Secrets of your trade.

[Confusedfornow]

I have worked in my current area of expertise for the last 20 years or so. It's in Aviation, can't say exactly what or for who as it's a relatively small community (for my role) and it would be VERY outing. Before this, my only other "job" that I did for a few years was dancing (yes, that kind ). So I don't have massive experience of the world of work.

But I was chatting with some people in a bar over the weekend and conversation turned to jobs and then to my role. I was telling them about some stuff which is perfectly normal to me, but was absolutely news to them.

For instance . .

When a plane is "parked" and everything is switched off, the aircraft is referred to as being "Cold and dark".

If a helicopter has engine failure, it won't just fall out of the sky. The pilots are trained in a procedure called "autorotation" and can usually land safely even if the engine isn't running at all.

All British Airways flights use the call sign "Speed Bird". It's unique and no other airline in the world uses it.

Last one . .

Pilots can't wear polarised sunglasses. They make the electronic displays on the flight deck appear black, and you can't read any information from them.



So, what do you know from your jobs that is mundane for you but which most people wouldn't have a clue/be surprised by?

[Whynham]

Under counter beer pumps are the perfect place to hide a glass with the drips to top up and serve to the next customer.

A thimble is just enough in a batch of 5 litres to name a desert 'Baileys bread and butter pudding'

I no longer work in the pub/restaurant trade thankfully.

[crosser62]

Nurse here.
When cleaning up profuse, extensive, infective and large rivers of diarrhoea that go beyond incontinent pads, we roll the sheets into a ball and put them into a bin bag. Wasting nhs money yes, sorry.
But having to fish out poo drenched pads, separate them from poo drenched sheets is just beyond the call of duty plus there’s usually relatives waiting outside complaining to the manager that they have had to wait for too long to see their loved one (despite us explaining to them and that clean up was the 4th in the last hour).

Agree about the thankyou catds, they are indeed absolutely treasured and kept forever.

When a patient dies, no matter who or why, we speak to them as if they are still with us. We tell them what we are doing and why, we will wash them, comb their hair and put nice clean sheets and gown on them. When flowers were allowed, we would always send them off to “rose cottage” with a flower on their chest.

I have a pharmacist friend who works in hospital. Her secret is that she will avert significant drug errors numerous times during her shift. As will her colleagues.

Myself and my colleagues regularly leave work upset, sad and feeling guilty because we have not been able to fulfill our job role and “care” due to chronic staff shortages. Many tines it’s a challenge to just get the bare minimum done. This is devastating for all concerned.

[isthismylifenow]

I don't have anything to add sorry, but this in an amazing thread.

[Applesaregreenandred]

@geezlouise1 thank you for the info re the DNAR. I recently agreed to have one in place for my DM and have worried since that this was the wrong thing to do (she's 85 with quite advanced dementia but always seems content) so this has been reassuring for me.

[Whywonttheyletmeusemyusername]

To the nurses on here...you are truly amazing...thank you for everything you do

[squeefy]

i remember "rose cottage" (i also worked in a hospital ). is that all hospitals??

[brew0andbiscuits]

A relative works in a hospital theatre and when someone is likely to die (due to an accident, someone on life support etc) they call people from other hospitals where organ donations are needed so they can come to the hospital before the person dies. Everyone waits around in the hospital and the person gets taken to theatre whilst they're still breathing ready for the 'harvest' so they can take the organs straight after they've just died so the organs are fresh and can be given to the person who needs it

[Backwoodsgirl]

@Elllicam @catburglar

It was a nuclear bomb factory in Russia

[MrsPinkCup]

School Job here.

We don't eat anything homemade you send in.

Most of us are at the school from 7.30 until around 5.30 every day.

We do judge you if you don't - write names in uniform/coats - treat headlice - fill in book planner.

[Mysterian]

Nursery ofsted reports are often worthless. I worked in a big place that had staffing issues. They also had a training school. On ofsted inspection day the training school was shut and the trainers and the students all worked in the nursery. You only have to be good on the day the inspectors are there.

I've also done supply work in many nurseries. Sometimes I've read a report on a nursery and wondered if they had actually visited the place. It either bares no relation to what I see, or is so generic it could apply to all nurseries I've ever worked in.

[Girlinthegarden]

GP receptionist here.

I HATE asking why you want to see the GP.

I would love to give you the exact appointment you want, when you want it. Budget and our management decide what we have to offer and how it will be allocated. I go out of my way to accommodate your needs within the system, and I sometimes get told off for it.

GPs are only human. Some care about their patients deeply. The odd one doesn't care at all. Same with receptionists.

The vast majority of receptionists don't judge people by any medical information they are told.

I love almost all the patients, even the challenging ones.

I do judge patients who are rude and entitled not as a one off because they're struggling, but as a default approach.

[VeryFoolishFay]

CPR when the heart has stopped is unsuccessful most of the time, and even if it is successful it is unlikely the person will regain good neurological function. If the general public knew the statistics of outcomes following cardiac arrest, and how brutal and undignified CPR is, I suspect many many more would have 'do not attempt cardiac arrest forms' in place

My DH had a cardiac arrest at festival, aged 49, luckily he was with a group of nurses. He made a full recovery, physically and neurologically and has been back at work ever since. Feel genuinely blessed every time I am reminded of the usual outcome of a cardiac arrest!

[Mmmmbrekkie]

I used to work very closely with the Catholic Church. Won’t go in to detail but alcoholism is rife amongst priests.

[Mmmmbrekkie]

@madroid

Uni tuition Fees were introduced more than “a few years ago”

About 22 years ago

[Mmmmbrekkie]

@needthisthread

It was news to me

[Grumpbum123]

Blood results don’t lie. Don’t say you have taken your meds when the results say otherwise

[Mmmmbrekkie]

@Girlinthegarden

Why do receptionists ask why I want to see a gp?

[pumpastrotter]

If you eat a chinese restaurant and order rice, there is a chance it has already been served before. If a bowl comes back 'untouched' or barely used, the rice usually goes back into the pot...... Same with spare ribs, actually.

[earlybirdhasanap]

@brew0andbiscuits the scenario that you describe around organ donation only happens when a patient is already brain stem dead had have legally been declared dead by two senior doctors.
Not for people "likely" to die, people who are not brain stem dead can still donate organs if they've died in certain places (icu/a&e) if criteria is full filled and family have agreed but they don't have teams of people waiting in case and these patients don't go to theatre to die.
I think it's important to highlight this as withdrawal of treatment in critically ill patients does not mean there is a team waiting to harvest organs. It is important that people understand the difference as there is a preconception that treatment is stopped in icu "for organs" rather than because it is the most appropriate thing to do and prolonging treatment would not prolong life.

[SpuriouserAndSpuriouser]

A relative works in a hospital theatre and when someone is likely to die (due to an accident, someone on life support etc) they call people from other hospitals where organ donations are needed so they can come to the hospital before the person dies. Everyone waits around in the hospital and the person gets taken to theatre whilst they're still breathing ready for the 'harvest' so they can take the organs straight after they've just died so the organs are fresh and can be given to the person who needs it

That’s not quite how it happens. In certain cases where a patient is critically ill and a decision has been made to withdraw life-sustaining treatment AND the patient has expressed a wish to be an organ doner AND the family agrees, a donation can take place when the patient has passed away. This is known as controlled donation after circulatory arrest (as opposed to uncontrolled donation if a patient dies before they get to the hospital or dies following an unsuccessful resuscitation). Certain steps can be taken to optimise the donation, but these are only carried out if they don’t risk causing any harm or distress to the patient, and you would never do anything that would shorten the patients life with the goal of facilitating the donation. What does happen is that the arrangements for the donation are made before the treatment is withdrawn, as any delays after death has occurred (eg waiting for an operating theatre to become available or for the surgical team to be ready) could mean that the organs become damaged and aren’t suitable for donation any more. Depending on the hospital, this could mean that the patient is moved nearer/into the theatre complex before treatment is withdrawn. But again, this isn’t done lightly and it’s only done if it’s considered to be in the patient’s best interests.

[DarlingNikita]

crosser, 'When a patient dies, no matter who or why, we speak to them as if they are still with us. We tell them what we are doing and why, we will wash them, comb their hair and put nice clean sheets and gown on them.'

That's made me cry.

[MumUndone]

That is utterly disgusting pump!

[Girlinthegarden]

@Mmmmbrekkie it's mandated by GP partners/practice managers as a way to reduce/tailor demand for appointments and otherwise signpost people.

Eg.

Lots of people book in for a GP for a repeat prescription, a smear, a pregnancy test, a sick note etc - the GPs would prefer nursing or administrative staff dealt with all that so they could see patients who needed them more.

[Girlinthegarden]

The doctors also say it helps appointments run more smoothly if they're prepared.

[plum100]

I agree girlinthegarden . Ex gp receptionist here. Hated asking what the problem was- had to ask because I needed to book in with the correct clinician - e.g usually healthy 25 yr old with chest infection would go to nurse - 84 year old with cancer - go to Gp. The worst thing is I have to ask . And we had emergency appts on the day - and if it wasn’t an urgent issue then I’m not meant to book it - but just because it’s not urgent today doesn’t mean that patient can wait till the next routine appt which is 4 weeks away - so in my eyes if the patient thinks they needed to be seen that day then I would book them in. And then sometimes the gps would come out and shout at us for booking non urgent appts!!! Can’t win! That’s why I left.