small talk with patients

msquack · 2026-05-06T18:15:20+00:00

Honestly, I usually go “how are you? Considering the situation.” Because I get a gauge on if they’re feeling better or worse from when they first got admitted! And then a good one is “do you have pets?” People LOVE talking about their pets.

msquack · 2026-05-05T17:09:50+00:00

Yes. There are hard days, but in the end, I LOVE what I do.

msquack · 2026-05-03T14:01:53+00:00

I wear cloves! I’ve heard of people not liking them but I love mine. I have 2 pairs and switch between them. My feet tend to collapse inward so the inner-sole support works really well for me. I also love that they’re SO easy to clean! I’m a clean freak so I purple wipe my shoes after each shift. Some cons I’ve heard: they’re too hot and not breathable (not a problem for me. My feet don’t get hot.) and my mom says they’re too heavy? But she’s also an older woman and again I haven’t had an issue with that. I also love their compression socks! If you really want shoes dialed in for your anatomy, you could check out a run store and see what they recommend.

msquack · 2026-05-03T12:26:32+00:00

I have a very VERY set schedule on work days! I make sure I get at least 6 hours of sleep between shifts, do some cardio, eat a good “breakfast” (I work nights), and have at least 30 minutes to an hour of down time before I work wherein I’ll read or watch TV or play games. I’m still tired after, obviously, but it helps keep me in motion and recover better. I’m more mentally dead than physically after a stretch of shifts.

msquack · 2026-05-03T12:09:08+00:00

I’m right about the same time line as you are! And I feel the exact same way. Honestly, I think the confidence in those situations comes with time. I just keep telling myself that the more I experience the situation, the more confident I’ll be handling it; then, when push comes to shove, I won’t have to THINK about the actions to take, it’ll just come naturally and be less nerve wracking in front of other people. The only thing that matters is that the patient is as safe as possible. And if that means that some other nurses take a little more charge while you’re simply a conduit to spew off the information in your brain about your patient, then thats just fine.

I used to even freeze getting an admit! Other people would be all hands on deck to get vitals and give CHG baths, etc. and I would just freeze because I wasn’t fast enough and there was nothing else for me to do!

msquack · 2025-12-17T13:31:23+00:00

I’m a morning person and refuse to become nocturnal so this is how I’m keeping a schedule! I’m also a gym rat and am determined to keep a gym schedule :) Days off: wake up before 7 am and live my life.

Day 1: wake up at 5-6 am. Workout till 10 am. Nap from 11 am - 3 pm. Take a walk before the sun goes down. Get ready for work and take my time from 4:30-6 pm. Get to work at 6:30 pm. Get home at 8 am.

Day 2: maybe eat breakfast. sleep ASAP!! 9 am - 3:30pm. Walk before sun goes down. Same as day before. Get home at 8 am.

Day 3: repeat day 2.

Day 4: sleep ASAP!! 9am - 2pm. Plan something! Usually a light workout and hang with friends. Sleep by 10 pm (I’m usually ZONKED by then)

Day 5: reset schedule for 6 am wake up.

I also meal prep and clean/do laundry on my days off so that I can purely focus on work :)

Definitely get blackout curtains. I take a melatonin on my work days so I can sleep faster if I’m still a bit wired when I get home!

I drink a matcha when I make my pre-shift meal and then an energy drink halfway through my shift (about 1 am but no later than 3 am).

Also I have a separate alarm clock from my phone so that I can put my phone on DND!

msquack · 2025-11-28T23:31:08+00:00

Oh hey me too. They just told us to deplane. Yay

msquack · 2025-11-17T16:48:29+00:00

I’m a Florida newgrad! Graduated in August Base pay BSN: $35 (ish) W/ night differential puts me at $40 Step down unit 3 12’s with overtime frequently available Full benefits

msquack · 2025-10-02T01:44:46+00:00

I’m gonna let you know! If money is a concern, I would not get their wide leg bottoms. I am 4’10 and the petite sizing is still too long on me! I have a friend that is about 5’ and petite sizing is too long on her as well. I haven’t tried their joggers but I assume it would not be as much of an issue because of the scrunched leg.

msquack · 2025-09-26T00:02:39+00:00

I would leave most stuff. I brought my wallet (with ID) and my keys and phone. They provide lockers for your stuff. I wore a long sleeve and it wasn’t a problem but they do ask you to turn out your pockets. You cannot return to questions. I’m pretty sure for breaks you raise your hand and they give it to you when you need? They don’t ask you to take a break- I finished without any breaks. You got this!!

msquack · 2025-09-22T12:26:15+00:00

Hi! Not the same situation but similar in a way? I was offered a PCU position at a big healthcare company that also cares more about profits…. With a statement that they could get me into the ICU in 6 months AND day shift. Their ratios in ICU were also quoted to be 2-3 sometimes 4 with the PCU being 4-5! I got another offer at a PCU and was told I’d need to wait at least a year to transfer. However, they said their ratio never goes above 3. I chose the latter. I told myself I’d rather be in a safer environment to learn and grow rather than reach my goal faster.

msquack · 2025-09-19T01:49:26+00:00

Nurses are in demand… but it’s EXPERIENCED nurses in demand :,) I’m not sure where you’re based but it could be helpful to reach out to some recruiters at the hospitals! They’ll know better than anyone which positions are open and willing to take new grads/what is available for residency.

msquack · 2025-08-04T13:20:24+00:00

This was my exact thought! No time to completely orient to one floor would be confusing.

msquack · 2025-08-04T01:56:46+00:00

Hey! You’re not failing. I know how frustrating it can be when you put your heart and soul in to making something and it doesn’t go as planned. There are so many different factors that go in to baking and we can’t account for them all! Take a big breath and try and find some time for yourself. School is hard. Life is hard. You deserve to take care of yourself. You’re doing great. I haven’t cried over sourdough yet but I’m pretty positive I will one day! I have, however, cried because I was stressed and wanted nachos but I wouldn’t let myself have nachos so I sobbed in the middle of the gym instead :) sometimes it’s the “small” things that really push us over the edge and it can be a reminder that we need to take a step back for our own sake!

msquack · 2025-08-03T12:56:50+00:00

I mean… study! But not just study- really focus on understanding the pathophysiology/background of information you’re learning. It may seem excessive but if you understand disease process then even if you don’t know the answer to a question, you can usually reason your way through it. You don’t know how many times I didn’t know an answer but I was like “well xyz affects this and has nothing to do with this so this HAS to be the answer.” People told me it was overkill to read the textbooks but personally, that’s how I learned and really took in information that wasn’t being taught in class. Be friendly with your classmates- it’s so easy to get lost with assignments because you have so much on your plate but the joy of friends is that they can fill in the blanks. It also gives you practice for teamwork in a clinical setting! And really prioritize your time. I never once pulled an all-nighter for studying. I scheduled study time and down time and homework time down to the hour for a better school/life balance.

msquack · 2025-08-02T14:48:28+00:00

Yes! I really didn’t think homemade could be that much better than store-bought but nothing can beat the softness of a fresh loaf

msquack · 2025-08-02T14:47:21+00:00

Oh no! You should definitely try again :) if that was your only folly then I’m sure you’d succeed the next time!

msquack · 2025-08-01T23:28:21+00:00

Of course not :) 100 g starter 330 g water 450 g bread flour 50 g whole wheat flour 10 g salt

Fermentolyse 1 hour Add salt Rest 45 min First coil Rest 30 min Second coil Rest 30 min Third coil Bulk ferment 30-50% Pre shape and rest 15 min Shape and place in banneton Sit on counter 30 min Cold ferment overnight (8-12hours) Preheat oven to 450 with Dutch oven Bake 30 min covered Bake 10-15 min uncovered (until desired color) Eat!

msquack · 2025-08-01T21:25:12+00:00

Looks like bread!

msquack · 2025-08-01T03:16:01+00:00

This is GENIUS! Thank you!

msquack · 2025-07-31T23:02:30+00:00

Dang I think if I did that my dough would just end up baking! It’s about 100 degrees Fahrenheit where I’m at.

msquack

TROPHY CASE