Nursing Pearls of Wisdom.

I have been nursing for coming on 10 years.
I've spent most of this time in community nursing with a brief stint in retirement homes. I've been to the Arctic and Manitoulin Island and every where in my county from top to bottom.
I've seen some stuff. Not everything there is to see, mind you. But some stuff.
Over this time and in pursuit of my job I've come across some Pearls of Wisdom. Some of it is "common knowledge" some of it speciality knowledge. As always, this is my opinion. Any part you don't like feel free to write down  on a piece of paper in detail, outlining your concerns, then eat.

WASH YOUR @#$%^& HANDS!!!

 Only 50% of what you are going to do every day as a nurse is of a technical nature.
 Only 50%. The other 50% MUST be you sharing your humanity. Otherwise you're doing it wrong. Sorry to all the Nursing Instructors out there who argue that Nursing is a high skills profession. That's not the heart of it. The heart of it is the connection to people.

It follows then that if you truly do not like or want to help people, go work someplace else.
Seriously, you're taking a job or college seat from someone who dreams of being there. Scoot.

Beware of the urge to "fix".
In respecting people we strive to give them their independence. The roll of nursing is never to make people dependent on us, but to show them how to be self sufficient to the best of their abilities.

You are your best tool.
I don't care where you work or how many high technical tools  you have at your disposal your best tools are your eyes, ears and hands. Focus on your patients and pay attention.

Shut up and listen.
In this vein; you have to listen to your patients and their families. If you listen they will many times tell you what the issue is. I once had a lady who supposedly had lost her sense of smell tell me the body wash I was washing her with smelled nice. Upon investigation her daughter told me of  a major family trauma that had recently happened. Then she commented to me "I've told you more about my mom in 20 minutes that I've had a chance to tell anybody else in three days" Here's a hint: the underlying cause of the loss of sense of smell was psych based and not the tumour they were looking for.


You are not too good to do personal care.
I don't give a rat's ass if you have a degree or not. Nurses do personal care. Don't like it? Go work someplace else.

You are not better than any person on your team.
PSW's HCA's and UCP's are on your team . I've learned more from veteran care providers that I did in some clinical placements. In many cases these team members have more face time with patients than you do and therefore notice more.

Always ask "Why?"
It is never a good excuse to say "that's the way I was told to do it". Any policy, procedure or order you are given must always be put through the filter of "Why?". More than once I have seen procedures done in a way that represents an increased risk of harm because nobody asked why. Asking why is your job.

It is not your job, to judge people.
Especially your patients. It is incumbent upon every nurse to understand  his or her own personal bias and either correct themselves, educate themselves or not practise in an environment where their personal bias will  affect their patients. The last last last thing ill people need is your judgement. Get over yourself.

Nursing is not a popularity contest.
In fact, if you're doing it right you're gonna make people edgy some days. That's what comes from asking why, advocating for patients and refusing to do things wrong. 

You are never NOT a nurse.
Never. Once people learn you are a Nurse your actions will be used to judge nursing as a whole. Remember that when the drink specials are good or somebody cuts in front of you in line. Just act right.

Nursing is not for wussies.
You will encounter feces, urine, blood, mucous, infected exudate, feet and the recently deceased. They are your bread and butter. If you can't handle it, go work in the mall.

You must take time for Self Care.
This is non negotiable. Your patient's outcomes will depend on whether you are able to be focused, attentive and present when you work. You cannot give someone a drink if the well is dry.

Medical Jargon is not always appropriate
So you're learning a new language, it's called medicalese. Big deal. Use it to talk to doctors and other nurses. Don't use it with patients if there is a real world alternative. People are already scared and stressed if they have to have a nurse. Medical talk may only serve to increase this stress because they can't even understand the words that are coming out of your mouth.

WASH YOUR #$%^^& HANDS