To be able to put a  man's penis into a plastic urinal and NOT get red in the face.

To wipe so many butts that they all look alike after a while

To have a dementia patient tell ya, I can't find my remote"  You check her diaper first!  and wala..."here it is, sweety"

To be able to suction copious amonts of hot yellow or tan phlegm (looks like cream of mushroom  and cream of chicken soup) and then go finish my interrupted dinner.

Or....your discussing these things at dinner table by yourself because everyone else is in the bathroom

To always be assigned the "bad" patients, the cases that havent gone the way they hoped..... and to be the one called when "Bad News" needs to be delivered...... to be honest its gotten to a point where my favorite patients are the "bad" or "hard" ones; ..the "bi$%#es"..... I love a challenge ;) sometimes someone just wants you to look them in the face and tell them how it is.... without any sugar coating......sometimes you need to close the door, and give it to 'em straight, and then be able to be silent and hold their hand, and maybe hold them when they cry....... To explain to a family member the things a patient may need to hear before death. To go to a patient or family member and give them devastating news..... and have them thank you, and hug you and tell you they wish to see you again...... Ducking in and out of isles in grocery stores from patients or family members that you recognize the faces of, but cant think of the name or situation and dont want to be hauled into sudden recall when their standing in front of you and smiling, and eyeballing all the things in your basket from the discount bins...

I really dont consider myself seasoned because in our profession the time you become comfortable , something somewhere changes

RNdude says ...

The ability to listen to a pt's explanation of how the "object" became inserted and lost within their rectum & think to yourself "heard that one before".

This isn't funny, but it paints the picture:  After a failed resuscitation on a toddler with no obvious cause of arrest, you mention to one of your colleagues "I bet he/she was 'left with the boyfriend'."  Only to find out later that was the case...abuse.

That's one of the most horrible things I've heard............so sad.

 When you meet people the first thing you notice is that GREAT vein you could put a PICC line into. My girl friend commented on a cute guy the other day with great biceps and she said "look at THAT guy" I responded, yeah, great veins! To be able to discuss stage 4 pressure ulcer infected with MRSA  and stringy slough, while eating your spaghetti noodles at dinner.  To be able to walk into a house filled with the stench of urine, and feces on the floor cock roach smell that takes your breath away as you are stepping over trash and bio waste spoiled food on the floor, critters moving on every surface of the apartment,  cock roaches battling each other for living spaces because the walls are full of them as they fall off the ceiling into your hair, and continuing  through this horror, trying to hold your breath because you know a neglected patient is in need and is waiting for you too arrive and save them.  When you come to work the next day, It IS at this point that you KNOW you are a seasoned nurse.

You know you're a seasoned nurse when you can read all these postings and know exactly what everyone is talking about!

angienwgeorgia says ...

RNdude says ...

The ability to listen to a pt's explanation of how the "object" became inserted and lost within their rectum & think to yourself "heard that one before".

This isn't funny, but it paints the picture:  After a failed resuscitation on a toddler with no obvious cause of arrest, you mention to one of your colleagues "I bet he/she was 'left with the boyfriend'."  Only to find out later that was the case...abuse.

That's one of the most horrible things I've heard............so sad.

 

Unfortunately - child abuse is on the rise.  In our area we have had at least 5 cases of child abuse (all under age of 3) which ended in death all but one was by the boyfriend/father of the child one abuser was the mother.  Such excuses as "he wouldn't stop crying", "I just wanted her to shut up" etc.  One infant not only died from being thrown up against the wall but also had "bite marks" on her little body.  I don't know how ANYONE could hurt a child!!!

When your ward robe has more scrubs than nice clothes!

Sometimes I wish I could just wear my scrubs when I look in my closet trying to dress for a night out special!

Lisa42 says ...

Pretty Kitty, he couldn't tell by lookin at ya.  He smelled you walking as you came through the door and asked you could you please sit in your pew???? HEE HEE

OHHHHHH!  

To be able to understand what the most demented person who is babling incoherenly wants, or does that put me in another group..........crazy nurses?

After 18 frkn yrs I still can't stand snot...gimme anything else.  Lots and Lots of it...Keep your SNOT!!!!

When your job initiates "casual friday" and you still show up in scrubs.