What nursing task do you loathe???

alferrn · Jul 17, 2015

Adding to my last post--when you take off a patient's socks and you see all of their flakes of skin dispersing through the air. i feel like I'm breathing it in and its getting in my hair, on my scrubs, etc...yuck!!! :alien: :sour:

applewhitern, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Ostomy care, oral care. Mucous used to bother me, but not so much anymore.

allnurses Guide · Jul 17, 2015

Putting in IVs. I miss every time and it makes me feel like an incompetent nurse.
For now on, I won't even attempt it. I suck at IVs.

I love putting in IV's It's the best part of my job. How long have you been working. you might think about taking a daylong course in IV/venipuncture then practice practice practice. I actually let a new RN start one on me the other night just to practice.

AutumnApple · Jul 17, 2015

"What nursing task do you loathe?"

Simple, all the tasks I do on a daily basis that aren't nursing tasks. What I mean by this is, all the inefficient extra work that drops on my shoulders because of the system's failure to maintain and manage the facility:

1. The task of looking for simple day to day supplies for 15min. when the task itself should only take two or three minutes. This more than anything else has become the norm and should have never gotten to that point. Yet so many facilities are willfully obtuse about it.

2. Having to cover other nurses who go on break. Nurse to patient ratios are already dangerously high in a great many facilities. Then they want you watch someone else's patients while they take their break (unpaid breaks usually). This, in effect, doubles the size of an already unsafe patient load. While travel nursing, I worked for two facilities that handled it differently and got the breaks covered by someone who didn't already have an assignment. The only reason for admin. not to do this is the cost, so they choose unsafe over payroll increase.

3. Some facilities are hopeless when it comes to ancillary staff. Since nurses are some of the strongest patient advocates, often odds and ends left behind by them are done by us just for the sake of the patient. Finishing touches on a room that was supposedly cleaned by housekeeping, changing light bulbs for non responsive maintenance and a few other things come to mind. There are a lot more examples though.

4. The task of circling around the parking lot for ten and fifteen minutes. Too many facilities (not all, but way too many) neglect parking. Wonder if they realize how much of a moral breaker it is to let parking be such an issue. Yet, they take this "it's your problem" attitude about it and then wonder why people are coming to work late every day. When the issue is brought up to admin., they say the same thing every time "We can not afford to address the problem at this time." Sorry, but your million dollar bonuses strip you of your credibility and make such statements................false.

I could go on forever and ever. It's a shame too. Other industries figure these things out and try to resolve them. Most businesses understand things like: If your workers can't park, you're going to have problems with workers showing up late and even calling off. It's common sense really but.............nuff said.

kmarie724 · Jul 17, 2015

Orthostatic BPs. I don't know why, but I hate doing those!

Feeding pts. Again, I don't really have a reason for this, I just don't. I also hated feeding my own children baby food.

Packing wounds. Stuff everything in there really grosses me out!

Gowning up to go into isolation rooms. It's already always warm in our facility, so adding a gown and mask makes me feel like I might pass out.

Dogen · Jul 17, 2015

Adding to my last post--when you take off a patient's socks and you see all of their flakes of skin dispersing through the air. i feel like I'm breathing it in and its getting in my hair, on my scrubs, etc...yuck!!!

Ugh... yeah. Skin flakes are disgusting. Also foot soaks on the same people, where you end up with a pan filled with lukewarm water and a layer of slimy, congealed skin on top. And as you carry it to a toilet you think, "if anyone bumps me they're going to be lucky they're already in a hospital."

kiszi, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Feeding patients.
It takes everything in me not to vomit directly in their mouth.
Especially hospital eggs.... Seeing the Smushed bits in the thick string of spit when I pull the spoon back does me in....
So far that is the only the I absolutely hate doing, it makes me ill.

Should not be reading this thread while eating.

mystory, BSN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

Dealing with families. Some days catering to the families takes up more of my time than actual patient care. I am happy to engage them and answer their questions. But when I am running around finding them snacks and pillows and then they pull a condescending, entitled attitude..I would rather be knee deep in a Code Brown!

mvm2 · Jul 17, 2015

Pressure ulcers. They don't gross me out but I hate to see people in pain while I'm having to clean them.

Also hate hoyer lifting my quad client. Mainly because I am on my own. So hard to do. I pray every morning that nothing bad happens. My stomach is in knots untill I get her in her wheel chair.

I am actually one that likes to take care of feet. Love to put lotion on them and rub my clients feet. I find the joy that it makes my clients day to have them have foot pampering. Many people love to have a good foot massage. I haven't yet found any feet that I can't do. Some of my clients are diabetics as well and they don't have the prettiest feet either

vanurse1022, BSN · Jul 17, 2015

Trying to do anything with a patient that has super dry flaky skin! I just know those skin flakes are floating up into my nose! Or in my hair! Gross!!!

I don't know what worse though, that, or having to clean out someone's super waxy ears with a waterpik (I did that for the first time the other day, and I have to say, it may be worse than trach care!!).

vanurse1022, BSN · Jul 17, 2015

"Adding to my last post--when you take off a patient's socks and you see all of their flakes of skin dispersing through the air. i feel like I'm breathing it in and its getting in my hair, on my scrubs, etc...yuck!!! "

Gross, yes!!!!! I just posted the same thing! I try to hold my breath as if that would make a difference....gross!!! Just GROSS!!!

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Jul 17, 2015

People still play that?

We can always count on you to somehow bring up the subject of candy crush.