Jack of All Trades

So, yesterday at work, after being asked yet another random question that I felt had nothing to do with my job, I decided when you are a nurse you have to be a Jack of all trades. Like many jobs, you have to have a variety of knowledge and skills to complete your job. So I know I do not stand alone in this.

I remember awhile ago reading an email or card of some sort that had all the jobs a mother has to do like chauffeur, cook, maid, etc. So I was thinking of all the variety of occupations I feel like I have to do at work and I came up with a list of my own. So here it is!

Social Worker- While we do have Social Workers available during the day...over nights, weekend, and holidays there is just one for the entire hospital. And you wouldn't believe the amount of social issues we have to deal with on a day by day, hour by hour basis. Custody battles, divorce, separation, in-law arguments, arguments in the room, DCFS, etc. So I feel like I have to be a social worker frequently to diffuse situations.

Teacher- Teaching families is part of my job description as a nurse. But I not only have to teach them (Which can often be challenging) I have to teach the myriad of new staff we have hired this year. It has been challenging because it takes twice as long to do your tasks when you not only have to do it, but explain why you are doing it. I also have to teach new staff how to teach the families. I know it is necessary and important, that is why I do it. But it is definitely a challenge. Also, we have a new influx of resident and medical students that you have to worry about teaching how to look stuff up in the computer or use the phone.

Secretary - I answer phones, write orders, transfer phone calls, set up appointments, highlight, sign, paper work, paper work, paper work. If someone needs something, I have to know how to find it or who to call.

Maintenance - I of course don't have to do some of this stuff. But when you call clinical or mechanical engineering you could be waiting all day sometimes. When equipment breaks we have to write a big report about it in the computer and then tape it to the piece of equipment. At my old job we just had one maintenance guy and I would just tape a broken sign to it. AND If I had $5 for every time I was asked about why Channel such and such wasn't working, or was too loud, or they didn't know how the PlayStation worked to watch a DVD, or the VCR wasn't working....I might be able to drop to part time. And like yesterday when I was searching for a screw driver so I could put new batteries in a mobile to entertain my starving, awaiting surgery patient... I was willing to do it... but it isn't something you would expect to be doing as a nurse.

Psychic/Predictor - I have to be able to anticipate what is going to happen during the day. "When will the doctor be here?" "When are rounds?" "When will my baby's test/x-ray results be back?" "When is my child really going to have surgery...we were scheduled at 2:00, but now it is 3:30?" "When will we be able to go home?" (This is my favorite question, because it is the number one question asked to me when they first come up to the room after spending at least 6 hours in the Emergency Department. I just want to say "YOU JUST GOT HERE" but have to say, it all depends on how your baby is doing.) Also when you call a doctor to report an abnormal finding, you have to either suggest or anticipate the next order/step.

Middleman- I know this is not a real JOB, but I am constantly the middle man. If a doctor orders an MRI and the sedation nurse won't sedate the patient because they are on oxygen or have RSV, the sedation nurse calls me and tells me they won't do it. I in turn have to call the doctor to tell them that the sedation nurse refuses to do it and the resident has to tell the senior, etc. Same goes with the Laboratory, Pharmacy, and specialty teams. If you eliminate me and just talk to the doctor yourself, less time wasted (in my opinion).

So like a mother probably doesn't always love being a chauffeur, cook, maid, etc..... she loves being a mother and will do anything required to make her family happy. I am the same way. I don't always love all the tasks I have to do, but I love being a nurse and taking care of patients. So I am willing to do whatever it takes to make them happy.