Describe your biggest failure and what did you learn.

[nynewrn]

I think I gotta be careful on this one too... which ones shall I say as an example and which ones I shouldn't. Is there a rule in answering this question? It sounds tricky though. Thanks folks!

[Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN]

this might be a "risky" thread - the entire world leaves you open to fault and litigation and we know that anything on any forum is usually identifiable by someone.

overall - i've had my share. regardless of the issue - is to learn from what happened and go forward never making the same "mistakes". also, to forgive myself and work to solve the issues that lead to failures.

i am better today, than yesterday and i will be better tomorrow than today. everyday - no exceptions.

don't take a knife to a gun fight. take the gun - better yet, several guns and several friends with guns, too! point: be prepared, think ahead - be ready - have a plan, back-up plan and plan c, d.......

good luck and remember the only folks that have never failed - are those that have never done anything!!!

practice safe!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Personal or work?

My biggest personal failure was almost marrying a big jerk. What did I learn? Choose more wisely.

Work: I hate to use the word failure at work. Nursing is always an ongoing learning experience. There are always things I could have done better. What I have learned to do is as follows:

Don't panic. It doesn't do any good.

Focus, focus, focus.

Whatever you did wrong, learn from it and move on.

Forgive yourself and forgive others.

[tyvin, BSN, RN]

Several years ago an older women who was wealthy with lots of family was admitted to the very ritzy LTC facility I was working at. An aid caused the women to fall (the aid later admitted to me). As a result this women who had no concerns with ambulation broke her hip. She come back from the hospital after surgery to recover.

To make a long story short the wound wasn't healing right. Dark serosanguineous fluid kept leaking. I kept saying we need to send her out somethings wrong. Since I was new and a new grad no one listened. One month to the day of her returning from the hip surgery I called the doc and told him I believed he needed to see this women immediately.

It turns out the doc requested her to come in, they took x rays and later she was admitted to the hospital for some procedure that was not made clear. Turns out I heard from a friend at that hospital when they x rayed this women they found an old sponge from the previous surgery that had been left inside.

That women came back to our facility and never walked again. I inquired if the family was going to be told about the sponge and I was told to mind my own business. I was such a coward. I should have told the family but I was afraid. What that experience did to me was I have never let anyone else down. I have almost been fired 2 times for butting my self into patient situations where things just weren't right. I realize I have never really recovered from that and it will follow me forever.

[GHGoonette, BSN, RN]

With every "failure", I learned that the only time it can be called a "failure" is if you give up trying, or give up learning. Your entire life is a learning experience, and the best, most lasting lessons are those you learn from your mistakes. Sure, we all do our best not to make mistakes, whether in our professional or our personal lives, and that which is done can never be undone, but we can turn our failures into resounding triumphs if we pick ourselves up and do it right next time we're confronted with the same, or a similar, problem.

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

I have learn't that the grass is never greener on the other side

I have learn't that I cannot please everybody

I have learn't that the people you least expect can stab you hard in the back

I have learn't that you have to stand by what you have said because if you dont it will come back to haunt you

[Davey Do]

You know, when I started into Surgery, I was All Thumbs. But then I got good at it. I've ticked off everybody from Patients to Supervisors in all the areas of Nursing I've worked. But I've never done anything unethical, immoral, or illegal. So maybe they just needed a Wake Up Call or a Reality Check.

I can't recall anything I've done in which I would term to be a Failure. Maybe someone else could say, "Wow! Dave really failed at that one!" But I feel pretty good about myself and the work that I've done.

I guess I look at experiences in a more Generic and Phliosophical sense: Experiences are what they are, One does what One can, and then One goes on, sometimes benefitting from the Experience, sometimes merely having to deal with It.

Good enquiry, nynewrn. (Now if you want to know the biggest Mistake I've ever made, well then, that's a different Kettle of Fish!)

Dave

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Guys I think this is a job interview question.

[Davey Do]

Guys I think this is a job interview question.

Ah Jeez! I didn't pass the audition, did I?

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Lol..

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

I have learn't that the grass is never greener on the other side

I have learn't that I cannot please everybody

I have learn't that the people you least expect can stab you hard in the back

I have learn't that you have to stand by what you have said because if you dont it will come back to haunt you

OMG, isn't that the truth!

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Guys I think this is a job interview question.

I'm still sticking by my answers even if I didn't get the job.

I think the OP needs to answer their own question. I'm curious on the answer.