Nursing student mistake

Fiona59 · Jun 13, 2012

I've just graduated and passed the NCLEX but I've been a paramedic for 15 years.

Ah, so you are an American. Nursing school up here can be quite different.

Bubbles_RN · Jun 14, 2012

Ok, yeah you made a mistake. I would go to my instructor with a plan around remedial action. For example, you could tell her you plan on reviewing allowed procedures, and perhaps a reflective journal entry on the situation. Be proactive in admitting your mistake and taking action to help prevent further errors.

Oh, and as far as I know, unless there is a complaint filed to your local college of nurses, there wouldn't be a permanent record.

petethecanuck · Jun 14, 2012

Did you at least swab the port before you reattached it?
You've increased the patients risk of infection by doing this and so indirectly did create a safety risk for the patient.

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Yeah I hope you at least swabed the port prior to reattaching. In that situation I probably would have changed the cap too.

Fiona59 · Jun 14, 2012

I'm kinda thinking theres more to it than we were told. I mean "a few drops of blood". Seeing as it sounds like a day spent doing ADLs I doubt the OP would have a cap in their pocket and I'm doubting the alcohol swab.

The main thing is has the OP realized that they did in fact endanger their patient?

Also they stated "in Canada". Where have they worked before that this would even be a remotely acceptable practice?

asianmom78 · Jun 14, 2012

The problem with this whole situation is you performed a "skill" to which you weren't trained to do so. It seems trivial, but if you think of it in terms of pt safety and you disconnected the iv tubing without placing a sterile cap over the female end of the tubing you open the patient to every bacteria that is in a hospital and directly into the blood stream. Plus the hub of the extension, assuming it is a needleless port, needs to be cleaned with an alcohol prep or what is part of the hospital protocol.

With that said keep in mind that if you didn't sign off on the "skill" you can't do it. I don't know if you had the same requirement as I did but I had to have my nurse aid certification prior to nursing school. Through that month of "intro to nursing" you get the beat down of "scope of practice" and learn very quickly what you can and cannot do.

The expection of professionalism and integrity of the nurse starts with the nursing student. I would go into your meeting head forward and write a list of where you went wrong. Define what you plan to do in the future to prevent future mistakes, that would include asking the nurse assigned or having the instructor with you. Admit you made the mistake. But don't defend how it was something simple or compare it to leaving them unattended while confused or anything like that. Tell them why you know it was wrong and the risks you put the pt, you and the instructor in.

I don't think this would follow you into the workforce. When you encounter nurses in the workforce you don't know who was a C nurse or an A nurse. However, this may be a deciding factor in your future in this program. So before you get expelled see if you are eligible to reaply for a second chance or if you can get letters of recommendation to another program. You got in on your merits and grades, you should be able to get into another program.

Hope this helps.

PS you would have been better off to not have connected the IV back at all.

loriangel14, RN · Jun 14, 2012

I doubt the OP would get expelled for one incident.

annieolpn · Jun 14, 2012

I would like some feedback. I am in clinical and I did a procedure that I thought i was allowed but it ended up that I wasn't. I am a first year student studying to be an lpn in Canada and I was wondering would it effect my permanent nursing record in the future or just on my student file. I don't know how it works for nursing in the real world when they make mistaks and if any one whom as a student made a mistake. I didn't hurt the patient or anything just was helping them get dressed before being discharged and undid the cord for the Iv so they could put their shirt on and get it right back asap. I wanted some feedback and advice on this topic and what your experiences have been. I'm pretty upset over this situation and I know we all make mistakes just worried about my record as a future nurse. Thanks for everything. Help student nurse need some advice.

Jersey...Got to the post from allnurses.com and read my comments. You should not have to repeat the whole clinical...just read my comments. You can get me on Facebook if you like if you need an ear to bend...there are many helpful comments there under that post, one in particular is not but you will see what I mean when you go through them...when in doubt always ask,.but in my honest opinion the only thing you did wrong was not check...your instructor needs to woo dab or do some yoga...just learn from.it..

annieolpn · Jun 14, 2012

I would like some feedback. I am in clinical and I did a procedure that I thought i was allowed but it ended up that I wasn't. I am a first year student studying to be an lpn in Canada and I was wondering would it effect my permanent nursing record in the future or just on my student file. I don't know how it works for nursing in the real world when they make mistaks and if any one whom as a student made a mistake. I didn't hurt the patient or anything just was helping them get dressed before being discharged and undid the cord for the Iv so they could put their shirt on and get it right back asap. I wanted some feedback and advice on this topic and what your experiences have been. I'm pretty upset over this situation and I know we all make mistakes just worried about my record as a future nurse. Thanks for everything. Help student nurse need some advice.

P.S. The post from allnurses.com on Facebook LOL left that part out friend me if you want

Karla_isela · Jun 14, 2012

As a student RN and an STNA I would have to say I have never seen LPN's even touch an IV. Please correct me if I'm wrong but student LPN's aren't taught this skill unless they are becoming certified (it's optional and not a part of the LPN curriculum). So, as a student LPN the IV shouldn't be touched? I agree with everything asianmom78 commented about; I'm hoping this is all resolved. Personally, I would go into the meeting and ask exactly what you did wrong and why. If this is in fact your first time, inform your instructors/nurse that it will not happen again. Gain back their trust by putting in some extra lab time and when you're at clinicals volunteer to do whatever you can (show how much you want this). I'm also currently volunteering at my local free clinic. My instructors love to see students that really work hard. Good luck and don't give up! My one instructor blew up her science lab in high school, a few of them have showered themselves with saline solution from IV bags, and one of them even shared her story of when the Dr's prescription order was incorrect but because her preceptor reassured her that it was in fact the right dose (because that Dr was the best) she over dosed a child with morphine. She was only lucky that there is another medication that reverses the effects of morphine and the child was ok, but she called every hour through out the night making sure that child was stable. They have made mistakes but they have become an even better nurse because of those mistakes. :) You're only human but never forget how important your job is. You are liable for all of your actions as a nurse; there is no such thing as being overly cautious.

jaybird6501 · Jun 14, 2012

LPN/LVNs can touch IVs....Just depends on where u are an what the policy is at the facility....I start, run, dc them all the time....best wishes hun....this too shall pass!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 14, 2012

Come on guys, lets be a bit more supportive. Yes the OP did a mistake, I am sure we have all made mistakes both as students and as nurses. We learn from them. There has been some good advice in this thread

loriangel14, RN · Jun 14, 2012

Karla must be in the US.My PN program covered IV therapy as it is within our scope of practice.