5/14 WILTW: Healthcare Gymnastics and Revolving Doors

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

Hi Everyone!

I'm writing for ixchel this week-I enthusiastically volunteered, and I wanted to keep with the continuity; sometimes I become a creature of habit with routine and habits, and I surely didn't want to disappoint members.

I actually am off this week from work, but not without interesting WILTW tidbits, even on my days off; I am currently waiting to send a co-worker, who is a NP off in fashion; she's leaving to go to Texas, where she is going to have a blast-I'm going to miss her, but we will be in touch; she is a great clinician , and a wonderful person who helps my personal procrastination-such as my wedding plans-move forward. :D

So, without any more introduction:

I learned that negotiating the balance beam between union activities and engaging in management is very interesting to say the least; management has become more transparent since a prior WILTW experience-the sweaty flu-riddled meeting where I enthusiastically volunteered to help with morale to end the meeting and teleport to my bed-and although they are trying to "get things done", the union is making in roads for a process, whether they like it or not.

Soft skills can work...I have learned to talk down very challenging parents, more often because even though volume has been down, the acuity of pts are still there-parents want to be reassured, whether they desire to curse someone out or question what we do at every turn, especially when said parents had a very unpleasant experience with said hospital; at least turning around impressions goes a long way with good holistic psychosocial nursing care-at least this time.

Having three traumas with spinal precautions makes for an interesting night:

L5 injuries can produce back pain and nerve injuries, especially to the sciatic nerve, even if there is no spinal cord damage.

C7 injuries can produce referred shoulder pain, even though there is no spinal cord damage.

Spinal shock can still occur, where it's important for pts to follow-up after discharge.

Miami J collars are my favorite collars-they are more comfortable for the pt-ahh memories working at an acute rehab hospital...

Being a go to person of advocacy for seasoned peers and newbies is a great feeling; I'm never the person who is a "cheerleader" type, but more of an "activist cheerleader" is something I can be comfortable with-being positive, realistic, and being empowered as a nurse can be interesting to say the least.

What have you learned this week?

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

This week I was reminded:

That a nurse who comes into the home with a negative attitude can change the emotional tone of the whole house.

That a Teflon coat helps a great deal (just let it roll off!).

That it isn't always possible to jolly someone out of the negativity.

That since I am leaving just a few minutes after she arrives ... Not my circus, not my monkeys!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Thank you for stepping up to the plate and creating a nice WILTW thread, LadyFree. :)

I learned techniques for controlling the free floating anxiety that sometimes overcomes me. I learned that consciously tensing and relaxing muscle groups is beneficial.

Last night I was driving on the section of Interstate 5 that is known as the Grapevine. It is winding with elevations of 4100+ feet at the highest point. The anxiety kicked in while I was driving, but the alternating tension and relaxation helped me get through it.

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Thank you for stepping up to the plate and creating a nice WILTW thread, LadyFree. :)

I learned techniques for controlling the free floating anxiety that sometimes overcomes me. I learned that consciously tensing and relaxing muscle groups is beneficial.

Last night I was driving on the section of Interstate 5 that is known as the Grapevine. It is winding with elevations of 4100+ feet at the highest point. The anxiety kicked in while I was driving, but the alternating tension and relaxation helped me get through it.

I learned that weighted blankets are helpful for insomnia d/t anxiety. I am going to try it out.

I learned that change is inevitable and stressful, whether or not it is positive.

I learned that taking a step in the right direction to mental health is very empowering.

I learned that if enough staff complain and quit, eventually someone important will notice and change starts happening. I have my fingers crossed. I hope my unit manager and director get reassigned, or, better yet, canned!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
This week I was reminded:

That a nurse who comes into the home with a negative attitude can change the emotional tone of the whole house.

That a Teflon coat helps a great deal (just let it roll off!).

That it isn't always possible to jolly someone out of the negativity.

That since I am leaving just a few minutes after she arrives ... Not my circus, not my monkeys!

Ahh...the home care circus...

Out of the 7 years of home care, I only had one nurse that had that "tone"; I was trying to be a new nurse to the case, mom was on board with me, and then the night I showed up-BAM! different tone.

I went on and found better clients so, it wasn't really a loss, rather a plus for me after all.

Yeah-don't miss it at all. :no:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Thank you for stepping up to the plate and creating a nice WILTW thread, LadyFree. :)

I learned techniques for controlling the free floating anxiety that sometimes overcomes me. I learned that consciously tensing and relaxing muscle groups is beneficial.

Last night I was driving on the section of Interstate 5 that is known as the Grapevine. It is winding with elevations of 4100+ feet at the highest point. The anxiety kicked in while I was driving, but the alternating tension and relaxation helped me get through it.

I'm glad you got through it!!! :yes:

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I learned that weighted blankets are helpful for insomnia d/t anxiety. I am going to try it out.

Really?!?

I've been an insomniac since I was a child...I would watch PBS and British soap operas in order to go to sleep.

TV has been my white noise for years.

I've only used weighted blanked during naptime for children who were on the autism spectrum...hey, if it works for the kiddos, I'm willing to try too!

I learned that change is inevitable and stressful, whether or not it is positive.

:yes:

I learned that taking a step in the right direction to mental health is very empowering.

I have learned that mental health interventions are VERY empowering-now, getting that informAtion out enough to convince other is another story...glad that it's working out for you!

I learned that if enough staff complain and quit, eventually someone important will notice and change starts happening. I have my fingers crossed. I hope my unit manager and director get reassigned, or, better yet, canned!

Do we work at the same hospital? :laugh:

It took a union coming in for changes and all this "what can we do to be better" meeting for people to sit at the table and ask co-workers...we have so far to go-although we have shared governance and it's promising; we are really trying hard-us newbies and the seasoned people that are committed to stay-to make improvements while circumventing management; fingers crossed!

I think secretly there is a 51/49 split to remove our management team...I wonder how far it will go though...

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Specializes in OB.

I learned this week why nurses get pinned. I never knew! Florence Nightingale was given a pin by Queen Victoria and then Florence went and made pins for those nurses working for her and the tradition continues.

I graduated today! Woot Woot! Lauraingalls BSN!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
I learned this week why nurses get pinned. I never knew! Florence Nightingale was given a pin by Queen Victoria and then Florence went and made pins for those nurses working for her and the tradition continues.

I graduated today! Woot Woot! Lauraingalls BSN!

Congrats!!!

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Specializes in long term care Alzheimers Patients.
I learned this week why nurses get pinned. I never knew! Florence Nightingale was given a pin by Queen Victoria and then Florence went and made pins for those nurses working for her and the tradition continues.

I graduated today! Woot Woot! Lauraingalls BSN!

Congratulations! !

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I learned that patients can overdose on a PCA pump.

When you are technically a pre-,nursing student working with nurses, some of those nurses decide that you will start learning to think like a nurse early(not complaining).

I think I work on a unit full of future nurse educators.

It's nice when a nurse who is up to her eyeballs in work thanks you for offering help even though you have done everything you can for them.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.

When you are technically a pre-,nursing student working with nurses, some of those nurses decide that you will start learning to think like a nurse early(not complaining).

I always refer to this book...it was a godsend when I successfully completed nursing school; my teacher always preached "critical thinking".

Yes, most of us have critical thinking, however in terms of nursing judgment and moving from novice to expert, this book is a guide:

Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment by Alfaro-LeFevre RN MSN ANEF, Rosalinda

I've used this book for the 11 years I have been in nursing to refresh and recharge my critical thinking skills-I'm getting better at it as I have transcended into the Advanced Beginner of my RN career and new specialty.

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