Nurses General Nursing
Published Nov 26, 2001
You are reading page 4 of What do we do with an "Imperfect" nurse?
Pete495
363 Posts
Dear Worrier,
I've made my share of mistakes in nursing, but the biggest thing that you can worry about is Medications. It should always be custom to you to double and triple check your MAR for medication dosage. I know nurses in a unit I worked in that are Great nurses with copious years of experience who always check their medications 2 to 3 times. It's almost a must because it is easy to make errors when you give out so many medications per day.
Nurses are Health care Professionals. Everyone expects us to be perfect, but it's just not the case. Many managers and supervisors come down hard because of the perceived cost of mistakes against patients. It's understandable, yet hard to believe since no one on earth is expected to be so perfect. Our managers give the perception that nurses are perfect and this is why they come down hard.
Even agency nurses should be given orientations if that is what you are doing. Don't settle for anything less. Also, you need to become more aware of each hospital's protocols if you are going to continue doing nursing. This is a difficult job esp. if you jump from hospital to hospital. it's easy to confuse them. But don't worry too much, and enjoy your patients. Maybe seek out a place you are comfortable with for a permanent position, and still do some agency work on the side. It's a good way to get experience. Good Luck!
Pete
EXOTIC NURSE, RN
167 Posts
I agree with most of the posters on the board that he was brave and also he recognizes his mistakes but the thought I am mainly supporting is I feel the poster should get out of agency nursing and work in a hospital on a specific unit first and get some good experience then progress to agency nursing. It does not have to be a med surg floor it could be any unit that you feel comfortable in the nursing atmosphere. I personally do not like the med surg units I work on a tele unit, but I feel comfortable there and I am going to try and explore the ICU or even ER units at one point but I just did not feel comfortable in those areas as yet.
Cubby
305 Posts
Thank God you admit your mistakes. The big problem comes from nurses who don't or won't admit their mistakes. As long as you know you need to learn more there isn't a problem in my eyes.
God be with you. Things will get better for you.
Agnus
2,719 Posts
When I have to do something or give a med that I haven't given for a while. I ask questions. If I have not see a protochol for something that should have one I ask for it. We all have and will make mistakes. Use them for stepping off points for learning. I frequently ask another nurse to check me on dosing and drips even when I'm very sure of what I'm doing. I figure if I'm too sure that will be the time I'm wrong. Errors especially med errors are hard on us; we try to to be everything to every one. I once has a sympathetic pharmasist tell me. "You are expected to be absolutely perfect in everything you do. That is Impossible for any human being and is not expected in other professions. Don't beat yourself up. Learn from it and move on."
egmillard
77 Posts
Yes, we all do make mistakes, but it is what we learn from them that matters. I check all my drip rates, except NS with another nurse when I start an infusion, and I check all my insulin doses with another RN, if they are of a large amount. I work on a tel unit and we use Heparin, Flolan, Dopamine, Dobutamine, Lidocaine, Amiodarone etc etc etc, I always double check with another RN when it comes to infusions, believe me I know how easy it is too make mistakes.
My most interesting mistake, was interpreting SP CT, as to mean Spiral CT, instead it was status post CT removal, as I know now. However I double checked with two nurses and they aggreed with me. The patient had the spiral ct, and the MD was most annoyed, and quite right. Fortunately, there was no harm done, but I look twice now.......