What do nurses do when they are at work?!
Question: 1. get report on their patients from the nurses that are leaving from their shift.
2. vital signs, help folks to the bathroom, set up for meals, pass pills (which they have to know the function, side effects, right dose, right patient, right route, and much much more....)
3. assess patients, alleviate pain, hold their hands, clean them up, encourage their families, help to turn and transfer patients, answer the phone, take and transcribe doctor's orders, document, document, document......(that's what they're doing when it looks as if theyr'e sitting around the desk) Start or discontinue IV's, insert or remove catheters, change dressings, get supplies...........oh my gosh the list is endless. We do occasionally get to have a swig of cold coffee or run to the bathroom. ER and surgical nurse, OB nurses, all do all of the above with some variations.
4. check labs to ensure that the meds they are giving shouldn't be held and the doc notified, oh, there's so much more! It's a great job but you truly have to be diplomatic and bubbly and informative even when you yourself are having a horrible day. Nurses have to be great actors too :) Staying calm when you're freaking out at something gone wrong is worth an Academy Award some days....I'm sure there are lots of folks that can add to the list!
Answers: 1. get report on their patients from the nurses that are leaving from their shift.
2. vital signs, help folks to the bathroom, set up for meals, pass pills (which they have to know the function, side effects, right dose, right patient, right route, and much much more....)
3. assess patients, alleviate pain, hold their hands, clean them up, encourage their families, help to turn and transfer patients, answer the phone, take and transcribe doctor's orders, document, document, document......(that's what they're doing when it looks as if theyr'e sitting around the desk) Start or discontinue IV's, insert or remove catheters, change dressings, get supplies...........oh my gosh the list is endless. We do occasionally get to have a swig of cold coffee or run to the bathroom. ER and surgical nurse, OB nurses, all do all of the above with some variations.
4. check labs to ensure that the meds they are giving shouldn't be held and the doc notified, oh, there's so much more! It's a great job but you truly have to be diplomatic and bubbly and informative even when you yourself are having a horrible day. Nurses have to be great actors too :) Staying calm when you're freaking out at something gone wrong is worth an Academy Award some days....I'm sure there are lots of folks that can add to the list!
geez, daisebay is BUSY BUSY...hope she remembers to wash her hands frequently...