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maestings · 4 years

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Calling All MED STUDENTS!

To those of you working on becoming Doctors/Surgeons: Rumor has it they tell you one of the first lessons you learn is to work with the nurses. Is that true? What do you all think nurses do? Do you think we are itching to call you and wake you up at all hours of the night for work? Do you think we sit around waiting for a good reason to inconvenience you with YOUR PATIENTS?

Here’s why I ask:

Last week, I had a new admit at 2030. (Right after shift change) They were admitted to one of our general surgeons from the ER. The ER Dr. is supposed to communicate with the admitting physician and send the patient up with an order set. That did not happen, so in the midst of administering meds, Starting a unit of PRBC, monitoring a patient on new chemo, doing my full assessments, answering a million questions and fulfilling requests in every room, I had no orders for my new admit.

I stopped what I was doing, and sent a Doc Halo to the surgeon (who was on call) saying that their “patient arrived to the floor and to please give me a call at # with orders.” I waited for a call on my IP phone and none came. Literally two minutes later I got a DocHalo message back saying, “No one answers the phone so deal with it.” I tried to have him paged and he never responded.

(I spoke with the charge nurse who wasn’t up front to answer the main phone because a patient on the other side of the floor was declining, ((and we don’t always have a unit clerk at night))THE CHARGE NURSE WAS IN STAFFING WITH SIX OF HER OWN PATIENTS!)

So, I stepped out of my scope of practice that night and made orders for a patient. I stuck to the basics and made the call because I was put in the position to. THIS IS NOT OK. When you become a physician DO NOT do this to your nurses. You signed up for this life! You decided to be in a position to be called at all hours (y’all it was only 830pm and he was on call), and to be responsible for other peoples lives. Do not be unapproachable, Do not be a pompous ass.

The next morning this physician came in, saw the patient and gave me a smug look and went to talk to the floor manager. He told my manager, “One of your nurses called me for orders she should have already had at 0200 and didn’t answer the damn phone when I called!”

I sent a screenshot to my manager of the DocHalo conversation right after it happened. My manager said, “ Actually sir, it was 2030. Why couldn’t you tell that nurse to call you at a specific number? Why couldn’t you call the specific number she gave you? Why would you put my nurse in the position to do your job when its not in her scope of practice?” He said nothing and backed into the elevator and didn’t say a word.

I wish I could say he is the only Dr. to act like this that frequently puts patients on my floor (several of them prefer our floor) but he isn’t. I did what I had to do to get my patient through the night, but it is not my job to write orders.

If you’re becoming a Dr. please try to remember:

1. Nurses are human beings. If we have to call you, then we HAVE to. We do not WANT to, especially if you’re known to be difficult or unapproachable, but we do it for the patients.

2. This is our livelihood: Please do not put us in the position to step out of our scope of practice and potentially lose our license. DO YOUR JOB, and put your petty crap aside. Please.

3. I field patient requests and questions in the middle of the night to make sure that you are not called for stupid reasons. I back you up. When patients complain about your lack of bedside manner, I talk you up and help them feel more comfortable with your ability to treat them. I have your back, why on God’s green earth cant you have mine!?

*Sorry for the extra long post*

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maestings · 4 years

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CALLING ALL: Night Shift Nurses!

Just some background- I work on a 36 bed Med/Surg and Oncology Unit, we have a 6:1 - patient:RN ratio. It is fast paced, even on the night shift which is 1845-0730 or later. I have been an RN for a year now and I was a tech on this same floor. I have learned SO much that Nursing school never taught me, and things clicked in my brain that didn’t click while I was still in school.

It’s been an amazing year and now I am training new grad RN’s on orientation to our floor! I have done orientation with a few that are experienced, but just new to us, and with a few that trained with someone else for most of their orientation before they came to me.

Now, I am training brand spanking new grad RN’s and I am so excited about this! I really like helping ppl connect the dots and helping them to feel welcome and making sure they never feel stupid or bullied. No new grad will leave the floor and cry in the their car if they are on orientation with me. I had an amazing RN for orientation and she and I became close friends outside of work, I had such a wonderful experience as a new grad.

Questions I am always asked by RN’s new to night shift:

1. How do you make it work with life?

A: I PLAN! I plan ahead as much as possible, and I schedule life around work.

2. How do you sleep?

A: When I am not working I sleep on a regular schedule. On the day of the first night shift back I get up in the morning and do whatever until the afternoon, when I try to get in a couple hour nap. Then, when I get off work I try to be in bed by 0930 at the latest (if possible) but absolutely no later than 10. I get up between 1530-1700 and head out by 1800.

3. How do you eat?

A: I am still trying to figure out the best way to schedule this, but recently I have been doing a couple small lower carb snacks earlier in the shift, and then fast until about 0400 and have another healthy snack. I was doing a “lunch” meal at midnight for a long time, but I don’t think it works well with my metabolism.

4. How do you manage with pets and/or children?

A: I have two dogs, one of which has chronic health issues. My younger brother comes to my house after he gets off work, and it is his “part time job.” He walks them and plays with them, and he is a presence at my home that keeps people clueless as to when someone is going to be at my home which is great for security purposes. I can trust him with my pets and my home. I know everyone isn’t fortunate enough to have family nearby for this, but I recommend finding someone you know you can trust to help with your pets and children. My pets are family, they are my babies, and they will never pay for the career I have chosen.

5. How do you workout and try to get or stay healthy?

A: This has taken some trial and error. Originally, I was trying to go to the gym after work in the morning, or before work when I woke up, but I cant maintain that long term. Now I focus on getting there when I am not working, and fitting it in as much as I can, while still allowing recovery time.

I have found that EVERYONE does something a little different! What works for some doesn’t work for all and working night shift takes a lot of planning, at least for me.

I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT OTHER NIGHT SHIFT NURSES DO TO MAKE IT WORK!

#rn #rnprobs #nightshiftrn #nightshiftnurse #nightshiftprobs #nurselife #nursefriends #registered nurse #nurseneedscoffee #newnurse #medsurg

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maestings · 4 years

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I have my second day of ACLS certification today! Even though I know I shouldn’t be, I am nervous for the mega code. Which is weird because last Thursday one of my patients coded on the floor and I wasn’t half as nervous in the real situation. I instinctively knew what to do, but when I have an audience my brain goes blank!

I woke up nice and early just so I could have some time to relax so I have my new Christmas mug full of REALLY good coffee, my Christmas tree is lit 🌲 and YouTube has a lovely snowscape (is that a thing?) with instrumental Christmas music playing. 🥰 if you need to relax a little before you get your day started or maybe at the end, I highly recommend it. Hope everyone is stopping to enjoy the season here and there. ⛄️ Christmas 🎄

#nursing studyblr #nurblr #relaxation #nurseproblems #nurselife #nurseneedscoffee

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maestings · 4 years

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When your little brother notices that every night you work, you waste almost an entire pot of coffee (because you don’t have time to drink it all, but would if you could) and gets you a keurig for Christmas! 💕

I love to brew a nice pot of coffee y’all. I love the smell and I enjoy filling my cup up repeatedly and reading up on the news, tumblr, or my planner while I drain the whole pot. On nights I work sometimes I might have time for one small cup before I fill my travel mug, but most of the time it doesn’t work out that way.

I am going to enjoy my Christmas mugs for a day or two more before its time to pack them back up! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

#nightshiftprobs #nightshiftnurse #nightshiftrn #rnprobs #nurseneedscoffee #nurselife #nurseproblems #coffee

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