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Twelve hours can seem like an eternity when you’re caring for several demanding patients and haven’t had a chance to sit down all day or night — especially when taking travel nursing jobs. Wouldn’t it be nice if they knew what really bothered you and could make your shift a bit easier? Here are a few things nurses wish all patients knew:
Use the buzzer when you need to
Your nurse is very busy and generally won’t be checking on you more than a few times during a shift unless he or she needs to. So if you have a question or have a machine that won’t stop beeping, push the buzzer and ask for help. That’s what it’s there for — and it helps your nurse keep track of what’s going on. However, pushing the call button every 10 minutes will just make your nurse mad, so know your limits.
You’re not fooling anyone when you lie about your pain
If you’re on your phone texting or talking to a friend, watching TV or just sitting in bed with a book, your nurse knows your pain is not a 10/10 and is not going to up your pain medication. On the other hand, it’s important to tell your nurse when you are experiencing a lot of pain, especially after surgery, so they can give you painkillers early to manage it.
It’s important to tell your nurse every drug you take
You listed all of the prescription medication you take, but did you tell your nurse you also regularly take over-the-counter drugs and several vitamins and supplements? Even medications you think are harmless can cause serious side effects when mixed with certain prescription drugs, so be up front with your nurse about everything you take.
Don’t bother your nurse when she’s preparing medication
One of the most stressful parts of a nurse’s day is figuring out the correct dosage of medicine for various patients and then ensuring they take it properly and at the right time. He or she often has to do a bit of math, since dosages are usually based on height and weight, and has to focus carefully to measure the exact amount. Don’t talk to your nurse while she’s getting medicine ready so she can give it her full attention.
Speak up if you don’t understand something
If you zoned out while your doctor was explaining your treatment protocol or simply couldn’t understand her jargon, don’t pretend you understood just so you can leave the hospital. You can put yourself and others at risk and may wind up in the ER. Tell your nurse if anything doesn’t make sense or ask for a sheet of paper to write instructions down if you’re worried you’ll forget.
Check out our post 8 Secrets Nurses Keep From Their Patients for even more things nurses wish patients knew.
Interested in learning more about travel nursing? Call us for more information at 800.866.0407 or view today’s job openings.
