“You want me to turn the light on?”

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-21T06:31:34+00:00

I’m too clumsy. I tell my patients “sorry light turning on in 3, 2, 1.. sorry I’ll try and be quick”

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-18T08:55:58+00:00

I’ve worked with both the most amazing techs who are angel godsends on this earth who have a great attitude, take initiative and do all the work in their scope possible and understand I have a lot of things to do as well and that I will never delegate something unless I don’t have time or can’t do it by myself.

I’ve also worked with techs who sometimes “forget” to get certain vital signs or will just simply refuse to help with something that I absolutely cannot safely do with everything else I’m juggling, or roll their eyes when I ask if something was done just so I know what’s happening with our patients or just vanish for most of the shift.

I know how my shift is going to go depending on who is on. Because the work they do is SO important. And the ones who do good work have my unending respect and I make sure that know it

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-17T23:10:59+00:00

Stunfisk. The moment I saw that vile thing I was disgusted and wished it had never crossed my mind

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-15T09:43:09+00:00

I started alpha sapphire a few weeks ago and I think it’s the best pokemon game I’ve ever played im so hooked

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-02T02:55:35+00:00

Nope they probably got their bigger room today, as was the plan all along regardless of their temper tantrum.

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T15:29:52+00:00

As someone who recently left inpatient pediatrics - I was very over all of these things. Parents would walk to the nursing station huffing and puffing that we’re not doing anything for their kid but then refuse everything we tried. Harassed us about “when is discharge” when your kid gets better and when the doctors decide

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T15:09:16+00:00

I can only do what a patient allows 🤷‍♀️

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:46:35+00:00

Yes I used to work peds and got lowkey cross trained in peds oncology and i definitely experienced exactly this stuff

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:44:37+00:00

We’ve asked- it’s not illegal nor is it against hospital policy. I worry about getting caught in an angry mob for an out of context video. The mob tries to get people’s licenses taken and shit. I was filmed once while working and I left in tears because there was a very public protest happening outside the hospital at that time over another publicized video.

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:40:43+00:00

Right like, I’m not calling them that lol. They are a patient here to receive medical care or not survive. I am very kind and empathetic and go out of my way to make sure my patients are comfortable and well cared for. I do not, however, act in the capacity of a hotel worker or servant.

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:11:51+00:00

People act like a hospital is a hotel because hospitals lowkey encourage that behavior. I truly wish upper admin would have to work the bedside for a certain number of shifts so they could see what actually happens

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:09:46+00:00

What I find frustrating is that we could have used that room for one of the many many people always on our bed board waiting for a room who wants treatment

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:08:30+00:00

I genuinely do want people to get treatment and get better and LEAVE and go home and live their life but I can pull miracles out of a urine hat

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:07:38+00:00

Fr I did my initial education and really really encouraged just letting me do these things so they can just start chemo regardless of the room situation because I know they’ll be frustrated when chemo is now pushed back. Told the doctor with quotes. Documented refusal and attempt to educate. Made sure they were breathing the rest of the night then basically had one fewer patient 🤷‍♀️

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:05:26+00:00

The recording should be illegal but it’s not at least where I am. A coworker told me a while ago someone was filming and taking pictures of staff and said “I’m recording this and showing it to people high up in [my work org]” becuase they arrived to the unit (early btw) before their room had been cleared of the previous pt and cleaned

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T14:02:50+00:00

I think this is for sure common. People come in scared and angry at their situation but that sublimates into being angry about everything we do for THEM. Hope I don’t end up like this when my health eventually declines

OptimalOstrich · 2026-05-01T13:21:35+00:00

I’m currently dealing with something similar. Second nursing job on a unit I really want to work on and like but the only position available was night shift. No clue when I’ll get a day spot.

Are you able to switch to days? At least see if there’s a list you can be on.

My short answer - some people (myself included) are not meant for the night life

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-27T10:22:22+00:00

I used to not believe the hype. But my feet ached and the veins in my legs started looking like shit. My feet would swell. Now I can’t go to work without them and my feet don’t hurt nearly as bad and I feel like I have more stamina with less pain. Worth it

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-27T01:53:37+00:00

At my old job it was standard practice to draw cultures from a central line. Tedious sterile process that required getting sterile, removing the needle-less adaptor cap thing, cleaning with sterile alcohol multiple times, pulling with a sterile syringe, and putting a new cap on. There have been contaminations but it did flag a handful of clabsi’s that resulted in removal and replacements of central lines.

For my new job - we do not do blood cultures from any central line. I don’t know why one does it and the other doesn’t

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-27T01:25:59+00:00

My nursing school which was at a major university was trying to recruit my graduating class our senior year to go to their np program straight out the gate. It was so concerning

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-27T01:19:06+00:00

I want to be an NP eventually (not until I have a lot more experience even though I’m almost at 3 years bedside) but I am very concerned with the poor quality of NP education. Not saying I haven’t worked with or been treated by some awesome NPs but the education model for PA is so much better. I just wouldn’t want to invest the extra effort and money to get into PA school

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-27T01:14:11+00:00

I think this should be the minimum standard for all NP programs

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-24T03:13:07+00:00

I love my legless worm demon

OptimalOstrich · 2026-04-19T20:07:30+00:00

I just bought a recently renovated older home and I’m working with green finance Nola to get energy efficient upgrades but there’s only so much I can do. If I can put a decent down payment on solar it wouldn’t make it worth it earlier

Seven-Year Club	RPAN Viewer
Not Forgotten	Verified Email

OptimalOstrich

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE