A physician’s ode to nurses

A few weeks ago, after feeding my face with rich, dense chocolate cake brought by a truly awesome nurse (for no particular reason other than a warm and generous spirit), I walked back into a room to check on a post-cardiac arrest patient. After surveying his vitals on the monitor, I turned my attention to two nurses and a pharmacist who were discussing the management of his six drips. He was on three pressors, fluids, antibiotics, Protonix, and blood was on the way. I looked at the tangle of tubes running from the subclavian central line I had placed and traced them back to the scrolling green characters on the IV pump screens. And then I realized: I have no idea how to run these things! I have never programmed an IV pump. I have paused alarms, and shut them off. But, I have never programmed milligrams/kilogram/minute using those stiff little buttons. It got me thinking of all of the tasks, kindnesses, and skills I sometimes take for granted. Continue reading ... Your patients are rating you online: How to respond. Manage your online reputation: A social media guide. Find out how.
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Physician Nurse Source Type: blogs