Related: Attitude, Humor, Patients, Stress

One of my best friends has been an emergency room nurse for several years and loves her career. One night she was trying to start an IV on a man who was hallucinating and experiencing DTs. While she was patting his hand to find a good vein, he looked at her and said, “It’s okay nurse — I see them too!” Needless to [...]

Related: Communication, Conflict, Gossip, Learning, Nurse Relationships

It’s a wise adage: “If you don’t want something shared, don’t say it.”

As a nurse, I’ve learned that you have to assume that whatever you say is going to be shared. I’m very private regarding what personal matters I share at work. But that didn’t stop another nurse from spreading lies about me.

She was flat out lied about a work-related issue--and it was my word [...]

Related: Abuse, Boundaries, Patients, Violence

I work in a small ICU setting, and we have problems with confused patients who try to leave and become violent when you try to block the hallway and redirect them.

I've had a patient's husband swing his walker at a coworker who told him visiting hours were over. I've been scratched, bit, have bruises on my arms right now from patients. I've had [...]

Related: Attitude, Gossip, New Grad, New Nurse, Nurse Relationships, Professionalism

Nurses need to put a lid on the gossiping: “Did you hear what so-and-so said at happy hour?” “Did you see what she did at that party?” “Did you see those pictures of so-and-so wasted?” “Did you see what happened between that nurse and doctor?” It all might seem like harmless chit-chat, but there’s always a real person at the other end of the [...]

Related: Caring, Feelings, Humor, Mentor, Morale, Patients

Many of us have been hurt by destructive forms of humor. As a fourth- and fifth-grader, I was very overweight and other children often would ridicule me. As adults, we know that being “tricked”--or being the brunt of a joke--is not healthy humor.

I learned at an early age—from a wonderful mentor—that the secret to dealing with destructive humor is this: “If you can [...]

Related: Attitude, Patience, Patients

Let’s face it: Even though we got into the profession because we want to help people, there are times when you just don’t like a certain patient.

The one who smells bad; the one who has an irritating spouse; the one who drones on about how nurses don’t treat her well; the one who constantly buzzes you; the one who complains and complains and complains about [...]

Related: Abuse, Boundaries, Doctor-Nurse Relationships, Doctors

Recently, a doctor who left our staff for another job rejoined us. We were told that he left the other job because someone filed sexual harassment suit against him.

At first, I thought it was just rumor. I knew he was a “close talker” and “close toucher,” but I didn’t think that meant he was a harasser.

As time went on, though, I began to question his [...]

Related: Authority, Complaints, Learning, Mistake, New Nurse, Nurse Relationships, Scapegoat, Seasoned Nurses, Truth

Sometimes it feels like I’m not given the time—or opportunity—to learn.

As a new surgical nurse, I’ve noticed that the nurses who have been around for a while don’t want to let me do some of the procedures. I’m nudged out of the way. I’ve talked with other nurses, and they say that they’re afraid of getting into trouble if the new nurse blunders, or they [...]