Try not to judge your patient's pain. If they say they are having pain, treat it, and treat it accordingly. This is huge pet peeve of mine.
Don't let a report on a patient be the end all be all, especially the character issues that get brought up.
Remember, your patients are sick. Sick enough to be in the hospital. And probably scared, too. No one is at their best when they are sick and scared. Throw 'em a bone!
Sandy Santra
· 1 year ago
Great stuff about caregiving. It's not a profession for me, but occasionally I do it. Thanks for your brilliant thoughts!
SarahStewart
· 1 year ago
Ensure your patients have all the information so they can make informed choices about their care
Strong One
· 1 year ago
-Treat the patient, non the disease. That means the individual who is ill as well as the family. -No matter how 'difficult' caring for the patient may be, remember they are someone's family member (grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, sister) Treat them like they are your own. -Answer the family's questions as best you can. Do not let any rock go unturned. -Greet them with a smile. -Just because your short staffed and having a bad day, does not mean it's the patient's fault. :) I could go on.
Robert Fraser
· 1 year ago
Care for people! It doesn't matter if they are patients, family, hospitalilty, nurses, physicians, if you think and act as if you care for them all it will be notice, and positively impact them all.
Ken Bavier
· 1 year ago
1. New nurses will become what you are, for better or worse. Act accordingly. 2. You may not agree with or understand a patient's decisions, but always respect and safeguard their right to make them. Remember, It's not about you. 3. Provide support to coworkers and they will respond in kind. 4. Try to sit when you talk with patients and families, they won't feel like you are in such a rush (even when you are). 5. Take the time to show you value your subordinates. It's the little things that count.
Beth
· 1 year ago
This is great advice, and I'm in total agreement that those who enjoy bedside nursing are Jedi Knights.
Sean
· 1 year ago
Darn you! I found your blog just before I was supposed to go to bed...and now I can't stop reading! You have written some truly amazing stuff!
SEB
· 1 year ago
1. Always act as if the patient can hear you. It doesn't matter that they are sedated, or even sedated and paralyzed, or in a coma, or whatever. Who knows how much they can hear and understand? 2. Offer to help out your colleagues. You will be repaid kindly by their support when you need it. What goes around comes around. 3. If you don't know, ask. This applies to new procedures, meds, answers to family's questions, etc. It is better to ask a question you think you know the answer to than to get it wrong. 4. Respect your colleagues--not just other nurses, but RTs, techs, secretaries, docs, PAs, etc. You get what you give. 5. Don't stretch yourself too thin. If you aren't comfortable in the ICU, change units. If you are so bored by the floor, challenge yourself & move to a more intensive unit. 6. Don't be bitter. We all know we don't get paid enough, but we stay. Stay because you love it. If you don't, explore other options. 7. Never complain without offering a solution. Even if the solution is crappy, at least you have presented a problem AND a possible solution. Nothing is more frustrating to managers than employees who complain ad nauseum about an issue but offer no suggestions to remedy it. Even if your remedy isn't feasible, or isn't likely to happen, at least there has been an idea thrown out there--which can lead to more feasible and likely solutions. 8. Never stop learning.
Keith
· 1 year ago
Excellent post, and I have linked directly to it over on Nurse LinkUp. It is worth having every nurse see!
RehabRN
· 1 year ago
Wonderful list. Here's a few I'd add:
1. Improve one thing you do every day. There may be a lot of things you need to do, but work on it by choosing one thing every day.
2. Leave work at work. Unload before you leave the door. Your family will appreciate it.
3. Find outlets for creativity in your work.
4. Make patients smile.
5. Be kind, especially to those in need, whether they're your patients, someone else's patients or your coworkers.
6. Take care of yourself.
7. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Look out for trouble that may be coming.
8. Say please and thank you to everyone...and mean it.
Phil Baumann
· 1 year ago
Thanks to all who have added your items so far. I've gotten some great tips from you all.
NurseExec
· 1 year ago
Loved this!! I did a "my take" on your list, called "11 Ways to Be a Better DON", on my blog:
All Comments
Don't let a report on a patient be the end all be all, especially the character issues that get brought up.
Remember, your patients are sick. Sick enough to be in the hospital. And probably scared, too. No one is at their best when they are sick and scared. Throw 'em a bone!
-No matter how 'difficult' caring for the patient may be, remember they are someone's family member (grandma, grandpa, dad, mom, sister) Treat them like they are your own.
-Answer the family's questions as best you can. Do not let any rock go unturned.
-Greet them with a smile.
-Just because your short staffed and having a bad day, does not mean it's the patient's fault.
:)
I could go on.
2. You may not agree with or understand a patient's decisions, but always respect and
safeguard their right to make them. Remember, It's not about you.
3. Provide support to coworkers and they will respond in kind.
4. Try to sit when you talk with patients and families, they won't feel like you are in such
a rush (even when you are).
5. Take the time to show you value your subordinates. It's the little things that count.
2. Offer to help out your colleagues. You will be repaid kindly by their support when you need it. What goes around comes around.
3. If you don't know, ask. This applies to new procedures, meds, answers to family's questions, etc. It is better to ask a question you think you know the answer to than to get it wrong.
4. Respect your colleagues--not just other nurses, but RTs, techs, secretaries, docs, PAs, etc. You get what you give.
5. Don't stretch yourself too thin. If you aren't comfortable in the ICU, change units. If you are so bored by the floor, challenge yourself & move to a more intensive unit.
6. Don't be bitter. We all know we don't get paid enough, but we stay. Stay because you love it. If you don't, explore other options.
7. Never complain without offering a solution. Even if the solution is crappy, at least you have presented a problem AND a possible solution. Nothing is more frustrating to managers than employees who complain ad nauseum about an issue but offer no suggestions to remedy it. Even if your remedy isn't feasible, or isn't likely to happen, at least there has been an idea thrown out there--which can lead to more feasible and likely solutions.
8. Never stop learning.
1. Improve one thing you do every day. There may be a lot of things you need to do, but work on it by choosing one thing every day.
2. Leave work at work. Unload before you leave the door. Your family will appreciate it.
3. Find outlets for creativity in your work.
4. Make patients smile.
5. Be kind, especially to those in need, whether they're your patients, someone else's patients or your coworkers.
6. Take care of yourself.
7. Keep your eyes on the horizon. Look out for trouble that may be coming.
8. Say please and thank you to everyone...and mean it.
www.skillednursingthing.blogspot.com
Check it out!
Another tip I would give is to keep your work life at work and your home life at home. In other words, leave it at the hospital door.
Now all I have to do is take my own advice!
This is a great post, btw.
Why did he change his name?