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?

[Anna S, RN]

For some of these tips, I have no idea what is being talked about, lol.

Nursing is so specialized, now.

[Anna S, RN]

When giving a bed bath, float the bottle of lotion in the warm basin water. The lotion will be warm by the time the bath is done.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Tubi-net in the smallest width is good for covering a cold stethoscope so that you can wear it over your neck.

Tubi-net or tubigrip in the narrow width is good for covering the monitor lead wires so that confused people don't fiddle with them.

[AcuteHD]

Our iso gowns come in individual plastic bags which can be reused as a stethoscope sleeve.

[icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN]

Some hacks for treating or pretreating stains on your scrubs include hairspray for ballpoint pen ink, shaving cream for grease stains - or lipids like propofol - and peroxide for blood.

[dec2007]

This is an ICU hack for an intubated septic patient with an extremely high fever not responsive to ibuprofen, acetominophen and antibiotics who needs to be cooled actively and the hospital does not have an artic sun.

Place a sheet in cold water and wring it out. Use hemostats to attach it to the upper bedrails. Attach the bottom of the sheet to a fan on low at the foot of the bed creating a wind tunnel effect.

This is really a desperation move for when the fever is creeping up to 105 and the patient might seize

and you need to get that temp down quickly. This cooling method is only for short term use and for when you have continuous temp monitoring.

Another hack: the rectal temp probe can be placed in the axilla and secured with a biocclusive if you dont have foley temp probe catheters and rectal temps are not an option.

This cooling method as described was the "old school" way to cool a fever before cooling mats were created. It works!!!

[dec2007]

LOL! You're just a tiny bit evil, aren't you?

But smart........very, very smart!

[Taurimi]

12 hour Cycling tpn that u need to reduce the rate? On our unit it's usually hung at 2000h, travasol is turned down at 0700 then the whole thing is dc'd at 0800... 0700 is shift change and inevitably night nurses often forgot to decrease the rate. Using our smart pumps, when u initiate the travasol at 2000, program the primary setting for the reduced rate and make the vtbi the same (eg 50 ml/h, 50 ml to infuse). Then, using the basic secondary option, program it for the main rate and the vtbi as main rate x 11 (hours). (Eg 100 ml/h, 1100 ml to infuse.). Voila, it will revert to primary settings (the reduced rate) after the 11 hour secondary has infused.

Smelly ng drainage? When you change the canister, squeeze three or four packets of the ostomy lubricant/deodorant into the new canister and stink is pretty much annihilated.

hard iv start? If the patients able and time is not a huge issue, get them to have a long, hot shower then start it as soon as they're out (or in the shower room). Takes longer but works better than wet hot towels.

[Fancypants09]

This was from my preceptor when I was a new grad: have a patient with a foley who wants to go for a walk? Take a glove and tie it around the IV pole toward the bottom. Hook the foley bag there. Voila! Have a great walk!

I am now so excited to try this, working on a surg onc unit, those post-op pts gotta be ambulated with Foleys in situ! Here I was, criss-crossing tongue depressors on IV pole and taping them like a sucker! Awesome hack, thanks for sharing!!