When did you consider yourself a seasoned nurse?

[rn4ever?]

I know that there are many nurses on this site that have a vast experience as a nurse/many years of nursing experience. I know that in nursing as with life, everyday may be a new learning experience. But personally, when did you consider yourself a highly-experienced/seasoned nurse? After how many years? Just wanted to know.....

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

i don't believe you ever know everything -- there's always more to learn. you're a seasoned nurse when you get that.

you're a seasoned nurse when you realize that everyone you work with is young enough to be your child -- or at least a niece or nephew.

you're a seasoned nurse when you can calmly watch a blood pressure plummet or a heart rate skyrocket because you know exactly what to do about it. and you do it.

you're a seasoned nurse when the code light goes off and everyone else runs off to watch/participate in the code and you know that someone has to watch the rest of the patients on the unit.

you're a seasoned nurse when you realize that everyone makes mistakes, most of them aren't fatal and that making a mistake doesn't make you stupid or a bad person. and better yet that someone else who makes a mistake is neither stupid or a bad person. usually.

i'm sure there are lots of other answers, but this is a good start.

[SharonH, RN]

When I was no longer intimidated by other seasoned nurses.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

Ehhh, probably just in the last couple years or so, and there are still plenty of days when I don't feel seasoned. But at this point (almost 5 years in the same place) I feel pretty capable of handling whatever gets thrown at me - bad baby, postpartum hemorrhage, IUFD, or a breaking antepartum.

*Knocks on wood*

[firstyearstudent]

i am practicing in my third years and feel like I am nowhere near there...

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

When I stay calm during a crisis and the newer nurses panic.

That I realize I don't understand everything and I'm not afraid to ask a question no matter how stupid I may look.

I glare back at the dr that was rude to me and I don't let it bother me.

OR, I give some flip answer back to the dr who just gave ME a curt answer, and I don't worry about being fired over it.

I can cut corners and know when it's safe to do so.

My pockets look like a tool chest, because I know I don't want to be running down the hall just go get a clave, swab or flush, scissors or clamps. The newer nurses wear cute uniforms with little pockets. I wear a scrub jacket with big pockets.

[leslie :-D]

i suppose i had been "seasoned" the first time i passionately felt it.

we received a dying man in our inpt facility for hospice services.

his dtr had told me that 3 of their doctors had all agreed he had 2-3 months to live.

while i had disagreed w/doctors before, i had never laid my job on the line, trying to prove them wrong.

this pt had 2-3 hours to live, and this family was not prepared.

i told them my feelings, as well as personally calling the chief oncologist on the case, lambasting him for deceiving the pt and his family.

the oncologist insisted how wrong i was, who the hell did i think i was, and, w/meticulous interventions, that we could keep him going that long.

i totally blew him off, and proceeded to encourage the family to say their good-byes.

meanwhile, this pt remained a&o, and there were no physiological indicators that death was imminent.

yet, it was as if this 'shrieking whisper' was commanding me to warn the family of this truth.

so family anxiously hovers around pt.

pt starts become increasingly restless and agitated.

i encourage family to go home (sensing this is what pt wanted) and they all said loving, tearful good-byes.

i then went and gave him more meds, and turned on his favorite russian music (he spoke little english).

i had turned off the overhead light and turned on the tiny bedside lamp.

he took my hand and laid it on his chest.

pt looks me in the eyes and quietly says "thank you", while turning his head to the side, and died within 7-8 minutes.

i am not sure if i felt "seasoned" per se, but knew a truth was compelling me to allow a very sick man, to die...

w/o pressure from distraught families or aggressive oncologists.

after, i called the dtr (wife spoke no english) and told her dad had died, and how peaceful he was.

she was shocked, but not shocked, only asking "how did you know?"

for the few hours i cared for this man, i still never understood the whats, whys or hows, but still felt i knew what i was talking about.

so i suppose a part of feeling seasoned, is 100% trusting your instincts, w/o a shadow of a doubt.

leslie

[Mukfay]

...she was shocked, but not shocked, only asking "how did you know?"

leslie

Wow! That was an amazing story!