Nurse’s perfect world: How would it be?

 Sean Dent/ scrubsmag

Too often, we nurses dwell on everything that is going wrong. How about (for once!) we imagine our world as perfect as possible? Here’s what I would have in my perfect nursing world: 

1. I’d never get pulled to work in another unit.
2. Staffing would never be lacking.
3. Patients would not be repeat offenders (admissions).
4. Patient families would be amicable.
5. Supplies would never run short.
6. Pay rate would be generous.
7. Changing jobs would be easy.
8. All patients would have control of bowel and bladder.
9. All patients would be pain-free.
10. All patients would have five or fewer medications
11. CT/X-ray/ultrasound machines would always be open and available.
12. CT/X-ray/ultrasound machines would only be across the hall, not on the other side of the hospital.
13. The elevator would open promptly every time you need it (especially during patient transport!).
14. Nobody would be confused or delirious.
15. All patients would be compliant and adherent.
16. Physicians would not be passive-aggressive.
17. Physicians would round on their patients all at predicted/scheduled times.
18. Families would be present whenever a physician is on the floor.
19. Night shifts would not exist.
20. There would be no annual  job/employer competencies.
21. License renewal would be free of charge.
22. All nurses, all units, all floors and all coworkers would get along and work together as a team.
23. Bodily fluids would not smell.
24. Blood–more specifically, GI bleeds–would not smell.
25. IVs would never infiltrate.
26. IV starts would only take one try.
27. IV fluids would never run out or run dry.
28. All invasive lines and tubes would be properly placed every time, the first time.

This is a very short list–I know if I sat and really contemplated it, I could quadruple it. I can dream, can’t I?!

About Sean Dent

Sean Dent is a second-degree nurse who has worked in telemetry, orthopedics, surgical services, oncology and at times as a travel nurse. He is a CCRN certified critical care nurse where he's worked in cardiac, surgical as well as trauma intensive care nursing.
 Sean currently practices as a Board Certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP-BC) in a Shock Trauma urban teaching hospital. He has been in healthcare for almost 20 years. He originally received a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science where he worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC).