Calling the unit? Mistake?

[dergs]

Hi

I'm a new grad nurse who has been working on a busy ICU for 3 months. This is my 2nd week off orientation and I constantly get the feeling that I forgot not necessarily to do something, but to chart it. We use electronic medical record, but sometimes it's easy to overlook something small. Anyway, I had a 3 patient assignment today due to understaffing, but left with my head held high knowing the amount I accomplished in my 12 hour shift. Throughout my 12 hour shift, our charge nurse was charting small things for me, which is common with a heavy patient load. When I got home, I got really worried that I forgot to chart one of my restraint checks. I was really panicked and thinking of going back in to check myself. I ended up calling my unit in which the night charge picked up and let me know that I didn't forget to chart it. Was it silly of me to do this?

[TriciaJ, RN]

No. Not silly. It's the pits when you're haunted by things from work, but sometimes you just have to put your mind at rest. Three ICU patients? Of course you wonder if you left something undone.

[Triddin]

I tend to check my charting if I'm in the next day and add a late note if needed

[NurseCard, ADN]

No, not silly at all.

[Sour Lemon]

Hi

I'm a new grad nurse who has been working on a busy ICU for 3 months. This is my 2nd week off orientation and I constantly get the feeling that I forgot not necessarily to do something, but to chart it. We use electronic medical record, but sometimes it's easy to overlook something small. Anyway, I had a 3 patient assignment today due to understaffing, but left with my head held high knowing the amount I accomplished in my 12 hour shift. Throughout my 12 hour shift, our charge nurse was charting small things for me, which is common with a heavy patient load. When I got home, I got really worried that I forgot to chart one of my restraint checks. I was really panicked and thinking of going back in to check myself. I ended up calling my unit in which the night charge picked up and let me know that I didn't forget to chart it. Was it silly of me to do this?

It might be over the top. What was going to happen if you did forget to chart one of the restraint checks?

If I have a patient with a drain and I forget to chart output ...and I know the surgeon will be in at 9AM inquiring about output to decide whether or not to pull the drain, I'll call about that.

Imagine you're a short-staffed nurse struggling to get through the day. What do you want the prior shift to call you about?

[nursel56]

No, it isn't silly. I did the same thing early in my career. I was obsessing a little more than usual that night, so I called in to the night shift nurse and asked her to check if I charted on a med I knew I'd given, but couldn't specifically recall charting it.

The anxiety in general tends to smooth out with experience, thankfully!

[jennylee321]

No this is a common thing to do when your new. When I was new I would sometime wake up at 2am and be like "did I chart that ?".

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

It depends on what you "think" you forgot to chart. Who CARES about a restraint check, that is crossing your t's and dotting your I's.... and interrupting another nurse to check that. How do expect another nurse to chart for you?

I would not hesitate to call if I thought I forgot to carry out a task, never with charting.

[Muser69]

This happened to me for the 46 years I worked as an RN. One night I was almost standing in bed and trying to hang an iV bottle. My husband didn't know what I was doing. (Bad dream about work)

Every night woorying about what I did and didn't do.

Fast forward to my new greatest job in history, working at a cannabis store and making people pain free and happy.

Now I wake up wondering if i gave correct change and put the patient labels on the products correctly.

We all have worries, hopefully you can learn to keep them on perspective.

[cleback]

The nurse you called can't chart it for you. I understand the anxiety but you should've let this one go (unless you actually planned on coming in to chart if missing). Only call for things they can correct/amend.

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

The nurse you called can't chart it for you. I understand the anxiety but you should've let this one go (unless you actually planned on coming in to chart if missing). Only call for things they can correct/amend.

I get what you're saying, obviously. But I get the OP's point too. I don't think - maybe I missed it, but I didn't get that she wanted someone else to chart something for her. Just to know if she did or didn't. If she didn't, then the thing to get her brain to be quiet would have been to either: go in and chart it then, or chart it later the next day (either working or not - going in at a more reasonable hour).

I've forgotten to chart things before. Little things but still. The others are right, you will eventually become less anxious. You'll learn, as you refine prioritizing, that some things REALLY matter, and other things matter, but matter a little less.

[Orion81RN]

I tend to check my charting if I'm in the next day and add a late note if needed

I think that's something we often forget while in the midst of anxiety. That we legally have the ability to make an addendum or a late entry.

When you go home, if you find yourself having nagging what if thoughts, call if it's important enough, but if it can wait...jot down the things you want to re-check the next day. It's like getting it out if your mind and onto paper, and hopefully allow you to rest easy. Often physically jotting it down gives your mind the belief that you've done something about it and can put it out of your mind.

You're off to a great start being so conscientious. But allow yourself to rest your brain at home. Ask others what they do to leave the work day at work. Congrats on your new career!