Mistake!

Nurses New Nurse

Published

I've been working on a postpartum/newborn nursery unit for 7 months now. MOST of the time I'm feeling pretty good about how I'm doing, but of course I do make mistakes from time to time. Usually just stupid things like forgetting to sign something on the chart. Yesterday, however, was one of the bigger ones I've made. I called a doctor with lab results on a baby and received an order to stop phototherapy - or so I thought. I heard later that the doctor denied giving that order. I can only assume the dr. said CONTINUE photo and I heard DIS-continue. What I'm afraid of is that I must not have read back the order like we're supposed to. The baby had to go back under the lights and the mom was upset that she had to be discharged and leave the baby. The worst part is that when I got the lab results I wasn't expecting the phototherapy to be stopped, and I told the mom that too. So I don't know why I heard it wrong.

Anyway - it's just hard to go back to work today after making that mistake and even having to see that baby or the mom, or the doctor . . . and I don't know whether I've been written up for it or not. The nurse who told me about it (my former preceptor) was very nice about it, told me not to worry, etc. but I can't help but worry & be upset. And I know I won't feel better until that baby is discharged. I know making mistakes can be the best way to learn but I HATE it, sometimes I wish I were at a desk job where mistakes didn't matter so much.

Well, mostly venting & thanks for reading.

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Hello, I want to say thank you for your post. When you tell us your mistakes not only do you learn a lesson, but the people reading about your experience also learn. I am sorry that happened to you.

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Specializes in med/surg/tele/LTC/geriatrics.

We all make mistakes. I can imagine next time you take a telephone order you will read it back or question an order that you don't think is correct. It sounds like an honest mistake and I can't imagine your employer will come down too hard...but expect a call to the principal's office. Remember you don't want a desk job you became a nurse for a reason.

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I admire you. You truly are a nurse! Admitting that you made a mistake and "feeling" horrible about is such an blessed trait to have. Everyone makes mistakes, the fact (again) that you admit it and actually feel bad about it, shows just how wonderful a nurse you are now and are going to be later! Keep that attitude of humility and caring, they are blessings!

BusyMe

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we all make mistakes, its the hardest lesson i have learned as a new nurse!!!!!!! But you learn from it and like they have said, im sure you will read it back from now on! WE have a hard job=)

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BusyMe, that is the greatest thing I have read in a long time! I certainly don't feel like there is anything to admire about me, I feel like a sloppy nurse, which is not what I want to be. But yes, probably better than an uncaring nurse!

Update for those that are interested: The poor little baby is still in the hospital under the lights, I saw her mom crying when she had to leave her again last night. That was hard and I am hesitant to speak to the mom because IDK what to say - if I say sorry or anything that might admit I did something wrong, I am afraid of liability (legally I mean, and losing my license, that kind of thing). And I can't put the blame on the doctor either because I think that I most likely misunderstood. However - I did see the doctor and I took the opportunity to tell her that I was the one who misunderstood her order and I apologized. It seemed like the professional thing to do. She made me feel better in a way by telling me it was OK (basically) and that she would give me a pass one time (she was kind of joking) but also said I was "lucky it was her" and it could have gone worse for me, which *didn't* make me feel better. However, when I make a mistake that effects another human adversely, and all I get is a talking to, I feel I deserve that much, and I am OK about it. Not proud, but OK.

I appreciate ALL your kind words and sympathy. When I see another nurse make a mistake, I hope I will always be so gracious and know that we all do. It's part of us nurses hopefully caring for each other rather than "eating each other"! which I hear about and see as well.

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BusyMe, that is the greatest thing I have read in a long time! I certainly don't feel like there is anything to admire about me, I feel like a sloppy nurse, which is not what I want to be. But yes, probably better than an uncaring nurse!

Update for those that are interested: The poor little baby is still in the hospital under the lights, I saw her mom crying when she had to leave her again last night. That was hard and I am hesitant to speak to the mom because IDK what to say - if I say sorry or anything that might admit I did something wrong, I am afraid of liability (legally I mean, and losing my license, that kind of thing). And I can't put the blame on the doctor either because I think that I most likely misunderstood. However - I did see the doctor and I took the opportunity to tell her that I was the one who misunderstood her order and I apologized. It seemed like the professional thing to do. She made me feel better in a way by telling me it was OK (basically) and that she would give me a pass one time (she was kind of joking) but also said I was "lucky it was her" and it could have gone worse for me, which *didn't* make me feel better. However, when I make a mistake that effects another human adversely, and all I get is a talking to, I feel I deserve that much, and I am OK about it. Not proud, but OK.

I appreciate ALL your kind words and sympathy. When I see another nurse make a mistake, I hope I will always be so gracious and know that we all do. It's part of us nurses hopefully caring for each other rather than "eating each other"! which I hear about and see as well.

What you just said right there is key. You hope you're as gracious when another nurse makes a mistake. Mistakes are there in our lives to teach us and others lessons. Mistakes can also give you the opportunity to count your blessings. You made a mistake and yet there were not fatal repurcussions or debilitating injury because of it. Be grateful. You did not lose your job or get put on probabtion, be grateful. It was not your mistake which put that sweet little baby in the hospital. It was not your mistake that has kept it there. Things happen. Remember how you feel right now. Know that you don't ever want to feel that way again. That is what's going to keep you on your toes. That is what will make you a truly excellent nurse. Again though, you FEEL bad about it. You SHOULD, it means you are still caring and human. Be blessed and allow yourself the opportunity to heal from this situation. Just never allow yourself to forget it, or to forget how it made you feel. You never want to feel like that again.

BusyMe

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I'm so glad this turned out all right in the end... and I'm sure that although painful, it was a valuable learning experience.

In my organization nurses are required to essentially do a 'time out' with all verbal orders. They have to repeat back exactly what the order is along with the patient's name -- " Ok doctor X, this is the verbal order you have just given me for Mrs. Smith . . . . ." then as part of the sign-off, they have to indicate that the order was confirmed. Everyone makes mistakes, and it's easy to misunderstand somthing; It is a good practice to follow.

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Specializes in Clinicals.

I'm a new nurse and I would just like to thank the OP very much for posting this. This may very well help many of us avoid making a similar mistake.

And I'm sorry that you are feeling down about your mistake. Chin-up! :)

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

You've made amends with the doctor, which was the right thing to do.

Please do the same with the parents. They deserve the courtesy and professionalsim that you displayed with the physician. It won't be easy, but anticipating the conversation will probably be the worst part. Most people accept sincere apologies gracefully. Practice your "speech" and ask a trusted mentor to accompany you. Offer a brief and sincere apology, wish them the best, and go about your shift.

You'll feel better in the end.

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Specializes in Psych.

I think when we are new we all make mistakes. Something similar happened to me. It was my second week on the job and I was still with a preceptor. A doctor came up and asked me about any med changes for a patient. I told him the previous doctor had discontinued the IV antibiotics from yesterday. Becuase I remembered that from looking at the chart earlier.

He seemed really surprised and went to check the chart. He came back to me and said they had d/c one antibiotic and changed it to another. He said "jokingly" that I was going to have to earn back his trust. I was mortified. When doctors say stuff jokingly there really not, there trying to lessen the blow. I was upset about this for weeks. Three months later it still bothers me. It also bothers me that he expected the nurse tohave the orders memorized at 8 30 am. Why not just look at the chart. Anyway. We all need to be more careful in the future myself especially. It was a learning expereince.

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Jolie - well, the baby has been discharged so I don't have the opportunity to talk to them - but it brings up a good question. My opinion was that legally that would be the dumbest thing I could do - to say anything that implies guilt. In this lawsuit-happy society, wouldn't that be asking for trouble? Could I be sued? Could I lose my license? That was the reason I did not speak to the parents, not because I didn't want to or was simply afraid.

Curious as to others' opinion on this.

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