Busy, stressed, and hanging by a thread
I know how busy you are! I recall working at the bedside years ago and what it was like. I was the charge nurse at the time caring for a load of five patients (six patients on some days) and covering the LPN's six patients. I clearly remember one particular day, which was the straw that nearly broke this overwhelmed nurse's back. I stood in front of the nurses' station with five people standing around me asking for assistance. I looked at all of them and suddenly knew I was about a hair's breadth away from losing my mind!
Good habits can save the day
I'm convinced that good habits can literally save us and our patients. On those days when we seem to be extinguishing fires everywhere, our good habits can prevent us from cutting corners. They can help us remain safe AND efficient in the midst of crises or the everyday demands we face.
I've seen busy (ok, harried) nurses walk into a patient's room and hang an antibiotic without saying anything more than "I've got your antibiotic here." Then they silently hang the little bag and leave the room. There's a better way, and it takes only a matter of seconds.
Smart, Safe, and Picture Perfect
I recently witnessed a beautiful sight. I was teaching a patient, and the nurse came into the room and excused the interruption. She scanned the patient's wrist band with the scanner and made sure she had the right patient. She told the patient she had her antibiotic, and she said the name of the medication and why she was receiving it. She showed the patient the bag with the label, so the patient could see the name and the dose. She reminded her that she had received the antibiotic the day before. She told the patient, "If you feel any swelling or tenderness at the IV site, be sure to call me right away. Also, if you feel anything else unusual after I start the medication, please call me." I don't think it even took 15 seconds to communicate this information to the patient. The nurse was incredibly professional, thorough, considerate, informative, and efficient. It was truly beautiful.
The Real World
When I graduated from nursing school, I remember hearing these words, "There's what we learn in school, and then there's the real world." Dear nurses, and especially new grads, I'm here to tell you that what we learned in school is what we should be practicing in the real world. It was taught to us because if we practice what we were taught, it will help keep everyone safe from unnecessary errors.
I challenge all nurses to take a look at your habits and see how far you have drifted from what we were taught. Perhaps you haven't drifted at all, and if that is the case, I applaud you! I know your job is even more difficult that mine was when I was at the bedside. All the more reason to take every possible safety precaution and make them habit. I promise, you'll never regret it.
I'm pulling for you, my brothers and sisters!
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