Why Am I Not Retaining This Information? | Quick Huddle # 5

It took a while to understand why certain things I learned wouldn't stick. I would sit at my desk, reading the same chapters over and over. To then be tested a few days later, and the content be unavailable, or the context wasn't understood properly. Do you know how frustrating that is? Studying, buying the "required" $200 textbook, making the graphs and chart to then FAIL the exam because the information was nowhere to be found when the time came? I can't even! So what does this mean, and how can you avoid this study trap? You are going to have to use this information to reinforce it, to bind it inside your mind. Plain and simple, cut, and dry. You can't merely write pretty notes, put them in a folder, and review it every randomly. Nursing school isn't Instagram, and no one cares if your handwriting is beautiful. How you write your notes, whatever the presentation, the goals are absorption and recognition.

You are going to have to live this information for a week or two before taking your exam. When you read a chapter and think you wholeheartedly understand it inside and out, try to educate a classmate (someone who is learning alongside you). Your counterpart has to be someone with a proper background to be helpful. Meaning, the person has to have some concept of what you are teaching them. The classmate is expected to ask relevant, focused questions such as: If I have this disease, what will happen? What is expected to be seen? What are some complications? What medications will improve or resolve the condition? What are some expected side effects? You are going to educate someone with medical knowledge. Your counterpart will have enough awareness to know if you are wrong or lack proper understanding. This active learning tactic will help in the absorption and recognition of key course concepts. Your peer must be able to provide criticism, and you must be open to accepting, or this isn't going to work. You can't assume you got it 100% because you read it. Reading isn't active learning, and reading does reinforce the content. You must interact with the content on some level, engaging on various levels.

When You Receive Tough Feedback | Quick Huddle # 4

Nothing produces a more defensive reaction than receiving feedback that you can't reconcile in your mind. I've been there, performing a task, thinking I'm doing well when, in reality, I'm a hot dumpster fire. Getting criticism has a special kind of sting to it that is initially emotionally distressing. This response can bring up several reactions, so I wanted to provide some tips on how to process criticism professionally, even though it might feel personal.

Process
You are mad, even insulted, and that is okay. But understand this is a moment in time. A moment in time that will pass, and your emotions will change. You are upset now because you lack understanding. What you do in this moment can't be undone. Outbursts can't be erased. So, don't say something you will regret. Take a deep breath and calm the voice within you that demands retribution. Sit down and allow yourself time to process those feelings. Don't argue, don't speak. Allow the other party a moment to express themselves. You will have your time, your moment. It is not right now. And if you react now, it will be pure emotion. You are raw and tender. Give yourself time. Step back and process, but don't feel the need to do something. Just be.

Adapt
The feedback has to be examined and processed. Instead of assuming the person is an idiot, and he or she is misinformed, focus on processing the data, and less of being defensive. Try not to jump to conclusions and instead focus on asking for background information. The reason you are defensive is that the feedback lacks context. Allow the individual to provide you with the full picture and not merely a list of complaints. Allow the person the opportunity to explain their position by giving specific examples. You will not understand their perspective if you don't see the entire picture. If you are not open to seeing the picture, you won't. This has to be a choice you make, a choice to listen and not simply hear what is being said to you.

Recover
Once you have the full scope of things, you know what you need to work on. Move forward and move on. There is no point in sulking and wallowing for an extended period. You can re-examine your actions a million times, but what is done is done, and you must learn from your experiences. Don't allow mistakes to halt your growth. We all make mistakes, and no one is perfect. Recovery is growth and can only take place if you move beyond mistakes and errors. Recovery isn't an event or action. It is a pattern of behavior over time. There will be hiccups and adjustments, but know that you are working towards growth, not perfection. Trying to reach perfection is dangerous, exhausting, and unattainable. Growth is ever-evolving and personal.

How To Remain Focused In A New Job | Quick Huddle # 3

As a person who has recently started a new job, I've had to practice remaining focused while within the learning process. The first question you want to ask yourself is, how will I create value? When you start a new job, things can be overwhelming - learning new processes, job objections, performance expectations, challenges, etc. But don't overlook your value. When you applied to this position, what value did you see contributing to your organization? In order to remain focused, you must know what your profession plans and goals will be for the days and years to come. This is a new job, but don't forget they hired you because they saw something they wanted to cultivate. Lean into it.

The next question to ask yourself is, what support is critical? When starting a new job, you are immediately aware of what you need and when. You might not be an expert, but you know what you need to perform your job duties. Once you know what you need, focus on obtained or retaining said support systems. Nothing is more frustrating than working without the supplies you need to be successful. We have all been there, and lack of support always disengages team members. Don't wait for this to happen. Find out what you need and focus on obtaining or retaining those options. Budget and logistics will play a role in you procuring these items, but the goal is to be proactive and honest, and not bitter and passive in what you need to be successful at your new job.

Lastly, ask yourself what skills do you need? You have the job! But what will you need to retain the position? What skills will you need to be a quality team member? These are complicated questions, with no one-word answer. If needed, seek advice from senior staff or colleagues. The goal is to find out what others recommend you focus on or study up in regards to your new job. Learning is stressful enough. Having a road map will help you stay on the right track. It's very humbling and will allow you the ability to see what others deem important or crucial for your position. Unlike you, these individuals have the experience and will be able to provide you with guidance on where to begin.

Try Not To Take Small Annoyances At Work Personally | Quick Huddle # 2

I've seen many nurses being outright furious at the little things throughout their shift - throwing things, screaming, making a complete scene. If it isn't the pharmacy, it's someone hitting their call light 900 times because they can't find their phone charger, or even a provider calling you while you're in the bathroom. I understand. I have been there. And yes, it can be quite annoying. Sometimes, the entire shift is filled with nothing but stressful encounters. But, you can't let these isolated events alter your mindset. In the past, I found myself in an annoyance blackhole. And as the hours passed, the tension would build and build until I lost it on someone over something completely minor. As I've come to understand nursing is generally chaotic, I've learned to manage the annoyances appropriately and professionally.

Now when these same situations occur, I redirect myself. Is this one thing really that serious? Or is being on my feet for 10 hours straight the real issue? Is this an exhaustion rage, or is this an issue regarding patient safety? I try to find the real reason why I'm upset first and go from there. I also wear a focus token, an item that redirects me towards my professional purpose, which is to help people. Yeah, the pharmacy lost my patient's medication. Yes, that's annoying, but I need to follow-up for my patient's sake. My current token is a little, thin red bracelet. If I'm not wearing it, I draw a star on my report sheet, and when I'm stressed, I look at it. The goal is to have a focus point to redirect, process, and defuse your frustration while you process acute, current issues at work. Being annoyed doesn't mean you don't care, you actually care a lot. People who don't care aren't bothered by small or large things, because they have no vested interest in the job at all. Being annoyed isn't against the professional code, but lashing out and being unprofessional is. There is a difference. I'm breathing on my own, I have use of all my extremities, and my family is healthy and safe. I remind myself of this often during work. Even when it is "bad," it is not bad-bad. You are more appreciated than you will ever know. Find your focus points, and keep being awesome.

Don’t Let Your Expertise Narrow Your Perspective | Quick Huddle # 1

I've been a nurse since 2011, and I've worked in the hospital setting the entire time. I have met and continue to meet many people, from different walks of life. And I've noticed a small segment of nurses who know so much that it eventually limits their perspective. Their perspectives are limited because they lose the ability to understand that medicine is forever evolving. You might know all there is about sepsis right now, but next year things might change. I remember being in nursing school, and Xigris was THE sepsis drug. It was crazy expensive and was thought of as a wonder drug that cured multi-organ failure related sepsis. Months after I graduated, the drug was found to have the same effect as a placebo. Another example is elevated lactic acid = sepsis, and every patient needed massive quantities of fluids without further workup. Meanwhile, interventions of this nature led to inappropriate used of antibiotics and patients with heart failure histories experiencing severe pulmonary edema and volume overload.

The point being, what you know to be true now, might change. You might be an expert now but don't depend on aging evidence to sustain your knowledge base throughout the years. You have to remain diligent and up-to-date of your education and evidence-based research in nursing. This is why I never really understood cocky nurses or nurses who would shame new nurses. You only know what you know to be true right now. You have learned what the research states are beneficial and safe in this timeframe. Don't pretend that this game doesn't change minute by minute, just like the stability of our patients. Don't assume you know everything, don't assume you will always know everything. Changes are constant, and that is what makes nursing so exciting.