Cartoon on courtesy of all nurses.com
After suffering through numerous brutal experiences at the hands of nurses as a student, I swore I’d do my best to encourage nursing students and ease their path. I took time to show them procedures and include them at every possible intervention.
I invited an eager nursing student to join me as I prepared to insert needles into a patient’s dialysis access prior to a treatment after getting the patient’s approval. Dialysis patients were almost invariably willing to help teach. I meticulously prepared the materials needed, scrubbed the site for needle insertion and tore tape strips to securely anchor the needles in place. The student was all eyes as I slid the needles in as painlessly as possible and the patient pronounced it a job well done. I started the treatment so it was a few minutes before we had time for conference.
“Do you have any questions?” I was prepared to explain precautions and how the needle placement was selected.
“Yes! How in the world did you learn to tear tape so straight? If I ever learn to tear tape like that I’ll know I’m a real nurse!” Her admiration took me down a notch or two.
“It’s no trick. You can do it right now.” I pulled out a roll of tape and showed her it was scored for ease in tearing.
“Wow! Thanks!”
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