What's your weird quirk?

Nurses General Nursing

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I don't know if other people do this - but EVERY single time I have to give a subq/IM shot - i try about 4-5 times (point get, get close, withdraw without touching the skin) before I inject. If I don't do that - I get very anxious and feel like the needle will bounce. I make sure the pt doesnt watch so they don't get freaked out but I can't stop. I can never inject with one fluid motion.

I don't like seeing anything in urinals - even if it's 10 cc - I will empty it.

If no one is in the hallway and I'm transporting a mechanical lift - I will ride on it like a shopping cart :D

I've had blood, pee, and vomit splatter on my unifomr and shoes and I've just shrugged and cleaned it off as best I could with disinfecting wipes then went on with my day without a second thought - but just the thought of hearing someone clearing their phlegm or suctioning mucus makes me want to curl up and lock myself somewhere.

What's yours?

Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

don't know if this is a quirk, however, if a pt comes in with "urticaria" i begin to scratch not in front of them, but after they leave for the rest of the entire shift:uhoh3:

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Transplant, Education.

I have to have my med cart just so. Have to have the little basket with cups in a certain spot, pill crusher, water pitcher in certain spots, etc. Go nuts if I don't.

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
don't know if this is a quirk, however, if a pt comes in with "urticaria" i begin to scratch not in front of them, but after they leave for the rest of the entire shift:uhoh3:

when i have a pt. who has impetigo or scabies i end up having mystery itching for the next few hours.

:D

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Specializes in LTC Rehab Med/Surg.

I know I must have a weird quirk, because I'm kinda weird to start with. But for the life of me I can't think of it.

I bet if I asked my fellow nurses at work what my quirk is, they'd fill pages for me to post here.

On the other hand, maybe I don't want to know.

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Specializes in Gerontology.

I cannot eat anything off of a pt's tray. Sometimes we'll have an extra tray because a pt is out on pass - the tray never enters the pt room - some nurses will take it and have it for supper. I cannot. Grosses me out completely.

I also hate the way some nurses refer to pt by room number - not names. And it is not because of pt privacy - they just plain don't know the pt's names! I have learned to bite my tongue around them but it still bothers me greatly.

My final quirk is that if I have a pt on O2 I'll get them a new cannula. Of course, I have developed this quirk because I find so many cannulas are really really gross because no one else changes them! I'm a little obsessed about the sharps boxes too - sometimes I think I'm the only one who changes them!

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Specializes in CICU.
I have to fill out the white boards in my pts rooms. I put their name, my name and number, their pain meds sched, goals for the shift and any other pertinent info. I get so lost if I pick up a pt from anotheir nurse and they have the board blank. Drives me nuts!

OK, this reminded me of another in a long list of quirks... I usually write "Do-over, RN 7p-7a" on the white board. Bugs me when the midnight aide comes in at 2300, erases what I wrote and replaces it with just "Do-over".

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Specializes in CICU.
My final quirk is that if I have a pt on O2 I'll get them a new cannula. Of course, I have developed this quirk because I find so many cannulas are really really gross because no one else changes them! I'm a little obsessed about the sharps boxes too - sometimes I think I'm the only one who changes them!

Never thought about the NC... However, I do sometimes feel like I am the only person that ever gets the patients a new pair of slippers...

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I cannot eat anything off of a pt's tray. Sometimes we'll have an extra tray because a pt is out on pass - the tray never enters the pt room - some nurses will take it and have it for supper. I cannot. Grosses me out completely.

!

I once picked up a tray off the counter for my patient that was on dialysis. Got him back to his room, lifted the lid only discover it had been half-eaten by a staff member.

How embarrassing.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical / Palliative/ Hospice.

If I see any food or body fluid stains on my patient's linens, I have to change the whole bed.

I cannot STAND the sound of IV pumps beeping. It's literally enough to send me over the edge of sanity.

I have just worked 12 hours, I do not want to wait one minute past shift change to give you report.

Wow, just typing all of this makes me feel like I have some major issues :)

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How do I see comments from yesterday? A nurse was commenting about being asked to leave a job and I wanted to comment on it but don't know how to get to yesterdays help question. Help

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Specializes in OB (with a history of cardiac).

I pre-prime all my flushes. I don't know why I don't like to do it in front of the patient, and maybe it's not that I don't like to do it in front of my patient, I just...pre-prime.

If I've just helped a patient off the bedside commode, especially if they're on enteric precautions I have no issue grabbing the caviwipes and caviwiping my pant legs (the parts that aren't covered by the isolation gown). If I'm not wearing a gown, I have no issue caviwiping my whole bottom half, or anywhere that might have come in contact with poo.

Are there others? I'm sure there are, but I can't think of any. I've only been working as a nurse for 9 months, I need more time.

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I was so proud of the MA who gave me my flu shot IM this year...I barely felt it.

Better to take your time and get it right then cause someone extra pain!

My quirks....

Yeah body fluids don't make me paranoid...I am as careful as I can be...but I know I am likely exposed to so much no matter what I do. I just follow good handwashing/IC practices and hope for the best. :) Mucus ewww.

I LIKE to do things the right way. This annoys the crap out of other people...but half the time it is just as easy to do something the right way as it is to do something the lazy way and some times a few extra minutes invested to get something right the first time, save you time in the long run.

I like to learn as much as I can about the equipment I use...If it says "Use this tube for 30days only, then that is what I like to do...I figure those directions are in there for a reason.

I try the nice approach to motivate people and increase compliance...I feel you accomplish more if you can create a teamwork approach with others...versus an adversarial relationship...its all in how you approach things sometimes :)

I hardly ever call off but I am late a few minutes more often then not.

I am younger...but I like some of the old school methods when it comes to caring for my patients. I feel a little hard work goes a long way.

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