quick newbie question

[onthejourney]

Hi everyone! I've been reading allnurses for a while now and now I have a question of my own. I'm a nursing student and I've been working as a CNA in a nursing home for just over a month. On two occasions I've realized on my way home that I've forgotten to do something, so when I got home I called the floor LPN to let her know.

The one occasion was that I forgot to take out a dementia patients dentures, and the other occasion I forgot to lock up a patient's bobby pins and fish clips after getting her ready for bed (she is Mennonite and secures her head covering on with them and is on a secure dementia floor where almost everything is locked up). I just think the worst case scenario when I get home, like I've heard of people swallowing dentures or what if someone wandered into her room and ate her bobby pins or something ! Are these things important enough to call in about, or am I just annoying the LPN? Also, is it common for your coworkers to call in about something they forgot to do?

Thanks for your input

onthejourney

[SweetseRN]

I can't answer the second part because for a little while longer my only nursing exp is from school and clinical. But I would really appreciate your phone call.

[rn/writer, RN]

I've called work a couple of times about things I forgot. I'd rather call than worry. Also, the reasons you gave for calling made perfect sense. There was a chance with each of those scenarios for problems to occur.

Answering a phone call takes two minutes. Dealing with the problems that could come from the items you forgot would take a lot longer and cause more grief. I'd much rather work with a conscientious CNA who cares about such things than one who forgets things and just says, "Oh well. Not my problem now."

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

I'm not a "newbie" I'm an "oldbie" but I think it's important that you are calling in about the dentures. Maybe not the bobby pins so much, but I see your point about her swallowing them. I would certainly not expect the LPN to be annoyed if you called in. This is thoughtful and proves you are taking the job seriously. You are detail oriented and if you continue in this way will make a fine nurse. I was the DON for a LTC facility and I would be impressed if I heard this, I would also not be impressed if I found out that a nurse was annoyed with you for calling in to tell her...keep up the good work.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I called in to tell a nurse I'd forgotten insulin -I'd floated, wasn't used to that floor's insulin times, and though I knew about it-or I wouldn't have known to call back- I totally forgot it at the end of the shift... I was mortified, and it made me SO much more aware of double checking med times all during the shift.

I would appreciate a call like the ones you described- especially w/it being on a locked unit and the safety issues :)

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

ALWAYS call if you forget something. You sound like a very good and conscientious CNA to call in re things like that. As a RN I would appreciate that and thank you. And ur also covering yourself and the facility as well. Well done.

[Brea LPN]

I agree with other posts. I'm a LPN in a nursing home, and I would appreciate your call.