Patients driving you crazy? Some days, it seems like a really short trip. Here are a couple of goodies I've run into on the internet recently on this very subject and other interesting items. Enjoy them!
Driving your nurse crazy (from headnurse)
Things NOT to do when you go to the hospital. Sadly, I think I've encountered about 90% of these during my first year in nursing.
Failure to build rapport is not failure (from http://www.aboutanurse.com/)
May writes another one about dealing with a difficult patient.
The BON may just be the beginning (from Information for Nurses)
Taralynn Mackay provides some information on this very important item for nurses. And you thought your state BON was scary....read these!
A neighbor, a death and thoughts thereof (from digitaldoorway)
I really liked this first-person piece about a neighbor who suddenly passes away.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
A few handy things for a new rehab nurse
Since I just realized that I'm closing in on one year as a nurse, I thought I'd share a few things for the students about to graduate who may be heading into rehab as their specialty. Your mileage may vary, but never fear...there's always room for innovation out there. Keep your eyes open!
1. Good shoes and socks.
You may have discovered this in nursing school, but if you have not, seek and find until you discover your favorite pair, and once you do, buy two pairs. Your back and your legs and the rest of your body will thank you.
I am also a disciple of Compression Socks. Some of you may think they're crazy, but I love them, since my feet feel great when I'm done with my shift. Besides, it's another way to educate your patients on wearing their TED hose. My favorite quote, "See, Bob (insert your patient name here), I've got mine on. Let's get yours ready to go."
2. Be prepared.
Just like they say in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, it's good to be prepared. Especially when you have the patient in isolation who wants to be suctioned multiple times on your shift. I always try to keep a mental list of what my patients have in the room, so I can keep it stocked. It can get crazy, but you can do it. If your patients go to therapy, restock them while they're gone. If not, try to restock whenever you can. That extra minute of stocking can save you five when you're in a hurry.
3. Pillow cases work wonders in many situations.
This is a corollary of #2. I have used pillow cases as bibs, quick towels and as the occasional non-plastic Depend backup for a quad who had dig stim every morning but wanted a little more security when he went to therapy. They are also wonderful for use on the sliding boards (keeps the butt sliding to the commode, if you get my drift.)
4. Look, listen and learn from your peers.
Sure, you just got out of school (nursing program name here) and know lots of facts and figures, but on the floor is where the rubber hits the road. Hang back and watch first, then do. Pay attention and you will see who is doing things the RIGHT way (i.e. correctly following policy and procedure), and who is not. The older nurses on the floor may not do everything the way you think (or policy says) they should, but you can learn something from everyone. I would have never learned a better way to put a Foley in females had I not watched K. the pseudocharge at Saintarama. She was 99% on the first try with her Foleys on the floor and after watching a few times I noted some of her techniques--less lube and shorter grip.
5. The patient is the star of the show.
Yes, you'll have lots of competition in this category, especially doctors and other people demanding your time, but keep in mind that the patients on your assignment are your top priority.
When you get your assignment, they are yours until you hand them off at the end of the shift. Take care of them and give them your undivided attention while you are with them. Let them know if deviations may cause you to leave the room while you are working with them if this is feasible. Make each one feel like a million bucks whenever you can...even if you don't want to or feel horrible. That person in the room is someone's special someone, so make them feel that way when you are around, too.
6. Stay positive.
Yes, you may get into work and the sky may seem to be falling. Keep reminding yourself that you will have a good day, and you will get through whatever trouble may be cropping up here and there. You survived nursing school and have the license and skills to prove it. Use them, especially those coping skills. Just as animals sense fear, patients can pick up on crabby nurses pretty darned quickly. You'll make your patients feel better (and yourself) if you can model calm and collected behavior on the outside, even if you don't really feel too calm and collected inside!
1. Good shoes and socks.
You may have discovered this in nursing school, but if you have not, seek and find until you discover your favorite pair, and once you do, buy two pairs. Your back and your legs and the rest of your body will thank you.
I am also a disciple of Compression Socks. Some of you may think they're crazy, but I love them, since my feet feel great when I'm done with my shift. Besides, it's another way to educate your patients on wearing their TED hose. My favorite quote, "See, Bob (insert your patient name here), I've got mine on. Let's get yours ready to go."
2. Be prepared.
Just like they say in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, it's good to be prepared. Especially when you have the patient in isolation who wants to be suctioned multiple times on your shift. I always try to keep a mental list of what my patients have in the room, so I can keep it stocked. It can get crazy, but you can do it. If your patients go to therapy, restock them while they're gone. If not, try to restock whenever you can. That extra minute of stocking can save you five when you're in a hurry.
3. Pillow cases work wonders in many situations.
This is a corollary of #2. I have used pillow cases as bibs, quick towels and as the occasional non-plastic Depend backup for a quad who had dig stim every morning but wanted a little more security when he went to therapy. They are also wonderful for use on the sliding boards (keeps the butt sliding to the commode, if you get my drift.)
4. Look, listen and learn from your peers.
Sure, you just got out of school (nursing program name here) and know lots of facts and figures, but on the floor is where the rubber hits the road. Hang back and watch first, then do. Pay attention and you will see who is doing things the RIGHT way (i.e. correctly following policy and procedure), and who is not. The older nurses on the floor may not do everything the way you think (or policy says) they should, but you can learn something from everyone. I would have never learned a better way to put a Foley in females had I not watched K. the pseudocharge at Saintarama. She was 99% on the first try with her Foleys on the floor and after watching a few times I noted some of her techniques--less lube and shorter grip.
5. The patient is the star of the show.
Yes, you'll have lots of competition in this category, especially doctors and other people demanding your time, but keep in mind that the patients on your assignment are your top priority.
When you get your assignment, they are yours until you hand them off at the end of the shift. Take care of them and give them your undivided attention while you are with them. Let them know if deviations may cause you to leave the room while you are working with them if this is feasible. Make each one feel like a million bucks whenever you can...even if you don't want to or feel horrible. That person in the room is someone's special someone, so make them feel that way when you are around, too.
6. Stay positive.
Yes, you may get into work and the sky may seem to be falling. Keep reminding yourself that you will have a good day, and you will get through whatever trouble may be cropping up here and there. You survived nursing school and have the license and skills to prove it. Use them, especially those coping skills. Just as animals sense fear, patients can pick up on crabby nurses pretty darned quickly. You'll make your patients feel better (and yourself) if you can model calm and collected behavior on the outside, even if you don't really feel too calm and collected inside!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Nuggets for March 26
Here are the latest articles of note I've read recently.
Night shift, sleep deprivation may be hazardous to health (from the LA Times)
More and more articles are discussing research into this very important issue.
High blood pressure runs in families (from Yahoo!News)
Another interesting study about hypertension.
Hospitals go automated (from kansas.com)
One hospital group's take on automation
Night shift, sleep deprivation may be hazardous to health (from the LA Times)
More and more articles are discussing research into this very important issue.
High blood pressure runs in families (from Yahoo!News)
Another interesting study about hypertension.
Hospitals go automated (from kansas.com)
One hospital group's take on automation
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Nuggets for March 20
Here are a few items of note for today:
Heparin Discovery May Point to Chinese Counterfeiting (from http://www.nytimes.com/)
I suspect I may get a few refusals to take this if people have been watching TV.
For amputees, an unlikely painkiller: Mirrors
An interesting therapy being studied to relieve phantom pain.
We take care of our own
Another installment on gratitude (and what happens when patients leave) from Podunk Memorial. Short...but sweet.
Heparin Discovery May Point to Chinese Counterfeiting (from http://www.nytimes.com/)
I suspect I may get a few refusals to take this if people have been watching TV.
For amputees, an unlikely painkiller: Mirrors
An interesting therapy being studied to relieve phantom pain.
We take care of our own
Another installment on gratitude (and what happens when patients leave) from Podunk Memorial. Short...but sweet.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
A nugget of a poem
Warning: if you have a weak stomach or are in the middle of your lunch break, come back later. Otherwise, continue, as you have been warned...
The Underside of Nursing always has an interesting ditty or two, but since some of the nursing bloggers I've been reading have been talking about bowels in one form or another lately, here's an ode to that potassium-ridding drug, Kayexalate.
Reminds me of Mr. G. Wonder how long he spent on the throne after leaving Saintarama with a going on 7 K a little over a month ago.
I'm always going to be wondering about the end of some of the stories I end up being part of as a nurse.
More later. Happy weekend all!
The Underside of Nursing always has an interesting ditty or two, but since some of the nursing bloggers I've been reading have been talking about bowels in one form or another lately, here's an ode to that potassium-ridding drug, Kayexalate.
Reminds me of Mr. G. Wonder how long he spent on the throne after leaving Saintarama with a going on 7 K a little over a month ago.
I'm always going to be wondering about the end of some of the stories I end up being part of as a nurse.
More later. Happy weekend all!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Nuggets for March 5
Here a few goodies I've encountered lately that I just have to share, because I'm that kind of gal.
If you think your day was bad category:
The Laws of Nature have been temporarily suspended... (from head-nurse.blogspot.com)
There's always something interesting going on with head-nurse, so check this out.
A minor tragedy in two acts (from gentlemansc.blogspot.com)
It's not nursing related, but some of you nursing students can appreciate this.
In the same vein, if you'd like to know what those instructors are really thinking, check out Rate Your Students, which is a snappier retort to http://www.rateyourprofessors.com/.
The trolls are on the loose at GuitarGirlRN when she discusses methadone users who try to score in the ED.
Finally, I found this article about seductive nurses from the Times online in the UK when I read this post at Nurse Ratcheds. They're both worth a read, but I really was ROFL when I saw this comment in the online story from the Times:
Oh good! I'm going in for a hip operation on my 86th birthday. I might get laid at last.
David, London, UK
If you think your day was bad category:
The Laws of Nature have been temporarily suspended... (from head-nurse.blogspot.com)
There's always something interesting going on with head-nurse, so check this out.
A minor tragedy in two acts (from gentlemansc.blogspot.com)
It's not nursing related, but some of you nursing students can appreciate this.
In the same vein, if you'd like to know what those instructors are really thinking, check out Rate Your Students, which is a snappier retort to http://www.rateyourprofessors.com/.
The trolls are on the loose at GuitarGirlRN when she discusses methadone users who try to score in the ED.
Finally, I found this article about seductive nurses from the Times online in the UK when I read this post at Nurse Ratcheds. They're both worth a read, but I really was ROFL when I saw this comment in the online story from the Times:
Oh good! I'm going in for a hip operation on my 86th birthday. I might get laid at last.
David, London, UK
Saturday, March 1, 2008
A real code and nuggets for March 1
I went back to work yesterday, just to get into the computer and get access to my timecard. Saintarama, in their infinite wisdom, doesn't make this accessible to employees from home (since that would be too logical, maybe...) After fun and excitement talking to the Kronos admin, he let me in and I downloaded my report and left down the hall. One patient, Mr. R., was in the room on the left. I talked to my manager for a little bit and told her what I had done, since I had discussed it with her on Thursday.
J and K were working and so I talked to them on the way out. Things had just quieted down from the AM therapy rush. I wished them well for the rest of the day. I even chatted with S., the secretary.
All of a sudden, the code lights flashed. This has been a regular thing on our unit, since we were blessed with all sorts of mechanical difficulties. However, this was not a drill. Apparently, Mr. R. went down and Y. the tech called for backup. Uh-oh. J and K ran down the hall. S. answered the calls and told everyone who called the code was real. She got Mr. R's chart and I saw the contingent of docs, residents and the rest of the code team go down the hall. Dr. D. was going that way, so I gave him the chart, just outside the room. He passed it on, since this patient coding, was not his. Hubby and I walked off the unit with him and I told him that I was finished at Saintarama. He was surprised, but wished me well. It turns out, he lives two blocks away from Saintarama. He knows how I feel.
After that, I came home and just surfed away. Here are a few of the interesting things I encountered yesterday, and some today. Enjoy!
Not sick, but TIRED (from aboutanurse.com)
A post that makes me tired just reading it!
An old poster with a timeless theme (at weirdnursingtales)
Thankfully, we don't see much of this bug in rehab, at least not in the ones I've worked in lately.
The Great White Hunter and the ER Nurse (from Nurse Ratched's Place)
I just love this story of bait and switch and revenge. The security part is the best.
The problem with "you" nurses (from first do no harm)
A great story from Podunk Memorial. Oh, CYA, the story of my life...
J and K were working and so I talked to them on the way out. Things had just quieted down from the AM therapy rush. I wished them well for the rest of the day. I even chatted with S., the secretary.
All of a sudden, the code lights flashed. This has been a regular thing on our unit, since we were blessed with all sorts of mechanical difficulties. However, this was not a drill. Apparently, Mr. R. went down and Y. the tech called for backup. Uh-oh. J and K ran down the hall. S. answered the calls and told everyone who called the code was real. She got Mr. R's chart and I saw the contingent of docs, residents and the rest of the code team go down the hall. Dr. D. was going that way, so I gave him the chart, just outside the room. He passed it on, since this patient coding, was not his. Hubby and I walked off the unit with him and I told him that I was finished at Saintarama. He was surprised, but wished me well. It turns out, he lives two blocks away from Saintarama. He knows how I feel.
After that, I came home and just surfed away. Here are a few of the interesting things I encountered yesterday, and some today. Enjoy!
Not sick, but TIRED (from aboutanurse.com)
A post that makes me tired just reading it!
An old poster with a timeless theme (at weirdnursingtales)
Thankfully, we don't see much of this bug in rehab, at least not in the ones I've worked in lately.
The Great White Hunter and the ER Nurse (from Nurse Ratched's Place)
I just love this story of bait and switch and revenge. The security part is the best.
The problem with "you" nurses (from first do no harm)
A great story from Podunk Memorial. Oh, CYA, the story of my life...
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