Am I in trouble?

[nursetutor]

Hi-

Ive been really nervous all day. I left work and forgot to tell the oncoming nurse that my pt's tube feeds had to be turned off at a certain time during the day as per a new order placed on my shift. (to cycle tube feeds)

I know that the nurse was looking over all the orders as I left, especially the new orders. However, I am sooooo nervous and cant think of anything else.

Will I get in trouble if he doesnt turn off the tube feeds? Or is it her responsiblity to look at the orders????

Please respond. Thanks!

[hikernurse]

I can't tell you how many times I wake up and remember something I forgot to tell day shift before I left. If she was looking at the orders when you left, I bet she sees it. Looking at new orders is what you do when you come on board to start a new shift. If you think about it in time, nothing wrong with calling and saying, "Oops, I forgot to tell you ..." Try not to lose any sleep over it.

[nursetutor]

Thanks for your reply.

I am just really afraid that the pt was receiving his TF all day- he has a hx of CHF and when I left I told the oncoming RN that I feel he is fluid overloaded and that he should ask the team about decreasing his IVFs.

It's only my 14th week at the hospital so Im still on probation.

Every day after shift I have 1 or 2 things that I beat myself up for- like forgetting to follow up on small things or communicating with day shift.

However, this TF issue could potentially be very serious if the RN doesnt turn it off.

How bad can I get in troubly for something like this???

[dekatn]

Just call them and tell them you forgot to tell about the feeding.

[hikernurse]

I'm really new at this myself, but if the feeds need to be turned off during the next shift, I think it's the nurse's responsibility on that shift to do so. I'm sure she'll notice s/s of fluid overload during the assessment. It sounds like telling her your concerns r/t to that alerted her to look at the new orders, but I'm sure she would look anyway. Why don't you give her a quick call just to make sure; it would ease your mind :).

The biggest thing I don't like about working as a nurse (I graduated last spring) is feeling like I'll never know anything. Not a day goes by where I don't learn something; unfortunately, it seems that I always learn AFTER I've done it wrong, not before. It's hard not to beat yourself up over what you didn't do. I've sure learned some things the hard way. Definitely my biggest stress on the job. I think I'd like just one day where I do everything right, LOL.

Hugs to you. It sounds like you're a caring nurse and I can relate to being new. It's kind of an awful feeling, yes?

Just for the record, I'm pretty sure when I give report to the more experienced nurses, they know I'm new and take that into consideration. Some are good at saying something along the lines of, "I noticed you . . . I changed that during my shift because ... really works better." Just fill in the blanks .

[BlearnRN]

Just call. I think all nurses have forgotten to do something and some time. If the nurse gives you an attitude, then so be it. One time I forgot to get a patients own medication verified before I left for the day. I had to call back and tell the nurse. She was a little mad, but oh well, at least it was passed on. The other day, I caught something that was not passed on to me. Someone forgot to tell me that a pt had a sore on his buttocks. Luckily I was flipping through the notes and found that information. But more luckily the sore was documented when the pt came in. If it had not been we (the hospital) would have been responsible for it. Don't worry about getting in trouble. No one is perfect all the time.

[nursetutor]

thanks everyone for your replies.

By the time I remembered it was probably too late to call. So I'll just wait untill next week when I go back to work and see if I really messed up.

[SharonH, RN]

It is the oncoming nurse's responsibility to check for orders and treatments. Personally I used to hate to get a report laden with details about every little treatment and med I'm supposed to give. I might write down what you tell me but I won't do it anyway unless I see an order. So R E L A X.

[Love_2_Learn]

I wouldn't worry too much now either since so much time has passed. When I have those moments, usually as I am trying to fall asleep, I jump up and run to the phone to call and tell the nurse what I forgot to tell them. Another thought, since you are a relative newbie on your unit I would imagine the oncoming nurse would be a little extra careful in checking orders and things she needs to do since being new you can make more "oopsies" than the old-timers on the unit might. Just learn from each experience and I think you will be fine.

[hikernurse]

thanks everyone for your replies.

By the time I remembered it was probably too late to call. So I'll just wait untill next week when I go back to work and see if I really messed up.

Believe me, if you had really messed up, THEY would have called YOU by now .

[nursetutor]

Thanks everyone for your responses. I feel more relaxed now.

Enjoy your weekends.

[ann945n, RN]

I agree with other posters. Even if you told her to turn it off she shouldnt have without seeing the order herself. Its her job to check for new orders. Of course giving a heads up is always nice thing to do, I dont think you did anything wrong