Things that make nursing better...

5 What do you find helpful in doing your job? What technology (from whatever historical era) has impressed you?


One of my favorites is Caller ID...no kidding- without time off, regular shifts became lousy. Before Caller ID, you either had an answering machine (not all that common until the 90s) or had to take your chances and pick up the phone.


Accuchek machines....even in the mid-80s, acute care hospitals didn't all have blood sugar machines on each unit...we dipped 'stix' in urine and held it up to a chart to look for a color changes...the big problem with those is that you got urine from who knows when and had to base insulin doses on that...not to accurate, but all we had. The accucheks (or whatever brand) were a BIG deal
We pricked their fingers and put on a stick then read the color off the side of the container.In the US I love the fact there is such a person called a RT because we didnt have such a person in the UK and still don't the RN and the PT did all the RT stuff. I used to hate Nebs on the drug round.I dont like faceless people who make up my IV AB's as I have to put a lot of faith and trust in them, I do however like the vial of drugs attached to the bag of saline which you snap mix and give. So much easier than drawing all your own AB's up.I like the fact that a lot of good places to work use Risk Management as a tool to learning and dont just assume that mistakes dont happen and if they do somebody will be fired. When I first starting nursing mistakes were just not tolerated, now in the places I have worked we learn from them and use them as a way of educating

Quote from madwife2002We pricked their fingers and put on a stick then read the color off the side of the container.In the US I love the fact there is such a person called a RT because we didnt have such a person in the UK and still don't the RN and the PT did all the RT stuff. I used to hate Nebs on the drug round.I dont like faceless people who make up my IV AB's as I have to put a lot of faith and trust in them, I do however like the vial of drugs attached to the bag of saline which you snap mix and give. So much easier than drawing all your own AB's up.I like the fact that a lot of good places to work use Risk Management as a tool to learning and dont just assume that mistakes dont happen and if they do somebody will be fired. When I first starting nursing mistakes were just not tolerated, now in the places I have worked we learn from them and use them as a way of educating

Quote from madwife2002We pricked their fingers and put on a stick then read the color off the side of the container.

What other stuff have you found helpful ??? I can think of a bunch of stuff, but it's more interesting to hear what others think

The mechanical lift.I remember when all you had was a creaky unstable hoyer (which was limited in its use). It was better than nothing, though.If your pt was heavy, but the hoyer was unsuitable, you had to gather a lot of staff to lift and pull... oh needed a lot of creativity too!When the first electric lifts came out (and especially the electric sit-to-stand lift) it was beautiful

Quote from Hygiene QueenThe mechanical lift.I remember when all you had was a creaky unstable hoyer (which was limited in its use). It was better than nothing, though.If your pt was heavy, but the hoyer was unsuitable, you had to gather a lot of staff to lift and pull... oh needed a lot of creativity too!When the first electric lifts came out (and especially the electric sit-to-stand lift) it was beautiful

Sure, I could say portable O2-sat monitor, ET-tube holders,or spring-activated IV catheters but...I have to say that the television makes my life easier.Turn on some white-trash programming (Springer, COPS, Judge Judy)and no more visits to the nurses station asking "when am I going to be seen","can I get something for pain".Such an amazing difference putting TVs in every exam room...

Quote from EmergencyNrseSure, I could say portable O2-sat monitor, ET-tube holders,or spring-activated IV catheters but...I have to say that the television makes my life easier.Turn on some white-trash programming (Springer, COPS, Judge Judy)and no more visits to the nurses station asking "when am I going to be seen","can I get something for pain".Such an amazing difference putting TVs in every exam room...

O2 sats, as mentioned. Lifts that don't come on wheels, accucheck machines, plastic IV bags, retractable and needle free IV systems. Locator systems, so I don't have to go yelling down the hall looking for someone. Voscera, because I don't have to go down the hall to tell them something simple and non private.Beside medication scan. No worries about missing something on a paper MAR and no transcribing.Pt's ordering their own meals at their own time. (the ones that are able) no more complaints.Finally computers, and AN, so I can come here and bond with fellow nurses.

PCs, laptop computers and the internet! When I trained none of these wereavailable. What is great is having so much information available at your fingertips. I love having the professionalnursing associations on line. Love networking on AN. Love OR Live, reallyneat to see an operation online using the latest techniques and procedures.IPhone/Ipads/ebooks, what an advantage!

At one hospital I did my externship at, it was really helpful when a confused, unsafe patient had a sitter. At another hospital where I did clinicals, I had one patient that needed a sitter, but didn't have one, and it was a PITA to work without one. Best of all, the hospital that consistently provided sitters pulled sitters from the float pool, not the regular CNA staff.

Quote from EmergencyNrseI have to say that the television makes my life easier.Turn on some white-trash programming (Springer, COPS, Judge Judy)and no more visits to the nurses station asking "when am I going to be seen","can I get something for pain".Such an amazing difference putting TVs in every exam room...