Messed up bad...

Nursing Students General Students

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I screwed up bad today, about as bad as it gets short of a med error, arguably worse.

So, I was going for an IM injection, was feeling pretty confidant since I was able to do the calculation for the dose that the actual nurses were struggling with (they don't usually do many calculations at this location).

So we go in, its pediatrics so the kid is squirming, we're getting him settled and still as we can. I get ready, taking aim, taking it slow. Suddenly, I feel something sharp at my finger, but I go for it anyways and I stick the kid.

I had stuck myself first. First needle stick and I decide to use the needle to stick the patient anyways. I dono what I was thinking. as soon as I did it I knew I ****** up.

Please, someone tell me they can top that...

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Specializes in ICU.

So the needle actually went into you and then you stuck it in a child?? What did your instructor say? Why did they not stop you?

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She said she noticed me kind of pause for a moment and she should have asked if I was alright, but I think things just kinda went fast...I kinda thought maybe I had just like scratched my glove and it was just a close call, but even then I should have stopped...

We filled out the needlestick report with the patient as the recipient, but not a lot else was said...no word on anything else yet, but my blood results came back negative on everything.

I feel really stupid and I dono why I didn't stop and say something.

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That's a big deal. I'm not going to scold you (that's pointless), but I will say what you did was wrong, and you knew it was wrong when you did it. No excuses.

As for what might happen. You might be dismissed from your program. You will likely (and should) face some sort of discipline for this action.

You put your patient's life at risk.

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Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

It sounds like you already know that you made a huge error. You're a student, and you're learning, and anxiety often makes us not think clearly. Students tend to get into a very task-oriented mind set, and only focus on the goal- giving the injection, putting in the tube, giving the med, changing the dressing- and they become blind to anything unexpected. When you're that focused on a task and what you need to do, the consequences of something unexpected doesn't register. You were so focused on the task at hand- giving the injection, that when you felt the poke on your finger, the significance of it didn't register because you weren't thinking clearly. You are not the first student to have something bad happen because of that. You will not be the last.

It bears mentioning that you should work on your IM injection technique. Your fingers should not be so close to your intended injection site that you risk hitting them with the needle. You also mention that you first "felt" something sharp on your finger. Where were you looking when giving this injection? How were you holding and aiming the needle that you ended up so far off from your intended site? Spend some more time practicing this skill so that next time (there will be a next time) you have more confidence.

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Well you know I witnessed a nurse insert a Foley into an elderly women's lady parts, then take it out and put it in the urethra without a second in between. A UTI or c-diff could easily kill the woman in her condition. I know these things happen but we need to WAKE UP when we do procedures there's no excuse!

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I was getting ready for the shot, had my fingers holding the area to be administered at and when I was getting the needle closer, the child squirmed pretty hard and my hand was close enough that it pricked me. I was looking directly at the site. The needle was straight, but when the patient moved, it bumped my hand a little more facing the side. It was like my 4th IM injection, and all my others went smoothly, I didn't feel particularly confidant until it happened.

I'll certainly be a lot more careful (and thoughtful) if I'm allowed to continue...

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Last post @double-helix, thought reply button would include a quote.

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I'm so sorry this happened. you made a mistake and you're owning it. i also see how things like this could happen... especially as someone else said when youre in that focused state. Nursing school is no joke and when we make mistakes they are big deals and so upsetting. i would be super hard on myself so i feel your pain. Hnag in there and I hope you get the chance to continue on with a valuable lesson learned.

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