This Blog

I love this blog. I wish I would have known about blogging long ago, not only for my nursing but everyday life. It is so much easier to go to one personalised place and have all your information right there. I even taught my "computer geek" friends a thing or two. It has already been useful if only to look at other nurses knowledge and add it to my own. There is so much information out there and correct information from people living it. What I mean is I have always felt very wary of information I get from conventional media. My parents always taught me "always question what you see on the news" that and "don't trust anyone over 30" ha, ha, but with a blog you get to hear a persons actual experience. Like what life is really like in England where my great grand father was born or how to cook authentic Italian food from someone living in Italy. This is a wonderful media and I will continue to use it in my everyday life.

Leaving it at home

As a nurse we are taught to leave our personal problems at home, that our problems when we are working have no significance. I have learned the hard way lately how important and at the same time wrong that is. I have had some personal problems that have seeped into my work life, which for me is unacceptable, I should be here for my patients all personal problems aside. That said, some of my colleagues noticed I was just not myself and in a very kind way confronted me with it. I didn't realise how much I needed to talk to someone and I (unfortunately for them) poured my heart out. I felt very appreciative and proud to be working with people who care not only about their patients but each other. So I have learned that although personal problems in patient care are unacceptable, nurses will and need to help each other out when it becomes too much. I know I will always carry that throughout my career and help the next person.

Communication Barrier

I have a story of how a combination of technology and staff overcame a communication barrier. A man I met in my practice had ALS (Lou Gerrigs' disease). He could no longer move anything other than his right thumb and his eyes, but with this disease your brain still functions at a normal rate. As you can imagine this must have been frustrating and scary for this gentleman and his family. His family were able to get him a device that looked like a small laptop and the mouse could be manipulated by his thumb. Amazing! With alot of patience, as it would sometimes take him some time to get what he wanted accross, we would be able to know without a doubt what he needed. Unfortunately eventually he was unable to use the "board" but we had anticipated this and developed a way for him to answer at least yes or no questions. He would open his eyes wide for yes and close them for no. Why this system worked was because the whole team (this includes the family of course) were consistent and worked together. I don't think anyone went away from that experience feeling like they didn't do everything they could.

Websites and the benefits for nurses

Legitimate medical websites have become useful in my nursing practice, simply because you have information at your fingertips. Medications for example are constantly changing and the facility I work in does not always have the latest edition of medication manuals. So with a proper search you can find out what the drug is and side effects and possible interactions with other medications the patient might be taking. I have shown some of the more "experienced" nurses how to utilize these websites with good results. Also if someone comes in with an unusual diagnosis websites are helpful. Understanding the diagnosis, weather it is a new one or a long standing disorder is essential to the care of that patient as they may have specific needs that I would not have been able to anticipate if it where not for the Internet. Although a good nursing assessment is essential; knowing what you might be seeing when you walk into the room is very helpful.