Nursing School Chronicles -- Lists, lists, and more lists

List of things a new floor nurse will require....

A foot spa  (I am partial to the Dr. Scholl's...it has bubbles.)

Diabetic socks -  they don't have seams.  After 12 hours on your feet you can feel EVERY seam in your socks.

Ugly support hose - they buy you an extra hour of running around semi comfortably

lotion!  - after washing your hands 5,432 times....your hands get realllllly dry

free massages - these are just lovely.  and for a massage I will follow you anywhere.  (did you know muscles can cry)

GOOD shoes - your grandmother was right.  you need good shoes.  like the socks...you can feel every seam in your shoes after the 10th hour of a 12 hour shift.  i have said it before and i will say it again.  I LOVE CROCS!

a thin long sleeved shirt to wear under your scrubs - good for layering and a light barrier

a little pampering - doesn't have to be a whole lot....after taking care of others all day...which is so not a problem....if someone brought me a little peanut butter on a cracker I would be forever grateful.

kindness - there is a lot of kindness to be found on the floor....but any hospital stay will be stressful for the patient and/or the family.  you absorb their stress and try to deflect it. when you go home carrying all the stress - how lovely it is to be met with kindness.  not necessary...but lovely.

direction - there are days that i get home and i forget how to turn on the water for the shower, how to boil water, cook food,  small reminders are kind.  just point us in the right direction

List of things the new nurse on the floor should remember.....

Your family is a treasure....anything that reminds you life is good....is priceless.

Your family doesn't want to talk blood and guts or medical terms.  If the acronym has more than 3 letters, try not using it.

Let kids be kids and adults be adults....keep them safe by all means....but resist the urge to encase them in cotton and a huge human/gerbil exercise ball. 

As much as you can, respect your family's schedule above all.  We all have crazy lives and we want to help out our co workers...but if you promised Suzy that you would be at her ballet recital...she comes first. 

Keep stuff in perspective and don't take it home.  The hospital is a microchasm of the world as is your home.  Keep them separate.  There is beauty in both places but they are apples and oranges and I have never known a good tasting fruit salad that contained both.

List of things that new nurses and nurses should remember....

We all started fresh once.

We are here to help each other....not disparge each other.

Positivity is not a deterimental character flaw.  Nor is hope.

Listen to your senior nurses....they know a LOT of stuff. 

Listen to your new nurses......they know a LOT of newer stuff.

The combination of stuff and newer stuff is a force to be reckoned with.  Makes for a talented team.

Honor each other for what they bring to the table.

If you think there is something that can be done better, discuss and mentor the co-worker rather than telling the whole group about your co-workers flaw so they can embarass her/him into doing right and fearful of asking pertinent questions.

These are just my thoughts.  If you are a nurse (experienced or new), a student, a family member of a nurse (shouldn't they get some kind of ribbon medal or recognition?), or if you just plain want to weigh in....feel free to add.