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Nurses General Nursing

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I'm starting my nursing degree now. I'm in my first year of clinicals, but have had numerous years in the healthcare profession. At our school, we have to learn Bedbath, Bedpan, Enema's, cath's, vitals, the first month. However, I'm told that RN's never do any of these in the real world, that Tech's do. So, I'm asking, on a daily basis, what "procedures" do you find yourself doing??

Amen and Amen to all of the above posts about basic skills--

Our basic functions-pee and poop-(sorry to be so BASIC) control all of our other functions and well being. Just wait my little chick adee until you have a patient who can't have a BM and starts to

vomit Stool!! You'll recall our little discussion as you insert that NG tube.

But please remember there are many facets of nursing and they are all rewarding for someone out there. That is the best about our field==there is a job for everyone.

I am of the opinion that all graduating nurses, NO Matter what area they are going to end up in should spend one year on a med/surg floor. You will learn so000000 much that will benefit you in your career.

My other most basic thought is that you cannot be a good "desk jockey" if you don't know what and how to do patient care, ALL of it!!

Hang in and good luck no matter what you choose.

Yes they do have desk jobs in nursing. I was a case manager for 5 years. I worked for an agency that administered the medicaid waiver for the state of Michigan. The waiver is for long term care and it uses the same eligibility criteria for home care patients as nursing homes. This is different from skilled home nursing. Care managers assess needs and then contract with other agencies to do the care. This means that even though you are capable of filling pill minders or doing dressing changes you don't do them. Alot of the job was similar to a social workers but the nursing knowledge was needed. It was a M-f job and pay was good but I was BORED. Mind numbing bored. I craved a hospital environment and now I work in OB. I think care/case management is a good job for someone who has already done the hospital thing and is ready for a change.

Cindy

You are going to be in for a reality check when you become a nurse!! I cannot believe that a nursing school doesn't teach those skills anymore!! In our first clinical we had to do all of the stuff you listed and then some. Those skills are BASIC nursing skills every nurse should have all the way up through the administration!! I will not ask a CNA to do a task that I would not be willing to do myself. I agree with the poster who said get a year of med/surg experience. You will learn SO much on med/surg. It will give you a solid background for other types of nursing. I have worked med/surg for seven years and see different stuff every day!! The hospital I currently work at does not allow CNA's to put in foley caths or NG tubes. And truth be told, I wouldn't want some of our CNA's doing those procedures. You will find out that some CNA's are worth their weight in gold, and others are just there. You will be supervising these people and responible for their care!! You will need to know these skills so you can assess that they have been done correctly!!! Good Luck!!!

Hey, "Don't Kill the messenger". I went to Nursing school to learn these skills, I'm just reporting what others are telling me. The main reason why I'm considering case management is b/c thats what I do now. I work for SSA and do disability cases. So, my RN is going to be a big step in this process. So, I haven't decided yet if I want to persue this when I get out of school, or do the floor nurse thing first.

Specializes in ER.

If you have a desk job and don't go through the trenches first, and make a point of getting back in touch with your roots every now and then you will be an administrative fool, and not have the perspective to make good decisions that keep the patient needs first.

Originally posted by canoehead

If you have a desk job and don't go through the trenches first, and make a point of getting back in touch with your roots every now and then you will be an administrative fool, and not have the perspective to make good decisions that keep the patient needs first.

I totally agree. Why in the world would you put yourself through the hell of nursing school and then try to get out of nursing???? Try it you may like it.

I may be wrong but no matter what your background is I have never seen a case manager that was a new grad. At least not in my neck of the woods. Be prepared for the trenches because I believe that is where you need to head first.:)

I'm new to this site and appreciate the opportunity to VENT! I have been a registry nurse for 3 years and work M/S, ICU, tele, Peds, Rehab, Psych, outpatient surgery (PACU) to name a few (and that's all in a week!) and I have no problem performing basic or even advanced procedures for my patients. I do what I have to do. More often that not I am changing linens, delivering food trays, feeding pt's, ambulating them, even mopping floors. As time goes on however, I realize that some of these tasks would be better delegated to the appropriate staff, CNA's etc. because it severely impacts the other duties I am legally required to do for my patients. I find that my assessments fall behind even though I can somewhat determine my patients status during a bedbath, but when you are assigned 7-13 patients per shift you can see how that could be very time consuming. It is a frustrating situation and I see so many staff nurses becoming burnt out over these additional duties that they quit. Which is why so many facilities are using registry RN's. In summary I would say you need to prioritize your patient care and always consider what is A: going to protect YOU first and foremost, lifting a patient alone, exposing yourself to a situation that is dangerous or harmful, and B: the patient's safety and well being. If they have to sit for 15 minutes at the bedside chair and they are *****ing to go back to bed, call PT to do it! But always cover your butt. Document everything.

We aren't trying to kill the messenger, we just want you to know what you are doing!!!

AGAIN == Do a yr of M/S before you do anything else!!

I really think this should be mandantory.

I have definately become, as my preceptor says, THE FOLEY QUEEN!! I could probly do one now, male or female, with my eyes closed. There is rarely a GYN or General procedure that doesn't have a straight cath or foley included in the prep.

I don't have the opportunity, however, to do many IV starts.....Pre-op and anesthesia do those. Anesthesia will let me do one every now and then if they need a restart....that's always nice.

Then, of course, there's your occasional "CODE BROWN" to clean up. You know, the pts get REALLY relaxed under anesthesia sometimes and just let it all out!! Think you'd get any help from the tech's or aides w/those???? Nope, they say "You're the RN, right??" Then, off they go....outta the room in a hurry.

Last week, I even got to change a Depends undergarment (a VERY wet, stinky Depends)....not to mention the scrotal supports I've put on pts after surgery. (try figuring one of those out by yourself!!)

Who on earth have you been talking to???? Can't believe that they have ever worked as an RN in a hospital at all.

All of these activities are just part of what being a nurse is all about.:D

P.S.

I must place one vote against MANDATORY med/surg for newbies....wouldn't have done me any good going into the OR.;)

We have 14 students in my class and 4 of them are CNA's and tech's at the local hospital. Each of them work on different floors and different shifts, and they all agree. They get the dirty work, while the RN's give them orders. But, I wanted to get this clarified by you guys.

What you have been told is rubbish! I work in emergency, supposedly high tech nursing, and I have to do all of these tasks on a daily basis. Wake up and smell the roses!!!

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