Diary of a Trauma Nurse

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Funny Memories from Nursing School

Thinking back to Nursing school some 12 years ago, I still smile at some of the memories made with my healthcare comrades.
I remember on our first day our instructors telling us to look around the room and take note of the number of "wannabe nurses" in the class. One was scantily clad showing more skin than clothing (truth) and heavily made up. (At first I thought she'd wandered into the wrong room and definitely didn't think she'd make it) Some were yawning obviously bored and wanting to get into the guts and gore, some were sitting in the back literally shaking with fear (never understood that) and some had bright eyes and an eagerness that left no doubt they were wanting to soak up every last ounce of nursing that they could (I was in this category). Our instructors told us that less than half of the people in the room would graduate with us and 1/4 would not make it through the first semester. They were right. The chick in hooker heels and shorts that left nothing to the imagination stayed in for about a week until she was told that she had to start dressing "appropriate". Several didn't like going to the hospital to get assignments. "What?????" And some just decided that it would be too much work and they could get a paycheck elsewhere.

My mantra is and will always be "NURSES ARE BORN, THEY ARE NOT MADE." The nurses that were "born" are easy to spot, you'll know without a doubt. Their first ingredient is compassion.

So our journey as nursing students begins......... we studied and learned and read and tested and then it was time for Clinicals to begin!!!! So me and my motley crew of fellow students meet at the hospital. This is where the funny memories begin.

1. A nursing student was instructed to give her patient a tylenol suppository. Imagine our surprise when she came out of the med room with a tylenol caplet and some lubricant!!!

2. Another student and I were in the same room beginning our assessment of our individual patients. I was busy getting my vital signs when I hear the other patient say "OW! That hurt." I hear my cohort apologize and less than a minute later the elderly patient again says "OW!!! What are you doing????" After a quick nursing student huddle in the corner of the room, and when I finally stopped laughing I showed her the proper way to use the thermoscan (a digital thermometer used in the ear.) The button that she thought started the temperature scan was actually the "eject button" for the thermometer cover.

3. When it was time to start IV's a fellow student offered to go gather supplies that we had on our list: Tourniquet, alcohol swabs, 16 or 18 gauge catheter, tape, clear dressing and a heplock or injection port. There are no words to explain the look on the nursing instructor's face when the student walks in with an arm full of supplies including a foley catheter stating "I could only find a 12 french."

I could go on and on and on, but I will save more for later. For my wonderful nursing students who read my blog, here is some advice that will be priceless in your career:

Don't beat yourself up. You are going to make mistakes, you're new at this and nursing school only gives you a small perspective on what to expect. I can't tell you how many times I went home crying because I felt like a failure. You will feel this way too, prepare yourself. And if there ever comes a time when you feel like you know everything...stay away from me and my family. No one knows everything and it's scary if you think you do.

Always work as a team. Nursing is about teamwork, not about who got the highest grades, who can run the quickest code, who can chart the fastest or who has the most knowledge aka: SuperNurse.

Be a Mentor. When you are a seasoned nurse, be kind to those nursing students who show up with bright eyes and an eagerness that reminds you of your own. I do and there's nothing better than helping a new nurse become an awesome nurse.

"Every time you help someone it comes back twofold."

CoryTraumaRN posted today at 3:46 PM

Comments:

Hello from a new nursing school grad and one of the kids shaking in the back of the room! Thanks for the advice for new nurses!

# posted by

Michael Gerard : 11:31 PM

Like your thoughts: The first ingredient is compassion. That is the center. Everything else comes out of it.

# posted by

Mike : 9:29 PM

Michael,
Thank you so much for reading and commenting.
Believe me, even after 12 years, I still get nervous but that is a GOOD thing. (those who don't are scary!) haha
I wish only the best for you in your nursing career!! Please read some of the antics from my nights in Trauma after I got comfortable to see what you may have to look forward to! haha
Best wishes to someone who has picked the world's best profession.

# posted by

CoryTraumaRN : 12:19 PM

Mike,
You got it. That is key!!!!
Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!

# posted by

CoryTraumaRN : 12:25 PM

Good afternoon Cory! My name is Diana Grigorosita and I am from Phoenix Arizona. I have read your blog and really loved it. I go to Deer Valley High school and my English class is conducting a research project on future careers. I have chosen the trauma nurse career. In this project we have to interview/ e-mail a person in this profession. Since I have found your blog I would like to interview you, asking some general questions about the job, routine, etc. Please let me know if you would be willing to at diana_grigorosita@yahoo.com. thank you for taking your time with me!

# posted by

Unknown : 6:49 PM

Good afternoon Cory! My name is Diana Grigorosita and I am from Phoenix Arizona. I go to Deer Valley High School and my English class is conducting a project on future careers which involves doing an interview/e-mail with questions on the career, for example routines, daily responsibilities,etc. I have chosen trauma nursing and by visiting your lovely blog I would like to know if its possible to ask a few questions regarding your career. Please let me know if you would be interested in helping me at diana_grigorosita@yhoo.com. Thank you so much for your time.

# posted by

Unknown : 7:34 PM

# posted by

Unknown : 7:35 PM

I really love your blog and I am trying to do something like it myself but I am still in nursing school... Check out my blog please :)

# posted by

Unknown : 11:38 AM

Places to Go

Nursing Blogs

Doctor Blogs

OTHERS

Funny Memories from Nursing School