Failed Checkout

[DenaInWyo]

Okay, guys and gals, get ready, because I'm going to dump this out here then I am going to move on or it's going to cause me more problems down the road, because it's not worth that.

I failed my %&^*& meds checkout today. I am so furious with myself, even though I feel like there really wasn't anything I could have done differently. I failed it due to a break in aseptic technique with the needle (used the scoop method although I had touched the inside of the packaging). I had a specific question about this during our class on it, and was told that was okay so long as the needle only ever touched the inside of the cap. I also botched the paperwork because, never having worked in healthcare before, I'd never done it before, and it too, was not actually taught in class. All this time my compadres and I have been practicing this stuff and thinking we were doing it right. That particular form is nowhere to be found in the book. There. There are my excuses and justifications. I haven't talked to anyone yet who has passed this checkout, and excuse though it might be, I feel it's because a piss poor job of teaching it was done (and on MEDS, of all things to be lame about). We were all pretty much clueless about a lot of it.

Okay, now that I've whined about how it isn't my fault, I am also going to say that I realize that the only thing I can control in this situation is by handling the things that are in MY control. No matter what, from now on I need to do a "dress rehearsal" with the lab assistant. I can't correct my mistakes if I don't know I'm making them. I also need to not dwell on this because if I do, I'm going to let it mess up my remaining three checkouts for the semester, and if I fail a second one, I have to go before a review board so they can decide whether or not to keep me.

Ugh..and the worst of it is that I started bawling in front of the instructor when she informed me I failed. Whatta mope. I think I need a hug. And a tissue.

Thanks for the space to vent/whine/get it off my chest. Off to study for my micro test tonight.

Deana

[truern]

do you have open labs??

i find that hands on makes a huge difference...practice practice practice and then do it in front of the lab instructor so that he/she can critique your technique.

good luck on your next try...i'm sure you'll ace it :)

[Ari RN, BSN, RN]

that's a bummer!

do you have an opportunity to test again for this particular med checkout? (other than you're remaining 3 checkouts?)

hope you feel better!

here's you're hug and tissue!

[DenaInWyo]

Yes, I get to do it again, and I'm sure I'll do okay now that I know what I was doing wrong.

Thanks for the hug and tissue..made me giggle at least.

I *did* practice. The mistakes I made weren't ones I was aware of..but I know that's no excuse really. The mistake I made was not sticking around the lab until I could finally pin someone down to watch me go through it. I've always done that before, but my group and I all thought we had it down.

Sigh..this really isn't as big a deal as I'm making of it. It's just that there is SO much riding on me getting through this (as I'm sure every single person here can relate) that any kind of failure is, well, a real bummer to say the least.

I'm having such a hard time settling down and getting any real studying done for my other test this evening, even though I know how counter-productive that is. Okay! No more checking in here until after the test!

Thanks :)

Deana

[purplekath]

{{{{{{{Deana}}}}}}}}}}} here's a big hug for you! I found check-off's difficult too as we usually got very little teaching for each thing and like you say, if you haven't been taught, it's hard to know how to avoid mistakes!! I remember the day we learned IV therapy. We were all crammed into a little room, copied down a bunch of notes and got about 10 mins to actually PRACTICE the skills!!

We inserted canulas into big sponges (which don't have actual VEINS!!) and the bags we used were recycled ones where the seals had all been broken already. So we had to totally change our technique to avoid spilling it all on the floor! Then of course, when check-off day came, we had to do it "properly" with sealed bags. The teacher ran out of time to show us how to fill in the bag stickers...so we were flying blind in the check-off too.

I don't know how I passed, but I did. BUT when I got into the hospital it was a whole new ballgame - no counting drips into buckets and sponges. It was all machinery which we had never been taught on. Sigh...the joys of nursing school huh??

[fssmith]

I had to do med check off three times. Today was the last time and I passed. My instructor let me pass the oral med check off the second time but I had to do injections a third time. Practice, take your time and get it in your head first, say what your doing aloud and you should be o.k.