rectally (thought it was only taken down under) and that it can't be mixed with any juices, only water or taken like a straight shot (and seemed like it tasted nasty according to his face)

I just learned that Kayexalate could be taken rectally!

(enema style or suppository?) I've only given it orally. ~Jen

[minnib]

And finally, I learned that the correct medical term for "butt crack" is "gluteal fold between the buttocks."

I'll have to remember that one.. lol the other day I was trying to write what an abrasion looked like lol and i wrote the word *****... meaning puss lol and the doctors all had a good laugh.. I didn't realize what I wrote till after everyone read it and I begged them to tell me what I wrote lol... oh well!!! I'll never use that again lol

LMAO:lol2: These posts have been so great!, that's why I just love all you guys:1luvu: ... look how much we can all learn from each other!

Keep the up the terrific responses!

Melinda

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

On my last shift, I learned that when one has a substitute preceptor, and she tells you to do something in a totally different way than your regular preceptor, as long as it isn't going to kill anyone, just smile pretty, nod, and do it. The words "but we usually..." should ne'er come out of a nursing student's mouth.

Also I learned that when a patient you loved dies, don't expect any sympathy from someone who didn't also know and love the patient.

Sorry, I had kind of a lousy shift...

[Megsd, BSN, RN]

I learned that there is probably no correct answer when a 96 year old male patient asks you "So, do you like big wieners?"

[Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN]

I learned that there is probably no correct answer when a 96 year old male patient asks you "So, do you like big wieners?"

I guess it's too late to tell him that you are a vegetarian??

On my last shift, I learned that a person could be in danger of bleeding to death from a nosebleed.

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

i worked yesterday, and I learned...

-That picking at your psoriasis makes for some pretty ugly looking hands

-That potassium and magnesium infusions are both compatible to be run through an IV with a Y connecter thing. (gotta love micromedex!)

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

double post, sorry

[HappyNurse2005, RN]

I just learned that Kayexalate could be taken rectally!

(enema style or suppository?) I've only given it orally. ~Jen

enema

Had a pt who wouldn't swallow once. Needed Kayexalate. The doctor told me I could choose if i wanted to insert an NG tube and do it that way or do an enema.

NG all the way.

[flasandy42]

I retired and now do home health part time after being a hospital nurse for 40 years and I learned today how to use "The Vest" chest percussion machine that I had never seen before. I learned that no one is too old to learn!