NursingLink

What does it mean to be a seasoned Nurse?  Tell us your experiences here!

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.

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.

No that isn't funny but unfortunatly part of being a seasoned nurse is developing good instincts...............

To be able to discuss all these topics at dinner with a straight face while all the non-nurses are turning red or getting ready to puke....

To be able to watch podcasts on orlive.com,watching a surgical procedure done while wolfing down a sandwich without flinching either. Or catching an episode on Discovery health channel of Trauma life in the e.r. and seeing the worst of the worst paitents from an m.v.a roll in or gunshot wound and be able to eat and not lose your lunch. Alot of friends of mine can't seem to do it and they just shake they're head at me when i do this. I just kinda laugh at them.

Everyone has hit the money.  It's not one thing that makes a seasoned nurse, it's many.  For me, it's to find humor in a really bad situation and be able to laugh to myself about it later or share with a healthcare worker.  It's been learning to listen to myself and making the right decisions.  It's also to stop driving family crazy pointing out everything wrong in a tv show, until they're ready to gag you

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 your a seasoned nurse when you have to clean the litter box and don't even notice the smell

diane316 says ...

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

 

I'm with you Di

To be able to discuss the most intimate parts of one's body like you were talking about the weather.

when you work third shift saturday nite and are to tired and hungry you go out to eat rather than going home to change out of your scrubs before church. 

When you get to church the preacher says "You worked last night" and your reply is "Yeah, how did ya know?"

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!  

prettykitty64 says ...

My daughter wants to gag me because everytime she watches "house"  I'm there saying things such as "what a a_____!  That wouldn't happen?"  or blurting out 5 minutes into the program what's wrong with the patient making the point of watching anymore no more fun.

My husband turns to me for the diagnosis when "House" goes to that 1st break and says, "Honey, what happened to him/her? If you can tell me, I won't have to sit through an hour of this show; I can flip over to the Golf Channel!"