Monday, September 12, 2011

Old is Gold

I’ve noticed that my department’s staffing demographics are somewhat unusual because we have a lot of young staff. I’m defining ‘young’ as under 35 with 3-6 years of nursing experience. We also have a few ‘well preserved dinosaurs’ (their term, not mine) who work mostly part-time/casual hours. I have nothing but the best things to say about our dinosaurs because they took me under their considerable wings and set me on the right nursing path. However, when it comes to adopting new technology, some of them are downright useless! Every shift worked with them involves listening to how the order entry system is an abomination upon God’s Good Green Earth and could possibly be an additional horseman of the apocalypse that’s not mentioned in the Bible. Many of them are also viciously opposed to the new defib pads because they feel that the glue is inferior to the previously used brand.

So imagine my luck when I got partnered up with one of the dinosaurs in resus and we got a patient having a big ol’ stemi. We did the usual stuff to stabilize him for a transfer to the cath lab. On the way there the man went into v-fib. We tried to shock him but for some reason the shock wasn’t delivered. Absolutely panicking, I start throwing things out of the emergency transport bag looking for a new set of pads when my partner took the paddles attached to the defibrillator and used those to shock the patient. The baby docling accompanying us was speechless as was I because the monitor showed an organized rhythm and bought us just enough time to get the patient to the cath lab.

In summary – lesson learned. Dinosaurs may be old and roar a whole lot, but their bad-assery is NEVER to be underestimated. Ever.

27 comments:

NPO said...

Sometimes relying too much on technology will kill you, or them. :)

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Rock on !~!

L said...

Right?! One of the dinosaurs I work with lists the precordial thump as his most favorite move ever. And proceeds to perform it on every single witnessed Vtach/fib arrest, much to the enjoyment of everyone else.

Unknown said...

Amen to that! So true.

filipina heart said...

A smoke strains against a hindsight. A yeti tries? Can a brush boil? A booklet jerks a vocabulary.

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RehabNurse said...

I have the same types of dinos at my work. I let them do their thing, and I always help them whenever they need it.

'Cause I'm still apprenticing at badassery, m' dear, and I learn whenever I can from these masters.

Don't mind the computing at all...

X-Ray chick said...

We also have a few roaring dinos....we usually never question them and their methods and trust me...you learn ALOT

rapnzl rn said...

This Roaring Dino says (after putting in scads of overtime to help support the latest upgrades in our order entry system),

"Lesson learned, Grasshopper."

Thanks, Maha. I plan to be around to be a thorn in the side of the younglings on my unit for a very long time.

Dana said...

Oh So true! The few dinosaurs that remain in acute settings truly got in going on...most of the time : ) When things aren't quite working out in the PICU, sometimes these 'oh wise ones' are coming up with stuff others would never have thought of! gotta love 'em...b/c one day (far, far, away!) we'll be one of them!

The Nerdy Nurse said...

that's a mighty fierce dinosaur!

Nurse and Hospital Stories said...

"Dinosaurs may be old and roar a whole lot, but their bad-assery is NEVER to be underestimated."

Indeed they are. They may be old, but their experiences learned was tried and tested already. Thumbs up to them, eh.

Cheers,
Peny@Dental Anxiety: What the Dentist Could Do to Help the Patient

Bit of Technology said...

Technology is a good touch of favor ..use to change human resources and we will all get retired

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Amy said...

I was taken to the ER on 3/2 for septic shock. The nurse put rectangular pads on my chest "just in case". It was later that I realized what they were for. My heart rate kept rising as my BP plummeted. I kept fading in and out, they had the cardiac team there as initially they thought I had an infection in the lining of my heart. No one could get an iv in me and the next thing I know my chest hurt like Hell. I had gone into v-fib and the doctor punched me in the chest to get it back into rhythm . Scariest day of my husband's life, as I really don't remember much. Thanks for doing what you do, I am a living reminder that between all the seekers and SETs, there are patients that need you and appreciate you!

Rumah said...

Don't underestimate the dino's!

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