Forgot to start continuous feed!

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

Hey we all do it...I've fed the bed more than one time in my career. Take it and learn from it. I doubt you will be disciplined over it...just admit to the mistake, tell her what you are going to do to keep from doing it again (which you may do again, we are only human).

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Feb 23, 2012

I've "fed the bed" several times, every nurse has. I get OCD "checking" behaviors about the tubing being connected. One thing that helps is I don't use the cap that comes with the tubing, but I tape one of the smaller caps off the end of the syringe and always make sure to cap the end when I disconnect it. Because the seal is so tight, the pump will beep "occlusion" if it's not connected to the baby.

Also with the start button for the feed pump. I find it frequently takes several punches, so I get all OCD on that button also, and punch it like 7 times every times I start a feed. Sometimes they will beep at you if they are inactive, but often they don't. Everyone has done it. Don't minimize it, take it seriously, and your nurse manager show compassion.

Good luck!

Bortaz, MSN, RN · Feb 24, 2012

Since I was a new grad in the NICU, I quickly became pretty anal about checking stuff. I routinely check and double check my iv sites, pump rates, meds due, vent settings, phototherapy lights distance from infant, photo mask covering eyes, etc.

It's rare that an hour goes by without me giving everything the once over. This way, if I missed something, not more than 1 hour has passed, limiting the potential for damage.

For things like vent settings, I'm particularly cautious about checking because of doctors and RTs that like to come along and fiddle with settings and not tell the nurse about changes. Irritates me, and will get them chewed out by me, but it still happens.

You're on day 2 in a new, highly specialized unit. Give yourself a break and just learn from this incident and become a better, more contientious NICU nurse because of it. I bet you won't ever forget to check your feeding pump again.

babyNP., APRN · Feb 24, 2012

Anyone who says they haven't made a mistake is lying or hasn't gotten report yet on their first patient as a nurse.

Figure out how you won't let it happen in the future, but also forgive yourself.

denicu · Feb 29, 2012

I know i have done that however not with a cont feed. I cant remember the name of the pump but you have to push several entries before it starts-and after confirming the volume and time to infuse you have to push yes then enter again then start. I have come back to the bedside usually about 10 min later to check on feeding only to find out i need to push start again in order for it to begin infusing.

pfalls · Mar 10, 2012

HI, I am curious what the outcome of your meeting was--hope it worked out smoothly in the end :)

bmsrn · Mar 10, 2012

I have forgotten to hit start on a feeding before. I've also "fed the bed" numerous times. How long went by before your realized the feeding hadn't started? We have 2 different pumps. One is a Baxter I think. It's a really old grey pump. I actually like those because it will alarm if the pump is IDLE. We use another pump that doesn't even alarm though. And there are numerous buttons to push after you enter everything in.

I find the best way to remember this stuff is to NOT try to do too many things at once. So once you begin the steps to starting your feeding, make sure you don't stop until you actually know it's started. I actually talk to myself too, like "60mls over 30 minutes, start". That seems to help me.

When I first started, I forgot to turn my lipids on one night, and didn't realize it until half way through my shift. I called the doctor and she was nice about it. I felt horrible though.

obprof · Mar 10, 2012

Thanks everyone for your help! The meeting with the manager went well. I told her I was sorry and that I now make a habit of checking the feeding pumps every hour along with the IV pumps, etc. When I forgot to start the pump, it had been 4 hours idle. Fortunately, I haven't made any mistakes since! And I am better organized and more "OCD" about checking everything!

krenee · Mar 11, 2012

Yes, I've done that also. Most of the time when the baby is on continuous feeds, they are getting very small amounts, so in the scheme of things it should not be a tragedy. We hang new feeds every 4 hrs, so that would be the longest block of time a baby would miss. My philosophy since graduating a few years ago, is that I *will* make mistakes, it's how I handle them that makes me a good or bad nurse - admitting to the mistake and learning from it is the most important thing. And every little mistake won't always feel like a tragedy. I know how horrible it does feel, and mistake are always unfortunate, but you will see that they happen to everyone, we are all human. Hang in there :nurse: