Apr 14 2009

Finally, a taste of a healthy work environment!

Published by nurseSF at under So this is nursing...

Tonight I left work floating on cloud nine. Tonight I experienced a warm and supportive nursing team, from working nurse to break relief to unit clerk to manager.

I was “floated” (assigned to work in a unit that is not my usual) for the first time tonight, but contrary to expectations, I wasn’t left hanging by my fingernails on a deadly precipice.

As soon as my assignment was given to me, my colleague, who happens to be a union representative, was assessing my assignment to make sure it was fair. When we learned that I was given a fresh post-CABG patient, with whom I have no experience, he tried to get my assignment changed.

When he couldn’t change it because of staffing issues, he said, verbatim: “I’ll be your back-up. Don’t worry. You come to me with any questions.” Unbelievably, he was also to serve as a break relief and help get vital signs.

At the same time, the manager pulled a nurse from a non-urgent assignment and said to her: “You watch after the two floats and help them.”

This nurse then said to me: “I’ll be the care partner (until we get a care partner in a couple hours). You just do your assessments and get yourself oriented and comfortable.”

Throughout the evening, I asked plenty of questions because I wasn’t used to the patient types or the charting. Not once did I get a head-shake, raised eyebrow or condescending tone.

The unit clerk answered call lights for me with a smile.

In the break room, nurses I’ve met only once greeted me by name and asked how I was doing.

At the end of the evening, the manager reviewed my charting and reminded me to fill in some fields. My back-up nurses both asked me how I felt and whether I had any more questions.

Before I clocked out (on time!), I thanked the manager (and everyone else) for watching out for me and I asked if I could get floated here in the near future to reinforce everything I learned tonight.

I know I was given fairly easy patients tonight and that I won’t always have back-up, but everything that happened tonight brings me energy, hope, and inspiration. It’s what keeps nurses loyal to a unit and to the profession. ‘Nuf said!

Viewing 5 Comments

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    that's awesome! hope all your days can be as lovely.
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    I'm looking into making a career change over to nursing. As I'm not in a related field, I am wondering if you have advice on where to take anatomy and physiology before applying to UCSF's MEPN program. Should I take additional classes? Your "things I wish I knew" section said something about pathophysiology.

    Your blog is inspirational! Thanks in advance for your help!!
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    Hi Dorothy,

    I took anatomy and physiology at Merritt College (the community college) in Oakland. The anatomy professor's name is Hank Fabian. He was great.

    You'll need additional classes if you apply other places aside from UCSF. I also took Microbiology at Berkeley City College b/c I was applying elsewhere. It was an excellent class taught by an RN who went back to school for a PHd in micro. Fabulous teacher - Barbara Des Rochers.

    Good luck and let me know if there are certain questions/topics you'd like me to delve into in the blog.
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    Thanks for the info NurseSF! I am curious (you can email me directly if you want) - what schools you applied to and what your overall process was in preparing for those schools - what classes did you take, how long did it take you, etc. How did you come to the decision to pursue being a nurse and all that. : ) Thanks so much!!!
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    I took 1 year to take all my pre-reqs, because I was also working in my previous job. I took one class per quarter: anatomy, physiology, microbiology and nutrition (the latter two are required by some schools but not UCSF). My overall process... well one reason why I decided to take my time over 1 year to finish pre-reqs was so that I could also take time to learn more about the world of nursing, by volunteering at a hospital and at two clinics. This allowed me to see different settings and meet lots of different nurses and health professionals, which in turn helped me hone my goals and my personal statement for applying to schools. I'll write again or email you soon about the topsy turvy way in which I decided to go into nursing! Hope this helps a bit ...
 
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