The Nursing Code

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Source: CheapNurseDegrees.com

The Nursing Code

What to expect from your nurse and how to help them help you

The nursing secret code:

● If the nurse says “You have to right to a second opinion”

○ That can be code for “’I don’t like your doctor’ or ‘I don’t trust your doctor.'”

● If you say you drink or do drugs

○ Some nurses will assume it is double or triple that amounts

● If you ask for biopsy results

○ Some nurses will say no even if they are so the Dr. can deliver the news

● If you ask “Have you ever done this before”

○ Some nurses will always say yes

Things to do as a patient:

● If your nurse is exceptional

○ Write a note that says so to her manager

● Never talk to a nurse while she is getting medication ready

○ This increases the chance of error

● If you are going to get blood drawn

○ Drink 2 glasses of water so the vein is easier to find

● If a person drawing your blood misses the vein

○ Ask for someone else

● Avoid the hospital in July

○ That is often when new residents start

● Ask anyone who comes in the room

○ “Have you washed your hands?”

● At the end of an appointment make sure you know who you will hear from next

○ Just because you haven’t heard from anyone doesn’t mean nothing is wrong

● Never tell a nurse “You’re too smart to be a nurse”

○ Nurses went to nursing school because they wanted to be a nurse

● When asked what medications you’re taking

○ Always include over the counter drugs

Patients and Nurses might have different definitions of “quality care”

● This can lead to disappointment even if the care is good

○ Patients Expect intangibles:

■ They want Nurses to

● listen

● to ask what they think

○ According to one study, when it comes to identifying a patients needs, their roommate is often more on target than the nurse is

● not dismiss their concerns

● treat them like a person rather than a disease

○ “It’s more important to know what kind of patient has a disease than to know what kind of disease the patient has.” Sir William Osler

● talk to, rather than at, them

● not keep them waiting

● let patients know they care

Nursing Code of Conduct*

● Easy way’s to lose your nursing license:

○ Sending Inappropriate Texts

○ Accessing electronic healthcare records for patients not in their care

○ Hosting a pornographic website (this really happened)

■ These problems did not exist 20 years ago

● Nursing Code of Conduct in the 21st Century:

○ Technology: Draw a line in the sand

■ Social media:

● Organizations using Facebook to provide updates or information: ok

● Sending messages to individuals: over the line

■ Texting:

● Automated text appointment reminders: okay

● Texting personal information like test results: over the line

○ Patients rights:

■ Relationships:

● If a patient approaches you to have a conversation outside of work: ok

● If you approach a patient outside of work: over the line

■ Teamwork:

● Share information so nothing falls through the cracks

● Do not access or share patient information

● Do not bully or verbally abuse coworkers

● Complete records as soon as an event occurs

● The health consumer comes first, if an issue is not resolved continue to escalate concerns upward

*Check with your employer and nurses association before heeding this Code of Conduct. Rules vary depending on location and status.

Sources:

http://www.rekaicentre.com/RCC/What_Patients_Really_Want_From_Their_Nurses.pdf

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/50-secrets-your-nurse-wont-tell-you/#ixzz2pjUjRWOV

http://scrubsmag.com/10-ways-to-lose-your-nursing-license/

http://www.nursingreview.co.nz/issue/november-2012/Doing-the-right-thing/#.UscH6GRDvko