When you ask for assistance in a room and your patient just exercised his or her bathroom privileges, STOP passively getting us to do the dirty work. No, no, no, I’ll be more than happy to hold during the turn. Besides, the last time I checked, this is your patient, and part of our responsibility is to assess and reassess. Can’t do a whole lot of assessing from the wrong side. Grr.
Taking the wheel is okay, but it’s not a permanent job
Transporting patients is no easy task, ever. Whether it’s in a cart or a bed, pushing and pulling it is tough enough. Now add some transfusing IVs, multiple drains, tube feedings and possibly mechanical ventilation and you have an entirely different animal. Navigating down halls, in the elevator and through doorways requires a great deal of ingenuity, but it also requires a great deal of physical labor. The steering portion of this entourage is usually the least taxing. Do us a favor and be sure to have your hands full and take on the brunt of the labor some of the time.
hospital visitation:
A recent article at Nurse.com sparked my interest. Limited (or scheduled) visitation versus unlimited visitation hours?
As a nurse, the reflex answer should be: Whatever is better for the patient.
the profession with no excuse
But in light of the new year, I vowed to be a more positive person with an optimistic outlook. During this little introspective session, I realized that in our profession, if you don’t like it, change it. That’s the beauty of the job.
Take advantage of any educational classes that your institution might offer. For example, if your institution offers free ACLS for everyone, don’t ignore that just because you work in a Pediatric unit. Take the class–you never know when you might want to hop on over to the adult ortho unit!
I tell nurses to ensure that they have their own five-year plan. That way, no one else tries to make it up for you!
As a nurse, the reflex answer should be: Whatever is better for the patient.
the profession with no excuse
But in light of the new year, I vowed to be a more positive person with an optimistic outlook. During this little introspective session, I realized that in our profession, if you don’t like it, change it. That’s the beauty of the job.
Take advantage of any educational classes that your institution might offer. For example, if your institution offers free ACLS for everyone, don’t ignore that just because you work in a Pediatric unit. Take the class–you never know when you might want to hop on over to the adult ortho unit!
I tell nurses to ensure that they have their own five-year plan. That way, no one else tries to make it up for you!
No comments:
Post a Comment