Susie, My Brilliant Teacher | Nurse.com

After graduating from nursing school, I took my first job as an ER nurse at a Level II trauma center in Baltimore. I used to be proud to have the chance to work within the ER with a number of the most intelligent nurses and doctors, despite the fact that I feared I’d never have the ability to match their level of information or simply not be smart enough to be there. I hoped that the one who was presupposed to train me could be patient and understanding. I remember early in my profession caring for a COPD patient who got here in with respiratory distress. While I used to be caring for him, his wife was holding his hand and praying. He didn’t want an invasive airway, so a do-not-resuscitate order was given. His priority was comfort care. This was a difficult concept for me to know because as a trauma nurse I learned to save lots of those that needed saving. That day I needed to learn that sometimes there isn’t a need for saving, only comfort and peace. Tabitha Legambi, Registered Nurse When he left, I apologized and cried. Later, I remember feeling like I must have been stronger and never cried. I assumed it was due to my inexperience, but my supervisor assured me that caring doesn’t require experience, only caring skills. My supervisor was an excellent nurse named Susie. She was a no-frills nurse, but she supported and guarded me, whether it was simply ensuring I sent my schedule on time or standing up for me once I wasn’t as quick to follow orders as some doctors would have me do. Instead of telling me off, she gave me advice and all the time encouraged me. I remember asking Susie as I used to be nearing the top of my orientation, “How am I going to be able to do all this by myself?” She simply replied, “You’ll never be alone.” Twelve years later, as a nursing teacher, I still profit from Susie’s lessons and now I can share them with you. She taught me that a nurse’s voice is stronger than her insecurities and that if I don’t know something, it’s essential to ask for help. Speaking up while you don’t know the reply can save someone’s life. Also, during each shift, designate one other nurse as your teammate—someone you’ll be able to feel comfortable approaching to ask questions. Familiarize yourself with the hospital’s policies and easy methods to access them. This will provide help to perform your duties safely and supply a continuing source of data when answers are hard to search out. Here’s considered one of Susie’s best organizational suggestions: As nurses, our primary focus have to be patient-centered care, but we will’t forget the importance of timely documentation. Make sure your documentation is complete and up-to-date. Time management and organization are essential in nursing. Having checkpoints during your shift will provide help to stay organized and communicate along with your healthcare team. Don’t forget your patient. The person in that bed is scared, hurting, and possibly frustrated because they need to go home to their family. Think about how patients rely upon you to be their voice and advocate. And please be kind. Don’t forget the emotions and fears you experienced while you first began your nursing job. Support recent nurses and your colleagues. By Tabitha Legambi, MSN, RN, CEN, a nursing instructor at Community College of Baltimore County and an emergency nurse at Saint Agnes Hospital in Baltimore.