...at change of shift the oncoming RN noticed that I'd hung the wrong bag of fluids on one of my patients. Even though I had verbally told her the patient was running D5W during report, when she went to check the IVs I had hung a bag of NS.
I was stunned by my mistake -- at how certain I had been that all was well, and how easy it was to grab the wrong bag! I immediately informed the charge RN. They had me write up a report on the event The patient wasn't harmed in any way, but I still felt like a complete idiot.
I just started working independently after orientation and have been struggling to find my rhythm. Everything they say about being a new grad on the floor is true! It is stressful, and hectic, and I am constantly scared I am going to screw up. I am glad this mistake was minor and am trying to learn from it and move on...but I feel completely awful.
I work with very sick kids on a pediatric BMT floor where mistakes can have tremendous repercussions and I am just so, so scared all the time. My floor is incredibly supportive of my learning process and I am not even being assigned the sickest kids. I just keep wondering am I ever going to get this? Can I really do this work? I am having moments where I just want to run away and hide...yet this was my dream job and I worked so hard to get it...
I keep telling myself this is all a normal part of becoming a nurse. I look at the seasoned RNs who are so calm and collected on the floor, juggling incredibly busy sick kid assignments and I wish I was there already. The growing pains of being the newbie RN are terrible.
Thanks allnurses for a place to vent!