When will people learn NOT to say the "Q" word...

Nurses Relations

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Its 6:35pm, census is 6 patients on a 16 bed icu.... Just as I'm about to give report, the oncoming nurses states how "quite" the unit is. Before the nurse can even finish her statement my patient who was given transfer orders goes into 40 beats of bigeminy pvcs and is symptomatic.

People please, don't say the q word, especially around a new grad rn ICU nurse....

...or the patient reported that a black cat had crossed their path on the way in...

Steere House nursing home cat Oscar.

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Specializes in FNP, ONP.

I'm with klone. It's balderdash. I don't believe in superstitious nonsense and I never have.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm sure Oscar does have this uncanny knack. He has the look of an Old Soul in his eyes. We've had several people post about animals that can sense when death is imminent. Freaky.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Tele.
About the fact that nursing, as practiced in most places, is an evidence-based profession, but that there is a seemingly strong proclivity for superstitious thinking among its practitioners, at least among the small, self-selected sample represented in this thread.

Why is it a problem for nurses/ medical professionals to be superstitious about something such as the "Q" word, scrubs or anything else that is not related specifically to patient care and nursing procedure? I am sure that all of the nurses that have responded to this thread practice evidence-based care regardless of their superstitious beliefs.

Being a nurse does not automatically require you to be evidence-based in EVERY aspect of life outside of patient care. Is a Catholic nurse wrong to believe in God because there is no scientific proof that he exists? Is that same nurse wrong to pray for a patient that she is treating? I think not.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

My only problem with the superstitions is when other people actually get mad at me because I refuse to play along... as though it really makes a hoot of difference.

I'm OK with the little game so long as folks are OK with my refusal to play it.

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Why is it a problem for nurses/ medical professionals to be superstitious about something such as the "Q" word, scrubs or anything else that is not related specifically to patient care and nursing procedure? I am sure that all of the nurses that have responded to this thread practice evidence-based care regardless of their superstitious beliefs.

Being a nurse does not automatically require you to be evidence-based in EVERY aspect of life outside of patient care. Is a Catholic nurse wrong to believe in God because there is no scientific proof that he exists? Is that same nurse wrong to pray for a patient that she is treating? I think not.

If you start telling me I must or must not do x, y, or z because of your religious beliefs, when those things don't affect you personally, then we have a problem. (For example, asking me not to put my left over pork chops next to your lunch would be reasonable. Asking me to turn around three times and throw hand sanitizer over my shoulder before entering a room would not be reasonable.)

Where do you draw the line on the superstition? How about a nurse who counsels a parent not to have her child receive blood products because it is against the nurse's religious beliefs?

When you're running to deal with a code, what if you decide that you must not step on the cracks between the linoleum tiles?

Where do you draw the line on magical thinking?

It's interesting how, when passing (or not) the NCLEX, so many new nurses invoke their religious beliefs, even after explaining how hard they study — and even after considering the very high pass rate of the NCLEX, even by non-believers. Certainly it's their right, but it's statistically interesting. I wonder if the personality types of nurses tend to be more religious than other groups. Beside ministers, I mean.

Praying, not saying "quiet," and $2 will always get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks. Praying and not saying "quiet" will never get me one.

♪♫ in my ♥ makes a good point: Sometimes refusing to play the games garners hostility.

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I'm sure Oscar does have this uncanny knack. He has the look of an Old Soul in his eyes. We've had several people post about animals that can sense when death is imminent. Freaky.

Nursel56, did you read the article? Before jumping to the supernatural conclusion, consider the rational potential explanations. Fortunately, Democritus, Galileo, and Pasteur did.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Nursel56, did you read the article? Before jumping to the supernatural conclusion, consider the rational potential explanations. Fortunately, Democritus, Galileo, and Pasteur did.

I did, but since they were purely speculative I decided the look in his eyes should have more evidentiary weight. Remember, nursing has sanctioned a NANDA diagnosis that assumes the existence of auras (spikes, wave forms, colors, unusual sounds and temperature changes) so it's all good.

edit to add: here is the original essay by Dr. Dosa

http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmp078108

It's really charming, but more than that - it's inclusion in the New England Journal of Medicine recognizes something most people in healthcare know, and that is not everything is explainable but that fact can co-exist with evidence-based practice. Many doctors have written books with that theme. The nursing home put up a plaque to honor Oscar, but I don't think it means they believe he can read.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

amazing the seeming hostility in those who feel nurses should know better than to have superstitions. many people do, regardless of background and religion.

i think the superstitions mentioned are just fine. i've seen some, like tying a knot in the corner of the bed of a patient you think might pass that night or opening the window in the room of a patient who had recently passed so their soul could leave the room. no harm in those actions, whether they actually work or not is not up to you or i to decided. the nursing profession, like many others, have ingrained superstitions specific to us. i'm sure other medical professions have theirs.

if you don't believe it, fine, don't bash those who do. evidence-based practice has nothing to do with a person's beliefs. science does not mean you lose your personal beliefs about anything.

just my :twocents:

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I've said "quiet" a lot, working my night shift, and seldom does it seem to cause disaster. I really don't see how saying a word could cause everything to hit the fan anyway. I do wonder about the full moon thing...although I have worked a lot of full moon nights that were (dare I say it) awfully -- quiet.

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Woah, some of you need to RELAX. I thought some commenters were just kidding. Believing that saying, "slow, quiet, bored" will lead to a crazy night isn't any more concerning than a nurse believing in god/s or anything else . Plenty of science based professionals go to churches, mosques and temples...... just like some of them will never say, "sure is a quiet night !"

Also , has anyone else experienced that working with a certain combination of nurses will ensure a disaster shift each time?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
amazing the seeming hostility in those who feel nurses should know better than to have superstitions. many people do, regardless of background and religion.

i think the superstitions mentioned are just fine. i've seen some, like tying a knot in the corner of the bed of a patient you think might pass that night or opening the window in the room of a patient who had recently passed so their soul could leave the room. no harm in those actions, whether they actually work or not is not up to you or i to decided. the nursing profession, like many others, have ingrained superstitions specific to us. i'm sure other medical professions have theirs.

if you don't believe it, fine, don't bash those who do. evidence-based practice has nothing to do with a person's beliefs. science does not mean you lose your personal beliefs about anything.

just my :twocents:

i worked with a nurse who tied her sheets in a knot on the corner of certain unstable patients to "tie them from moving on" . i never had the fortitude to untie them;) for the nurses i saw who did....had a code.

it's all fun and games and learned behavior. if you think to make a better night by not using the q word then i hope you have a good night. no harm,no foul.

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