What non-clinical nursing skill do you whish you would have learned in nursing school

[CharliezAngie]

how to adequately take care of my own stress...how to come home, and leave work at work. and, what to do if i can't. i think nurses are the among the worst professionals at taking care of themselves. we ask for help last ("i'm not that sick") or we engage in self-defeating behaviors. kudos to those of us that have worked out this issue for ourselves, and walk the walk and talk the talk. we can't help others if we allow ourselves to fall to pieces.

the second skill set i wish i saw in many of my fellow students was assertiveness training. i took workshops in this several times (a career or two back) and it is soooo important, especially when you're having to do your patient advocate thing with someone that has no interest in your opinion...like a physician or a family member. the differences between being aggressive, being assertive, and being passive are huge, and precious few know that difference. it can save your sanity.

what situations would these skills have helped you if they were taught in nursing school? and how can i learn this without learnig it the hard way?

[Nesher, BSN, RN]

I agree with the previous posters and want to add that we weren't taught the amazing engineering skills I have picked up along the way to manage troubleshooting things like beds stuck in the high positions and the patient needing to go to the bathroom....or the pump that alarms as if controlled by ghosts...the peg tube that becomes clogged with medication...the O2 that won't flow - the hickman that won't draw. You name it you learn to fix it - including of course our patients and their families...

[rpbear]

It is not really a skill, but more of a tip. Know where everything is on your unit. I mean everything, not just the stuff you use daily, but paper for the printer, extra parts for equipment, extra pillows, and all the secret stashes of stuff that every unit has, you never know what you are going to need!

Good luck to all the new grads!

[indigo]

Great suggestions and replies. I am graduating too in early May. My program did a couple of units on taking care of ourselves and dealing with stress, and yes, I passed the tests, but really, it is a personal responsibility and no one can teach you to make yourself your number one priority!

But I'm still trying to learn that.........

[Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN]

Great suggestions and replies. I am graduating too in early May. My program did a couple of units on taking care of ourselves and dealing with stress, and yes, I passed the tests, but really, it is a personal responsibility and no one can teach you to make yourself your number one priority!

But I'm still trying to learn that.........

I think that coming to allnurses and commiserating with the only people in the world who can really understand what we go through- our fellow/sister nurses- has helped me manage nursing stress, a great deal.

[grimmy, RN]

what situations would these skills have helped you if they were taught in nursing school? and how can i learn this without learnig it the hard way?

oh, the first time i had to call a physician in the middle of the night, and while he was kind on the phone, the resident he called to come in to fix the problem was not. i don't know exactly why, but this resident intimidated the stink out of me (at the time). so, i mustered up my assertiveness skills, took a deep breath, and said, "please don't interrupt me again." and i went on with my analysis of the pt's problem. by the time i had gotten to the end, he concurred, and gave new sets of orders. another instance comes to mind, where a group of surgeons were working together on a patient, and asking for things all at the same time, all sticking their hand out at the same time. it's not an easy situation, especially when you're a new nurse, new to the or, and flustered is your middle name.

as for the stress relief, just taking a break, going to the bathroom and having a good 5 minute cry is ok. so many nurses are loathe to cry. so many nurses look down on nurses who do cry! its not a sign of weakness, but a sign of impending strength. granted, i don't do this in critical situations, but i indulge myself in tears when necessary and appropriate. i also go to the gym at least 5 times a week. i also keep a private journal in addition to talking things out with other nurses. however, there are times when none of these things seem to work for the stress. i remember my first pediatric patient as a student nurse. i went home everyday after caring for this child, angry, angry, angry. for the life of me, i could not leave my feelings at work. a few details, this child was the product of a heroin-addicted mom who abandoned the infant. he was beautiful. his vocal cords were paralyzed, he had holes in his brain, and no one ever visited him or held him unless the nurse (or me) had time to hold him. even now, i shake my head and feel my eyes welling up. and its all because of my own stuff...my own problems that i could not handle the situation better: here i am, 40, childless, and not by choice. my emotions get the better of me when i see children abandoned or abused...and that's because of me. that's why i don't do pediatrics. i don't run from it, but i know myself too well to work with it everyday. you see what i mean? knowing yourself intimately, not trying to push aside the feelings you feel, and asking yourself the hard questions takes practice. if you do this sort of self-evaluation regularly, you'll know when you need to take a mental health day. i'm taking one today, after being on-call for 3 days straight! i'm reconnecting with nature, taking my dog for a long walk, working in the garden, and going to bed early. this is what eases my soul. you have to figure out what does it for you and do it, regularly.

[mydesygn]

oh, the first time i had to call a physician in the middle of the night, and while he was kind on the phone, the resident he called to come in to fix the problem was not. i don't know exactly why, but this resident intimidated the stink out of me (at the time). so, i mustered up my assertiveness skills, took a deep breath, and said, "please don't interrupt me again." and i went on with my analysis of the pt's problem. by the time i had gotten to the end, he concurred, and gave new sets of orders. another instance comes to mind, where a group of surgeons were working together on a patient, and asking for things all at the same time, all sticking their hand out at the same time. it's not an easy situation, especially when you're a new nurse, new to the or, and flustered is your middle name.

as for the stress relief, just taking a break, going to the bathroom and having a good 5 minute cry is ok. so many nurses are loathe to cry. so many nurses look down on nurses who do cry! its not a sign of weakness, but a sign of impending strength. granted, i don't do this in critical situations, but i indulge myself in tears when necessary and appropriate. i also go to the gym at least 5 times a week. i also keep a private journal in addition to talking things out with other nurses. however, there are times when none of these things seem to work for the stress. i remember my first pediatric patient as a student nurse. i went home everyday after caring for this child, angry, angry, angry. for the life of me, i could not leave my feelings at work. a few details, this child was the product of a heroin-addicted mom who abandoned the infant. he was beautiful. his vocal cords were paralyzed, he had holes in his brain, and no one ever visited him or held him unless the nurse (or me) had time to hold him. even now, i shake my head and feel my eyes welling up. and its all because of my own stuff...my own problems that i could not handle the situation better: here i am, 40, childless, and not by choice. my emotions get the better of me when i see children abandoned or abused...and that's because of me. that's why i don't do pediatrics. i don't run from it, but i know myself too well to work with it everyday. you see what i mean? knowing yourself intimately, not trying to push aside the feelings you feel, and asking yourself the hard questions takes practice. if you do this sort of self-evaluation regularly, you'll know when you need to take a mental health day. i'm taking one today, after being on-call for 3 days straight! i'm reconnecting with nature, taking my dog for a long walk, working in the garden, and going to bed early. this is what eases my soul. you have to figure out what does it for you and do it, regularly.

i would also add this -- i find the focus on learning has always been good technical skills but not good practice skills. you can be told to always review any medication you give a patient but practice skills such as always bringing the patient's written medication schedule to the bedside with you have proven invaluable in avoiding errors. simple things like wiping with a peice of gauze immediately after poking for a finger stick.

[mattsmom81]

I wish I had been taught more of the business end of facility operation and how to effectively relate to those in upper level management..so I could more effectively advocate for my profession, improve working conditions and increase general respect for nurses.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

All of the above and for me, the political atmosphere of nursing.

I had NO IDEA. Really. :)

steph