I've completed week #2 of work! happy happy! This week seemed to pass by so much more quickly than week #1. I feel more adjusted to how things work on my ward, what expectations are, where things are located, etc. However, I am still adjusting to the MANY differences between life as an RN in the US vs life as an RN in AUS.
Here's a few reasons:
--We mix up our own medications! I was apparently spoiled by having the pharmacy mix everything for me in Socal. Little did I know that I would be mixing all my own antibiotics before giving them! It's really not that difficult of a task, just takes a little practice and getting used to.
--I do vital signs like they are going out of style!!! Except, they are called 'OBSERVATIONS.' I suppose that name kind of makes sense, but it feels strange coming out of my mouth every time I say it. Nurses are responsible for taking their patient's vital signs---again I was so spoiled by the nurse assistants at my last job!
--Doctors are pretty much always called by their first name. Seems so strange calling a doctor by their first name. Also, there are residents ALL OVER THE PLACE!
--For the most part they use all the same types of equipment as I used when working in the States, although I think about half or more of thing are called by different names. I won't bore you with all the examples---and honestly most of them aren't in my long term memory yet.
--Ok, there also is not a NURSING CARE PLAN or a full HEAD TO TOE ASSESSMENT flow sheet/papers/computer stuff of any kind that I have to fill out each shift.This seems to be one of the strangest things to me! (for any nursing friends of mine reading this, I am sure you are dumbfounded by this. for my non nursing friends, ahhh you probably don't know what the heck I am talking about!)
--I don't clock in an out. We are paid a salary! hahahaha! So, if my work is done 20 minutes early and the other nurses don't need anything and my patients are fine----I'm outta there for the day! kind of cool.
--We work 8 hour rotating shifts----days/evening/nights kind of bizarre, but so far it's a nice change of pace from my 12 hour work days! I only have to do 4 nights a month, so it's not terrible.
--There are certainly some differences in what nurses can and can't do. For instance, we aren't allowed to insert IV's----just when I was getting good at them too!! It took a long time to feel confident in my IV skills, and now I can't do it. However, we can remove chest tubes, without the doc there. Blows my mind.
--We don't wear scrubs. DEVO!! (short for devastating/devastated) Instead, navy blue pants and light blue polo shirts---everyday!! I could wear a skirt if I wanted, but that just seems like the wrong attire for a nurse.
--There's no such thing as code blue. (or any other code for that matter!) Like, orange, gray, silver, pink, purple, white, etc. You can call an arrest emergency (basically a code blue), but not sure what they do if there's any other type of emergency. I hope I don't have to find out!
--As a recap, everyone at work is super helpful and friendly. I seem to get asked the same 20 questions each shift, like why are you here? where are you from? blah, blah, blah. I got my answers down pat! However, I'm looking forward to growing in friendships with some of my new co-workers. Most of them don't know the Lord from what I've learned in conversations----so I hope and pray the Lord will use me to shine for him and share the message of salvation with them!
--And lastly, I love working with kids instead of adults!! They are so much cuter. Some of them are just so adorable.
oh, and did I mention this----I get 6 weeks of paid holiday a year! oh my word!!! seriously!?!?! Might be rough to move back to the USA someday!
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