What your mind does when you let it wander.

[Dempather, RN]

In the most impressive show of verbal diarrhea that I can recall in recent history, I thought I'd share this--

So I was trying to fuzz up my cover letter and was brain-storming things to throw in. I asked myself what the heck I've learned in the ED in the past three years. So I just let go and typed out every thought that came into my mind. Here's what I found I've learned when I let my mind go--

- how to move as quickly as possible

- how to not make mistakes

- how to stop saying i'll be back in five minutes when we all know there's no way i'll be back in five minutes

- how to deal with a--holes

- how to deal with people when i'm being unreasonable and now i'm too far in

- how to be professional (sort of)

- how to not cry when a patient dies and i'm dealing with the family (work in progress)

- how to say i'm wrong

- how to say i'm right (work in progress)

- how to not freak out when i'm stressed

- how to prioritize (ABCs,ABCs,ABCs).

- ivs, ng tubes, foleys, moderate sedation, traumas, codes, cardioversions, drips, blood tranfusions, transfers, admissions, discharges, comforting, vital signs, fluid boluses, meds, meds, meds, shots, iv pushes, crowd control, priorities, following my gut, FOLLOWING MY GUT, learning colleagues are not always my friends but they're still my colleagues, continuous bladder irrigations, recognizing bullsh-t from actual DTs, learning to sound confidant even when i don't feel confidant, how not to cry in public, ekgs, rapid fluid infusions, wound care, blocking punches, biting tongue, letting tongue go, triage, triage WELL, restraints, vents, trachs, respiratory txs, suction, delegate, supervise, not yell.........

Let your mind go a little crazy and add something... then we can be a little crazy together

[fhaq]

Hello everyone, I have lived a very tough life mainly cause of where I grew up and things of that sort. But my question to you guys is I want to become an RN so bad I love the job of bringing the joy to pts when there in time of need.

But, My doctor Diagnosed me as being Bi Polar and having O.C.D and I take a lot of meds sometimes its hard just to get out of bed in the morning.

IS there some advice you guys can give me on how to get more motivated and start pursuing my goals in life

[mazy]

I actually think you've put together a great list there, not crazy at all. Those would be great points (especially the ones about your mindset while on the job) to bring up in an interview.

For me it's usually pretty basic: either:I love my job I love my life or: what was I thinking when I thought nursing was a good idea. Mostly that for better or for worse this was what I was meant to do and that for some reason I am comfortable with the level of chaos and dysfuntion.

Obviously can't say that in an interview. Well, actually I did once and they said "wow, that's great, you'll find a lot of that here." I decided that maybe I wasn't THAT comfortable after all.

[mkblakley07]

Time management and the ability to get things done quickly, learning how to work different hopital computer systems efficiently, how to chart thoroughly, learning to differentiate between emergent and non-emergent patients and protocols for dealing with each...The ability to think on your feet and be confident about what you do, great people skills including the ability do deal with the especially difficult patients without blowing a fuse... Maybe mention any special certs that you have?

[mcknis]

Maybe mention any special certs that you have?

Certs: American College of Bladder Control with a subcertification in Poor Urination in order to deal with others lame requests for ice chips....

[Dempather, RN]

Great-- thanks for the advice and laughs! :)