Stand out!

 

Every nurse needs one of these once in a while to remind her/him that they truly make a difference in peoples lives every day they are on the job. Sometimes it feels like we aren't because nursing can be very demanding not just from out patients physically and emotionally but, sometimes it's management, poor staffing, or simply just a poorly run hospital all together. Regardless, it's important to remember that we has a job that effects peoples lives and their families. Our care can be the difference whether that patient goes home or goes to a SNF. Be the nurse that stands out. Go the extra mile. Because at the end of the day it's not about how great we put in that IV or foley. It's about the little things. Patients don't remember things like a really good blood draw or IV start but they do remember when you went out of your way to find them jello when there was none on your floor or getting extra blankets and pillows for a family member or just putting baby powder on them after cleaning them up to make them smell fresh and feel dry. They really do appreciate these things and remember them. You will stand out if you do. A lot of nurses are busy and use this as their excuse as to why they didn't take the extra minute to go the extra mile. But the reality is, we are all busy. It's really about your passion for your profession. If you love helping people and taking care of them you will go the extra mile even for the ones that drive you absolutely nuts. I personally find that when I give my patients a little extra TLC they don't call as much and are not so needy because I already anticipated all their needs and also made sure to ask if they needed anything before I left the room. Now I know what your thinking. What about the patients that you do ask if they need anything and they say no but the moment you walk out you are called back in for something. This is when you politely tell your patient you have no problem getting them whatever they need and tell them honestly for example if the patient is asking for crackers but you need to give pain meds to another patient. Clearly the pain meds are your priority. So don't be afraid to tell your patient and be honest say something like,  "Mr. Doe ill be back in about 15 minutes with those crackers because I've got another patient that is in pain that I need to give pain meds to first. Is there anything else I can get you when I come back with your crackers?" Mr. Doe is usually very understanding and is happy that you told him it will be 15 minutes before he gets his crackers so he's not sitting in his room thinking you just forgot to bring him his crackers and starts paging you again while you are trying to pass your pain meds. A lot of times I have found those patients that noone want to take care of and are rude and grumpy all the time are the ones that have been in the hospital a long time. What I mean by a long time is at least a few months. The ones that come in for sepsis and end up in and out of the icu with complications. They usually need a lot of help, have a lot of meds, are very busy. Over time the patient wants to go home is tired of the nurses living them in a dirty bed, not paying attention to their needs, not making them feel like they actually care about them, the doctors are making the patient feel like she should just give up and be a DNR. These patients if the nurse just takes sometime reassures that patient I am here to help you get better actually LISTENS to the patient and doesn't argue. USUALLY the nurse can win this "grinch" of a patient over. I speak from experience. Try it. You need a lot of patience. This is not a power contest. We are in this profession to help people. Don't lose site of that. You can make your job are rewarding as you want it to be. So go the extra mile and be the nurse that stands out.

Until next time.

-Norah