What's the ONE best nursing tip you've ever received?

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Specializes in Emergency Room, Cardiology, Medicine.

A GI doctor once told me to place an NG tube in warm water for a couple minutes before inserting it. Simple enough, reduced patient discomfort, and made the whole process a whole lot easier.

What's yours?

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

move away from the person's butt when giving a enema. lol ... ok i found out the hard way !! also

make sure the person is alive when you are trying to force egg down his throat. my mother was my DON and i was upset because my pt would not eat his breakfast i went and told my mom he wasn't eating. i was only 16 and never saw a dead person . my mother came in the room to speak to the pt , he was sitting up in the chair by his bed my mother saw him almost laughed herself silly she said " put him to bed he's passed away" i said what ?? there was egg hanging out his mouth.. poor man i was freaked out. well at least he went on a full stomach.. i told my mother " but his eyes were open?" she just chucklled..

i guess i'm getting punchy ( long day). i hope we hear more valuable advice than what i just gave. lol

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Specializes in PCU, Home Health.

just one?

ok..... If a patient looks at a med and says- "I don't take that" Go back and check to see if the order is correct. It has saved me many times.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical.

Make them laugh, and you'll never have a problem. Best advice ever.

Thanks, Tom

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, ICU, LTC, DRUG & ETOH.

Always carry a spare set of gloves in your pocket.That tip has saved me numerous times ! lol

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Suctioning is just vacuuming. Somehow it seemed easier after that.

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Specializes in ED, Flight.

Urojet (lidocaine and lube prepack syringe) before nearly every male Foley.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

take care of yourself first. you know when the oxygen masks pop down on the airplane and the flight attendant says "put your own mask on first, then help others nearby"? there's a reason for that. if you don't take care of yourself first, you're not going to be able to take care of anyone else. so make sure you take time to hydrate, pee and eat lunch. it will make you so much more efficient -- and easier to get along with!

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Specializes in DOU.

Buy the best shoes (most supportive) you can afford.

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Specializes in LTC, Wounds, Med/Surg, Tele, Triage.

Ask questions.

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Specializes in LTC.

Man...Ive had a lot of good tips....

1- Its not about how fast you can go but how accurate you can be..speed comes in time

2-if you dont know what a med is...dont give it til you know

3-niceness does prevail in bad situations

4-if cathing a woman...take 2 kits in with you

5-when in doubt, send them out

6- expect the unexpected

7-learn ALL the paperwork you possibly can...I made a notebook with all the papers we use at work...for admissions, discharges, sending a pt to the ER, death certificates, neurocheck instructions etc....and it has repaid me over and over again along with other nurses ..it stays with me at all times.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Psychiatry.

Humility is important. Patients are usually receptive to a nurse admitting (s)he is not perfect.

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