WASH HANDS!

rndrew01 says ...

WASH HANDS!

Yes, preventing the spread of infectious diseases.

Ha ha, ok I think I understand the value of washing hands, nosocomial infection and all that, I guess I'm asking if there are particular practices that are everyday in the life of a nurse, taking blood, administering IV, things of that nature. I'm trying to get an idea of the typical day in the life of a nurse, but yes I know everyday's a bit different. Just trying to flesh out an image of what it means to be a nurse in a practical everyday sense, if that's possible.

If someone could outline a random day that'd be helpful to me.

Communication and documentation/charting skills are essential in any area of nursing.

Needed fundamentals in the day of an ED nurse?

- Top-notch focused assessment skills

- Excellent IV initiation skills

- Dealing with difficult people (pts, family, staff)

- Acls

- Large knowledge base of medications (titration, blah, blah, blah)

There's more, but my brain hurts.

johnbeam says ...

Ha ha, ok I think I understand the value of washing hands, nosocomial infection and all that, I guess I'm asking if there are particular practices that are everyday in the life of a nurse, taking blood, administering IV, things of that nature. I'm trying to get an idea of the typical day in the life of a nurse, but yes I know everyday's a bit different. Just trying to flesh out an image of what it means to be a nurse in a practical everyday sense, if that's possible.

If someone could outline a random day that'd be helpful to me.

LOL an average day for me.....

get to work 15 mins early ..(at least)

take report (30mins or more)

reconcile mars (15-20 mins)

check the days orders and make sure they were all taken off correctly and make sense while also answering pain management calls.

call doctors and ask for clarifications if needed.

assess patients and pass meds. (it is now at least 2400 when this task is accomplished)

assess pt for pain needs again and do any dressing changes and IV changes that were not previously able to do.

finally sit down and chart the 2000 charting (now at least 0200)

maybe think about a break if no new pain meds needed or meds due)

check the new mars for errors or omissions (at least 0400)

start med pass for 0600 and any other assessments due.

check labs and call doctors for criticals (now at least 0600)

get ready for last minute changes or assessments for report to next shift. (0700)

and in between all of the above you must be ready for pt passing away and the paperwork involved in that, also any code blues or rapid responses, oh and the invaluable pt who just needs someone to sit at bedside and listen to his or her advice on life or life stories they need to pass on and no one in thier family will listen. 

oh yes and we must not forget the docters who come in at 0700 and want a status report on how thier pts' did during the night.  I always make time for this due to if the doctor cares enough to make the effort to come in before night shift leaves to get accurate info then it is very worth while to impart all I know to the doctor so that he might teach me something valuable.  ;>)

Whew!!!!! and they think night shift is a bunch of sitting around....... sorry to you of dayshift who might know about night shift.. just venting....  and we also do not have the support staff of day shift so if a pt needs to have a stat CT guess who gets to leave the floor for about 1/2 hour and wait with the pt?  oh yah I also forgot to mention admitting pts' by yourself due to no ward clerk on duty.

Am I crazy of what????  LOL LOL LOL  boy this Rum and coke sure is good.  Happy 4rth. you guys.....

Hi Johnbeam,

I'm currently working in a recovery room where my fundamentals include:

-Monitoring vital signs Q15min

-Patient teaching and preparing pt for discharge

-Time management (i.e. getting the pt. discharged on time)

-Very minimal assessments

If you work on the flooror ICU this list becomes a lot longer and would include:

-passing meds

-bath care

-turning pt Q2hrs

-inserting foleys

-inserting NG tubes

-drawing blood for labs

-monitoring lab results.

And that's just what I could think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there is lots more if I really thought about it.

charlita says ...

as some have already stated, communication, documentation, organization,as well as  focusing, good observation skills, quick thinking, staying calm under pressure, able to take charge, knowledgeable, resourceful, and able to go long periods without going to the bathroom.

Yes thank you Charlita...  We must also add able to suction with out  yak.......   Dressing changes without fainting.......   be strict while at the same time being understanding..... able to say no without being mean about it......  diplomatic in relations with family even when they just do not get it.....  able to communicate in a way that everyone can understand and change gears at the slightest hint of a crisis and be able to act in a calm, reassuring, & confident manner even thought inside you are shaking and praying you are doing everything you possibly can. 

And able to be a continuous learner....... even the little things that do not seem important can become a big piece of a puzzle....

AbusyRN2go says ...

 And when you are done washing your hands, you huh....wash them again!

Thanks Beth, definitely helpful

Beth says ...

Hi Johnbeam,

I'm currently working in a recovery room where my fundamentals include:

-Monitoring vital signs Q15min

-Patient teaching and preparing pt for discharge

-Time management (i.e. getting the pt. discharged on time)

-Very minimal assessments

If you work on the flooror ICU this list becomes a lot longer and would include:

-passing meds

-bath care

-turning pt Q2hrs

-inserting foleys

-inserting NG tubes

-drawing blood for labs

-monitoring lab results.

And that's just what I could think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there is lots more if I really thought about it.

I would agree with everyone and say after your first semester it important to understand the concept of the Nursing Process....if you don't get that from the start...it will be a long journey....my instructor always told me...skills can be acquired but nurse's own the Nurses Process and it's to our own benefit to understand it and use it!!

Dude, there is no such thing as a "typical day in the life of a typical nurse,' The specialty area where one works in would determine the 'typical' duties. Psych nurses will rarely do phlebotomy or start an IV, med surg nurses do this on a regular basis. Diabetic RNs counsel on a regular basis and teaching is very much a part of what they do. A LOT of teaching. NICU nurses work in small areas thru small openings in isolettes and find ingenious ways to get just one drop of urine from a preemie (who pees two drops) just to test an SG-10. DROPS! NICU nurses weigh poopy diapers but geriatric nurses don't.  It all depends on where you work, when you work and your level of expertise. What you learn in school is a good 'base' education, but what you learn from your experiences will enrich you. Try volunteering in a hospital and get a real look on the units (if they'll let you) and you will see that nursing encompasses everything about what we all got into nursing for: taking care of the patient.  It isn't pretty, it can be dirty. It is sometimes sad, yet some days you throw your arms to the sky with joy. You will work with the best; you will work with the worst. You will learn, you will learn to 'unlearn' and 'relearn' ....it is constantly changing; it sometimes seems to be the same ol' same ol' and then you learn something new! You will cry, you will laugh, you will curse, you will sing, you will scream, all because you chose to care for somebody who is ill. You are a nurse.

Go forward. Learn. Be. Care. Share. Teach.......and don't forget to wash your hands!!

Thanks for the continuing responses, I really appriciate the feedback, definately helpful.

machines/monitors are important but look at your patient first

I find it almost comical that hand washing isn't completely obvious, from what it sounds like, but given training as a healthcare professional, who the hell would not wash their hands as needed? Anyone trained as such should recognize the capacity for transmitting disease in such a manner.