At one o'clock, FedEx is coming to pick up a box of junk I have proofread. It is 8:39 a.m. Do you think that box is ready to go? Or do you think it's still calling my name, filled with errors that need my red pen?
And do you think I JUMPED right onto that work today? Or did I blog first?
Why do I have the self-discipline of Britney Spears?
So, I will very quickly tell you why I have gathered you all here today.
I drew my cousin's name for our Christmas gift exchange. She is going to nursing school. Here is my brilliant and free idea.
I'm making her a book of nursing tips! If you know a nurse, please help me. I want to get 100 pieces of advice. Which, by the way, IS spelled a-d-v-i-c-e. You have no idea how many emails I have already gotten titled "Nursing advise."
So, I just need:
1. Anything you'd tell a new nurse or anything you've learned through the years.
2. Your first name.
3. Number of years you've been a nurse.
Direct your nurse friends here.
They can comment here or hit "email" in the View My Complete Profile section at right, or tell them my email is manpolly@gmail.com.
Thank you!
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16 comments:
RN since 1993 -
Take a couple of minutes to connect eye to eye with your patient and their family. Ask them how they are, is there anything they need, do they have any questions. Really listen and then act on anything that you can. Most nurses can give good care for the physical body but the ones the patients remember (and love)are the ones who took time to pay attention to the person inside. The side benefit is that you are blessed as well.
Jessica
I published this only because this was the only way I could thank you, Jessica!
I know I'd feel much better if a nurse did that.
Brilliant idea :)
(I am not a nurse by the way!)
Can't help with this. But. You won the Gloves in a Bottle!!!!! :-) Congrats. I need your addy. I promise not to sell it to solicitors. ;-)
I WON THE GLOVES IN A BOTTLE!?!!? I am so excited! Send it along! My address is...
Oh. Maybe I'll email you that.
I've forwarded your post on to the two nurses I know. I'm hoping they'll pass it on to their nurse friends as well. Good luck!
Thanks, egg and also cheese!
Oh gosh....so many thoughts and so little room. My best is:
1.Don't become a whiney, crass, burned out nurse. If you find yourself getting that way, either change the situation or get the heck out. There are over a gazillion different types of jobs in nursing. All you have to do is look.
2. The bitter, mean, flippant patient usually has a story. Find out the story.It usually has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the death of a loved one or abuse.
P.S...if your sister is somewhat tall and on the slender side I have a brand spanking new set of scrubs I never got to wear, but have just sat around because I was lazy and a procrastinator and didn't send them back. They are a cool grey with a light pink trim. Very hip.
Thanks, anon!
She is all those things, actually! Email me!
GREAT idea June!
Mike is in Nursing school, have I mentioned this?
Can we have a copy of your tips once their finished? He'd love that!
Awesome idea.
Jamie
Oh, absolutely! I knew he was studying nursing, but forgot about that when I came up with this brilliant plan.
Has he diagnosed you with every disease yet? My cousin is doing that to me and it's fun. Cause I don't already think I have every disease or anything.
Nurse for 11 years...
1)Be an example of health to your patients, and take care of yourself! Stop smoking, living on coffee and junk food, etc.
2)Listen to your patients - if they say they feel "funny" or something that is abnormal - trust them, they know their body better than you do.
3)Even if it seems like all your patient wants is pain medicine every time you turn around, and they don't APPEAR to be in pain, just give them the darn Vicodin (or whatever they have ordered) anyway. I've never sent a patient from the hospital to Rehab for Morphine addiction after surgery!
4)I second Jessica's advice to take the time to listen to your patients and their story - not just their symptoms or complaints. I've heard some great life stories. (Surviving wars, couples together for 67 years, Hurricane Katrina survivors, etc.)
By the way, when I was in nursing school I diagnosed my husband with several diseases (none of which he actually had!) Now he just ignores me when I tell him to go to the doctor for actual illnesses. Oh well.
And - it's MRSA that you "have". Get well soon!!
Jenifer
Thanks, Jenifer!
I seem to have recovered. It must've been that 24-hour MRSA going around.
I just have to tell you that both Blue Skies and Jenifer W are close personal friends of mine. We all used to live in the same town and raised our babies together, but then we all had to move to different ends of the earth!...but I digress.
Both those gals are as awesome as they sound in their comments, and i love them....there advice is made better by the fact that they both practice what they preach, at work and everywhere else....just thought I would let you know.
kellie
What a thoughtful gift! Did your cousin love it? I was recently in the hospital and the nurse who was the best went out of her way to help me. I had to pump while I was there and she came in at one point and asked if she could refrigerate my milk for me. She totally didn't have to do that but it made me feel cared-for as a person that she did. Anyway, I'm too late and also not an RN but thought that nurse was awesome for that.
Oh and also, what the heck are gloves in a bottle? Gonna have to search around her site and see. Also figured out that you meant you couldn't e-mail from THIS blog. Duh.
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