Hey there, friend!
One of the most common questions I get from students is how to rock the nursing head to toe assessment.
This is such a big deal in nursing school, and a huge chunk of your grade depends on it.
But here’s the stickler: once you’ve learned everything your school has taught you, then what?
How can you “level up” your game and stand out from the crowd?
So today I’m giving you 3 ways to exceed your professors expectations when you do a nursing head to toe assessment.
Ready?
Let’s do this.
Level up tip #1: Don’t use big words.
Imagine this…
A patient asks you, “Why am I getting atenolol.”
And, being the smart nursing student you are, you tell them by saying, “Well, it’s a beta blocker, and beta blockers block the beta 1 receptors in the heart which decreases the hearts contractility and reduces the heart rate.”
Hmmmm…I think you lost them at “beta blocker.”
Here’s the thing: patients want (and need) to know what they’re getting. But in order for you to educate them well, you need to meet them where they’re at. And throwing around all those big words is just going to confuse them more.
Your goal should be for them to be able to teach it back to you. So, forget all those big, fancy words, and break it down for them in simple terms.
Here’s what you could say instead…
“It’s going to reduce your blood pressure to help keep your heart happy.”
Now that was a lot easier to say! 🙂
Girl, you are one smart cookie.
Seriously, you’re amazing, and you know a TON.
But let’s take it down a notch with our patient’s, okay? We want them to understand what’s going on with them, in simple words.
Level up tip #2: Never tell a patient you’ll be back in 30 minutes.
You know how you feel when a friend tells you they’re going to do something and they never do it?
Terrible right? Like you can’t trust them.
Honestly…I’ve been guilty of this time and time again, and it’s something I’m truly working on. #commitmentphobe
But it can be seriously trust-shattering with your patients.
So, as Lt. Gen. George S. Patton put it, “say what you mean, and mean what you say.”
If you’re not sure when you’ll be back (like…always..) then say something like, “I’ll be back around later. In the meantime, you can use your call light if you need anything.”
This is a lot better than saying, “I’ll be back in 30 minutes,” and then showing up an hour and a half later.
Make sure you always stick to your word, and don’t make promises that you can’t keep.
Level up tip #3: Understand that this ain’t their first rodeo.
Your patient’s are in the hospital for a reason: they want to feel better!
And they all know (and expect) that you’ll be coming around to check on them often, so have CONFIDENCE, girlfriend.
Don’t walk into their room all timid and shy wondering what they’ll think.
I’ll tell you what they think: they think you’re awesome because YOU’RE the one making them feel better.
So OWN it.
You know more than you think you do, and patient’s already expect you to be bugging them 24/7.
So do your best to take care of them in the way that ONLY YOU can.
Believe in yourself. You CAN do this!!
Alrighty, friend, there are your 3 tips for taking your nursing assessments to the next level: use simple words when talking with patients, mean what you say, and OWN your knowledge, skills, and ability! 🙂
You’ve got this!!
Now go become the AMAZING nurse that God created only YOU to be. 🙂
