I got written up and it's bringing me down

[porterwoman]

I got written up by a surgeon for contacting the primary medical practice instead of the surgical practice. The pt is okay, no bad outcome. I talked to my charge nurse and another more senior nurse who takes charge several nights a week to get their input on which to call; both suggested I call the primary.

I'm new, only licensed 6 mos. This is my first time getting written up, and I'm dwelling on it heavily. I even had a dream in which the surgeon asked me, "Why did you call Dr. X instead of me??" I need to let this go!

This happens, right? We pick ourselves up and learn from it and go on, right?

I'd like someone to tell me that getting written up is just part of the job and that I shouldn't let it eat at me.

tx, porterwoman

[ljds]

In situations like this, I also try to look at it from the physician's (or other person's) perspective. Perhaps this is an ongoing problem (which, maybe it is, since your fellow nurses directed you to call the primary), and your incident was the final straw. I am in general a nice, agreeable person, but occasionally I can get my panties in a wad. I appreciate that others around me can overlook an occasional snippy comment, knowing that 99% of the time I am happy and cheerful and ready to help whomever I can. Whenever someone is completely inappropriate and unprofessional with me, I try to just maintain my own composure, respond appropriately (NOT in kind), and assume that attitude that if I want respect, I have to give it. This doesn'tmean that I am a doormat; I'm actually one of the most assertive people on my shift. It just means that I try to assume the best of everyone and don' take things personally. I *know* I'm doing my best; that's all I can do.

I get written up occasionally; I never let it bother me. Sometimes it is justified--not giving an antibiotic because I didn't unclamp the tubing, for example. Sometimes it is something that is totally out of my control--not giving a med on time because one of my pts was coding. If I feel it was unfair, I simply write up my version of the events and place it in my employment folder as well as keep a copy myself. I plan to bring these to my yearly review (I haven't been at this facility for a year yet).

I look on it as a wayto review my actions. After I forgot to unclamp that tubing, do you think Iahve EVER forgotten again? Nope, because I always double check the tubing AND make certain I see the abx drip at least once before I go on. With the code, I reviewed in my head what I could have done differently and what I did well. I just view it as a learning opportunity.

I'm not perfect, but I work hard, and figure that the day I can't learn something new is the day I need to find another field. I am human, and I make mistakes. I can either learn from them and move on, not learn from them and keeping making the same mistake, or dwell on them and let it make me unhappy and affect my job performance.

Good luck! Nursing is always exciting and brings something new every day, if you let it be. Attitude counts for alot. It seems to me that you are on your way to being a great nurse, and I hope you are able to view this as a learning opportunity, not as some sort of evidence of personal failure.

Just on an aside, because we all seem to like to share stories, I had a doc who was being rude whever I called (as I did several times one night for a pt who was not doing well). After the third phone call, I started to identify myself as "Lori, your favorite nurse;" it actually worked; he chuckled instead of grumbled, and it, in my eyes, gave him a gentle reminder to work with me in this situation, that I was only doing my job. Later when he came in at 6, I greeted him by apologizing--not for my actions, but for the situation. "Oh Dr. B, I'm sorry you had such a rough night, but I really appreciated you help. Hopefully you are off call tonight so you can have a peaceful sleep without hearing my melodious voice at all hours." I have NEVER since had a problem calling him, ever. A little levity and sympathy for all parties goes a long way, I think.