The Nurse Notes: Old & New

A new nurse throws up when the patient does. An experienced nurse calls housekeeping when the patient throws up.

A new nurse wears so many pins on their name badge you can't read it. An experienced doesn't wear a name badge for liability reasons.

A new nurse charts too much. An experienced nurse doesn't chart enough.

A new nurse loves to run codes. An experienced nurse makes graduate nurses run to codes.

A new nurse wants everyone to know they are a nurse. An experienced nurse doesn't want anyone to know they are a nurse.

A new nurse keeps details and notes on a notepad. An experienced nurse writes on the back of their hands, paper scraps, napkins, etc.

A new nurse will spend all day trying to re-orient a paient. An experienced nurse will chart the patient is dis-orientated and restrain them.

A new nurse can hear any alarm at 50 yards. An experienced nurse can't hear any alarms at any distance.

A new nurse loves to hear abnormal heart and breath sounds. An experienced nurse doesn't even want to hear about them unless the pt is symptomatic.

A new nurse spends 2 hours giving a patient a bath. An experienced nurse lets the nurse's aide give the patient a bath.

A new nurse thinks people respect nurses. An experienced nurse knows everybody blames everything on the nurse.

A new nurse looks for blood on a bandage hoping they will get to change it. An experienced nurse knows a little blood never hurt anybody.

A new nurse looks for a chance "to work with the family". An experienced nurse AVOIDS the family.

A new nurse expects medications and supplies to be delivered on time. An experienced nurse expects them to be never delivered at all.

A new nurse will spend days bladder training an incontinent patient. An experienced nurse will insert a Foley catheter.

A new nurse always answer their phone. An experienced nurse checks their caller ID before answering their phone.

A new nurse thinks psychiatric patients are interesting. An experienced nurse thinks psychiatric patients are crazy.

A new nurse carries reference books in their bag. An experienced nurse carries magazines, lunch and something else in their bag.

A new nurse doesn't find this funny. An experienced nurse does.......


So, what are you?