What nurse life-hacks do you have to offer?

[Purple_roses]

One day I forgot to apply deodorant, and I realized this a few hours into a twelve hour shift. This is how I discovered that hand sanitizer will serve as a decent deodorant in such cases of stinky emergency.

I also discovered that using essential oil underneath the nose helps when you have to deal with something that smells really bad. Usually the go-to is Vicks, but some people are allergic to this. Maybe essential oil will help you?

What hacks have you discovered?

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

Catheter tubing plugs fit perfectly into MOOG enteral tubing ends when IR forgets to send the pt with any more than a drainage bag.

Alcohol swabs will erase the pen ink right off your arm when you're done with your RRT.

Alcohol swabs under the nose for a whiff or two can reduce nausea.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

For stinky situations, a peppermint and a face mask and breathing through your mouth works wonders.

[CountryMomma, ASN, RN]

For stinky situations, a peppermint and a face mask and breathing through your mouth works wonders.

However, an altoid, an N-95 mask, and contacts are really gonna mess with your vision. :)

[benegesserit]

Milk of Magnesia also works as deodorant.

I've even been known to mix hand sanitizer and MOM for that purpose. I'm paranoid about stinking.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

A carabiner is useful for hooking all of the iv bags together when going on a transport.

Docusate liquid is an effective way to liquefy a curdled tube feeding clog. Softening impacted ear wax is an off label use for docusate liquid. That is a home life hack rather than a nurse hack.

Steristrips are better than tape for securing an NGT. Use one under the tube cross it and place on the nose then cover with three strips placed horizontally over it.

[wanderlustnurse88, RN]

Hanging a gravity IV med in LTC with no pole. Used the mechanical ceiling lift to hang the IV off of.

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

When hanging a secondary such as abx for the first time. Clamp the secondary line, spike the bag, then connect the secondary to the port on your pump tubing. Lower the secondary and then open the clamp to prime the tubing backwards with your maintenance fluid. That eliminates the annoying little bubble that sits in the connector and always makes the air in tubing alarm sound off.

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

Okay, this works best with drip tubing. Pump tubing is too stiff.

When your IV is not flowing and you need to flush it there is a trick you can do. This works over half the time for me and saves the time and materials to obtain a syringe or flush.

First, you've opened the clamp and confirmed no drip. Pinch the tubing between your thumb and second joint of index finger. Then quickly wind the patient side tubing around your index finger on top of itself. Pull it tight as you wind. If you do this correctly, the tubing will be pulled/squeezed flat and will flush about a ml through the IV catheter. Release the tubing and see if it will now drip. If it does, then adjust the clamp to desired rate.

Of course, check for infiltration before doing this and be aware of drips that might be running. If you wouldn't flush the line with NS then don't do this trick. However, if you would flush it with NS then this trick can save you some time.

BTW, one bit of advice for students. While in school do everything exactly as they show you. That is why you are there and that is what they are using to judge/grade you. After you start your nursing practice is a good time to learn from a mentor on your floor. Show respect and appreciation to your mentor and they will teach you a lot that will make your life easier.

[WellThatsOod]

I'm taking notes

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

However, an altoid, an N-95 mask, and contacts are really gonna mess with your vision. :)

The burn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN]

Alcohol swabs under the nose for a whiff or two can reduce nausea.

Hmmm...I'll have to try that one. I like it for sinus pain but I never thought about nausea.