Most topics here non-clinical knowledge ones

19 Hi, I wasn't sure how to title this. And, yes, this is a non-clinical knowledge topic.

Once in a while I'll read a really good, nitty-gritty topic here about pathophysiology, informative evidence based facts on the latest research about medications, fluid management, best practices in the clinical setting. I'm not talking about the latest and greatest in how to make patients and families perceive that we're doing a great job here, but the hardcore clinical stuff.

There's a great thread in the ER section now about hypotension in the septic patient who has received antibiotics, fluid resuscitation vs starting pressors, and the latest research. I also enjoyed, very much, the case study thread. It really got me thinking. But, threads like those are rarities here.

If we are truly professionals, why is it that most of the threads here are related to how much our co-workers and patients annoy us, how bad hospital administrations are, how to get unemployment if we are fired, etc. I'm not saying those topics lack merit. This is a social site and I'm certainly interested in all sorts of topics as well. It's just disproportionate.

Shouldn't we be exchanging more knowledge here at All Nurses?
Wow - amazing you are asking about this. Staff has been discussing the need for more clinically based threads. Stay tuned for case studies coming soon.

I agree, I love the hard sciences as it applies to nursing.....but as soon as I think about asking a clinical question I find I can Google it, or You Tube it or, hit the text books, and get all the scientific clinical information I need. It is still great to ask clinical questions here. I have gotten some wonderful answers or explanations on Allnurses.

I think it just reflects the nature of social message boards. It is quicker to dash off a post about the co-worker that annoys you than to write a quality article on a patient care or pathophys issue. I find it amazing that there are certain posters here who are able to write extensive, detailed, factual posts explaining a clinical matter, but I know I don't have that kind of knowledge at my fingertips and it takes a lot of time and effort to write such a post.

Perhaps it's just the nature of this particular forum at AN. I know in the sub-forums I visit regularly, there are plenty of clinical type questions.

Allnurses is all encompassing....where we can come for just about anything...it a safe place and a wonderful blessing! I look forward to the case studies!

i find the specialty sections to be more of a clinical discussion. I like AN because there are nurses with tons of experience and knowledge. Generalnsecrion tends to be more social. i also find it is a great place to exchange stories and blow off steam. I dont like to rant to coworkers because I try to stay positive at work. i cant blow off steam to my friends because theyre not nurses and cant relate. I feel safe here to exchange stories, laugh about things with nurses from all over amd ask questions....even silly ones

Quote from traumaRUsWow - amazing you are asking about this. Staff has been discussing the need for more clinically based threads. Stay tuned for case studies coming soon.

Quote from EmergentRegarding case studies. I always worry about submitting any detailed case study type scenario. What if a co-worker recognized me here, or someone put two and two together and figured out the hospital where I work. There are always a few super vigilant protectors of privacy that would only be too happy to nail a coworker to the wall for a very remotely possible violation of HIPAA.It would be nice if we could submit case studies anonymously to you guys, then have the case submitted by a staff member here. That would insure total anonymity.

I also think that sometimes when a clinical question is asked, some jump to the assumption that is being asked for a class, no matter how it is worded, and are basically told that they need to do their own homework. I know I have read some questions on the specialty forums and wondered if the person actually worked in that specialty or was just trying to get answers for homework

I love the idea of anonymous submission

Quote from EmergentIt would be nice if we could submit case studies anonymously to you guys, then have the case submitted by a staff member here. That would insure total anonymity.

Yup. And I think that's OK. If you want to know whether you can give Lasix and Heparin in the same line, you can Google that. But how are you going to Google "Does my Preceptor Hate Me?" This is the go-to forum for that and other burning questions such as "How Do I Survive Working Night Shift?" and "What's the Dumbest Reason Anyone Came to ER?" This forum provides a place to ventilate about being burned out with precepting, sick of psychotic visitors and tired of doing more and more work with less and less support while smiling about it. It provides a place to get moral support when your mother has Alzheimer's, your father just died and your doctor says the "C" word. And when I wanted to know what a geri-psych unit was all about, there were people who not only knew but were willing to tell me all about it and what to expect next. I probably should have Googled that last, but Google wouldn't have given me the virtual hugs that AN members freely gave.There are threads here that are hundreds of posts long that are my "go-to" when I need a laugh. Some of them are intentionally funny, others unintentionally so, but all of them give me a boost of endorphins and a warm fuzzy feeling. There's helpful advice here -- what to do when your patient has CPAP, and advice on using or not using your most recent (unsuccessful) job on your resume. Writing a clinical article isn't something that I view as fun, and while I've DONE it and been published, it wouldn't be something I'd do on an anonymous forum in my free time. If you wanted to read my published articles, you might have already done so under my real name. If the owners of the board want to put up a clinical forum, more power to them. But it isn't somewhere I'm going to be spending my time off.