Disclaimer: this is a short and sweet explanation of a nursing assessment of an unconscious neuro patient. References are included at the end with supplemental information. Always refer to your hospital’s policies and procedures to guide your practice. This post contains affiliate links. A neuro assessment is a critical skill for any nurse (not just neuro […]
how-to
Clinical Tips for Nursing Students (from Experienced Nurses!)
I recently started a hashtag on Twitter asking experienced nurses for their input on clinical tips for nursing students. I thought the response was incredibly helpful and valuable and I wanted to to share these clinical tips with you! Experienced nurses – What other tips for nursing students just starting clinicals do you have? Current […]
How to Survive Nursing School Masterpost
Starting nursing school can be pretty intimidating. You don’t know your classmates or their experiences. You just assume everyone else knows more than you and they all know exactly what they’re doing. Well, I’ve got a secret for you. Lean in a little closer because I need to whisper this – a lot of people […]
How to Start a Nursing Blog
This post contains affiliate links I get quite a few emails from people looking to start their own blog and looking for some tips and advice. Below is my advice on how to start a nursing blog! Before I start, I want to say one very important thing. If you’re doing this for the money […]
How to Deal with Verbally Abusive Patients
We’ve been there. The patient is incredibly rude, demeaning, or even saying sexually explicit things to you. Patient satisfaction has been preached to you constantly.. but what do you do when the patient crosses the line? I’ve had quite a few experiences of all of the above. I felt helpless until I figured out the […]
Perfecting Your Craft – Week 2, ICU Time Management Tips
Craft beer this week: Coffee is for Closers, an iced coffee stout by Fullsteam Brewery in Durham, NC. The ICU is dynamic and things change constantly and quickly. Patient conditions and staffing change significantly in an instant. No two shifts will be the same. However, it is important to know what your routine would be […]
When Your Patient Starts Crying
One of the first questions you may ask yourself in your nursing career is “How to comfort a crying patient.” Everyone has their own forte’, and for some, providing emotional support to people in crisis can be an OMG WHAT DO I DO moment. It can be uncomfortable. It can be weird. It can be […]
Meal Planning Tips and Tricks for Nurses, Part II
Being a nurse, working shift work, it can be tough making sure you eat appropriately. A few years ago, my husband and I got into a pretty regular routine to offset the nutritional challenges that shift work presents. This is my second post regarding this topic. Please click here to read the first post explaining […]
Meal Planning Tips and Tricks for Nurses – Part I
Learning how to get my meals together was a challenge when I was adjusting to working three 12-hour shifts per week. I always waited until I was hungry, never had the food in the house to make something yummy and quick, and then would either go to the grocery store last minute and spend way […]
Nursing Time Management for When You’re Totally Overwhelmed
This post contains affiliate links It never fails. You start your day with the best nursing time management intentions. You started your assessments and meds on time (woo hoo!), and then all of a sudden three doctors round at once and expect you to implement their orders immediately. One patient needs to pee, one needs […]
Delegation Tips for Nurses
Delegation is a tough thing to master as a new nurse. While the NCLEXNCLEX tells you which tasks are appropriate to delegate, it doesn’t exactly outline how to go about doing it. I realize that not all units have certified nursing assistants (CNAs) or patient care technicians (techs), but many do. This post is for […]
Noticing Subtle Neuro Changes for Nurses
Neuro changes are tough! It is really hard to know if someone is truly changing or if they’re just exhausted because we keep waking them up. Here are some of my neuro nurse tips.. Neuro nurse tips for newbies If your patient is in the intensive care unit, intubated and sedated on propofol, and you […]
Landing a Nursing Job: Having an Edge
Landing a nursing job isn’t easy right now for new grads. The interview is important, but you have to get there first. Out of all of the applications on their desk, you need to stand out. You need to have an edge. Here’s my advice on how to get an edge on the competition.. or […]
Tips for Switching From Night Shift to Day Shift – From a Nurse!
Many nurses start out on night shift but then transition to day shift. While the work is technically the same, the flow of the day is quite different. Here are some tips/tricks for the nurse transitioning from night shift to day shift. #1 – Pay attention to meds with meals Insulin is the major medication […]
Calling Docs on Nocs (again)
I decided to reblog this post for all of you that just graduated nursing school, getting ready to start your first real nursing job (probably on nights) that have never had to call a physician in the middle of the night. The first time you do it, you’ll feel like Neville Longbottom the first time […]
How to Manage Your Time in Critical Care for Nurses: Part II
This post contains affiliate links One of the most important things to master in critical care is prioritization.. what do you do first? It’s kind of like prioritization on the floor, except the stakes are higher. Instead of doctors rounding, patients being hypertensive, patients in pain, families wanting you to discharge them 10 minutes ago, […]
How to Manage Your Time in Critical Care For Nurses: Part I
I’ve worked on both the floor and intensive care. In both units time management is absolutely essential. However, time management on the floor is very different from time management in critical care. I’m going to go through some tips to help you appropriately managing your time in a critical care setting. I know it […]
The Nurse’s Famous Last Words: “But the Doctor Said it Was Okay..”
One of my BFFs is a rapid response nurse (I know, coolest job ever). Whenever a patient is going downhill or looks not-so-hot, she gets a call. Many times, the call could and should have occurred hours before. However, what she is told most frequently is “but the doctor said it was okay”. Notify MD, […]
Heavy Scrub Pockets – Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!
A question I am frequently asked is “what do you keep in your scrub pockets during your shift?” I used to keep them full just in case I needed something. I used to have any and everything in there. I have since figured out that my scrub pockets are prime real estate. Only the most […]
Nursing Time Management Scenarios
Something that is essential in your development as an efficient and safe care provider is appropriate time management. Below are some sticky situations and the safest and most efficient way to address them. Q: You’re assessing your new admission. She’s crying in pain. Her blood pressure is 162/38. She needs an IV. There are pended […]