Made it through three night shifts on my own...then...

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  • Specializes in Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant.

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Pediatric Critical Care Columnist

NotReady4PrimeTime, RN

5 Articles; 7,358 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.
I'm also a new grad in the first month on my ICU orientation. I made the exact same mistake! I almost bolused my patient with the wrong IVF. Just as I pressed run on the pump I noticed D5 was hanging instead of NS. I stopped it right away and panicked/beat myself up over it all day. I never realized how EASY it is to make a mistake. Definitely a learning experience.

That would be called a GOOD CATCH rather than a mistake. In my institution we've been told we're to report those in the same way we report errors. I think we learn just as much from close calls as we do from errors.

starghadeer

229 Posts

Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry, Geriatrics.

As a New Grad RN, I find it incredibly encouraging that you talked about your mistake. Talking about mistakes isn't just a learning experience for you, but I'm finding it really educational for myself. So thank you for your honesty!

cheryl2365

8 Posts

Hang in there, as everyone has said we all make mistakes. The good news is you will never forget it and you will find yourself checking and double checking all fluids from now on. One day when I was new off of orientation I almost did the same thing. We have an area in our med room where we keep bags of 0.9. You don't have to go into Pyxis to get it, just grab and go. The problem was someone had stocked some of the bags with D5W. Thank goodness I looked before I hung it. A very easy mistake to make. To this day, years later, I always double check. Be patient with yourself, it WILL get better.

Rosenhammer

45 Posts

As a New Grad RN, I find it incredibly encouraging that you talked about your mistake. Talking about mistakes isn't just a learning experience for you, but I'm finding it really educational for myself. So thank you for your honesty!

Couldn't have said it better myself. I'm learning so much from everyone's real world experience. Thanks for sharing!

You missed it because you're human. As you say, it was on night shift and you were sleep deprived, for starters. That doesn't excuse the error, but it does help to explain it.

It was minor, no one was harmed but you, and I hope you will learn from it and forgive yourself.

God bless and protect you.

Specializes in LTC and School Health.

I work in CVICU as a new grad RN with previous LPN experience and I feel the same way. I go to work everyday with high stress and fears of killing my patients. However, I pray throughout my shift that God protects my patients and bless me to be focused and competent. This gives me a peace that surpasses all understanding. It wil get better. We will get through this.

whatdoIdonow?

104 Posts

What is a BMT unit?

FLArn

503 Posts

Specializes in Hospice, LTC, Rehab, Home Health.

To the OP;

I am always encouraged when I hear new nurses who have made a mistake say they are so upset! That tells me that they are teachable and will be better nurses in the future. I worry about those who seem unfazed by their errors, they are accidents looking for a place to happen! Good job, OP!

LaRoseRN

35 Posts

Specializes in Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant.
What is a BMT unit?

BMT stands for Bone Marrow Transplant

LaRoseRN

35 Posts

Specializes in Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant.

Hey all,

Just wanted to update and say thank you for your encouraging words.

I have settled more into my work as an independent RN and am learning an incredible amount each shift from the other RNs on the unit. I continue to ask questions non-stop, have people review my calculations, and triple or quadruple check my fluids (among other things). Time-management is still a struggle -- I am always running around like crazy, but I have a better understanding of the "flow" of the 12 hour shift and I even get a break sometimes now!

I had a dejavu moment giving report yesterday -- it was the same RN who had discovered my mistake, and the patient had the same fluid running (D5 half). Even though I check and re-check like crazy, I still had one of those heart-pounding moments of worry when she went into the room...

It was all good!

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