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Discussion

Coming back to work after mistake

I'm a new grad, been out on the floor for about three months on my own so far. So far I've made two major mistakes. The first was my second day on my own..it was a med error. After that error (which wasn't a life threatening error) it scared me so now I'm super careful about meds. But then last night I didn't monitor a post op thyroidectomy Pt frequently enough. When the surgeon came in he had a small hematoma around the incision. I felt terrible but I was so anxious I couldn't even think straight when the surgeon was asking me questions. The Pt had been up and walking fine so I just didn't even think to check under the dressing (I know, it's stupid). I basically made a fool of myself in front of the surgeon and incoming nurse, and far worse the Pt could have been injured. I've had these types of pts before but they had no complications, and open wound sites so there was no dressing to peek under. Luckily the Pt was fine (as far as I know), they just kept him for more monitoring.

But now I'm afraid to go back to work. I already "turned myself in" to the nurse educator, told her about my mistake and what I should have done differently. I'm worried I'll get fired or suspended or written up, now that incoming nurse thinks I'm an idiot/lazy and probably told the other nurses, the surgeon provably has no trust in me...ugh.

After I made the med error I learned from it and I learned from this mistake but this was a more serious mistake. I'll never make it again. But I feel like I've let everyone down and probably ruined my reputation.

has anyone been in this situation? What should I do? Obviously I'll go back for my next shift...the educator didn't seem too alarmed when I told her, but what if I got suspended but don't know it?

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    • Expert

    Go to work. That's really all you can do. I doubt it will amount to the huge deal that you are fearing -- particularly since the educator did not have much of a reaction when you told her. If you are not supposed to go to work, they probably would have called you and told you not to come. If they are going to talk to you after you get to work, there is nothing you can do about that but face it.

    Some times, you just need to be brave and take a step forward. So, take a deep breath, do whatever calming activities you can do for yourself, and move forward.

    I think it will be OK. Good luck to you.

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    • Expert

    You're being WAY too hard on yourself. EVERYBODY makes mistakes... even the CNE has made his/her share of them and so has the surgeon. You're not only getting comfortable on a new unit with a new group of coworkers, you're also learning how to function in the real world with the basic education you've received. Nobody expects you to be perfect! If your thyroidectomy patient's hematoma was small enough to be concealed by the dressing, it was small enough not to compromise his airway, which is the main concern for these patients in the immediate post-op period. How often do you think you should have been lifting the dressing to look at the incision? I'd say the purpose of the dressing is to protect the incision from infection and to promote healing. Which it isn't going to do if it's off more than it's on! Please, lay down the stick. You've already beaten yourself up far more than your "error" warrants.

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    Everyone makes mistakes, but it's important to learn from mistakes. Sometimes, if I'm not familiar with a surgery, procedure or anything else, I ask the physician or off-going nurse what I should be looking for. I also read up on condition for extra tips. When others see you being conscientious, they are more impressed, and will trust you more. We can't know everything, but we can take steps to increase our knowledge and skills. Good luck. You're going to be fine.

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