Does anyone ever feel guilty about care not given by the end of your shift?

chicookie, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

I'm new so I try not to sweat it to much and long as I did the best I can that is all I can do.

I'm not supernurse. I'm far from it.

But we will get there eventually. I just know it. One day we will look back and say remember when were new and stupid and laugh.

NURSERUBY1206, LPN, LVN · Mar 6, 2009

I can totally relate... Maybe for three months I always end up crying, beating myself up whenever I get home from duty because I feel so incompetent whenever I forget to do something for the patient (and it doesn't help that I don't have any friends yet AND I'm new in the neighborhood. Sweet ....)

But I'm fine now - I can face whatever comes my way :).

Minnie2006 · Mar 6, 2009

First off, returing to the field is a huge step. I too will be starting over after almost 15 years and I am terrified. While there may be some things you had not gotten to, recognizing this, shows that you do have the knowledge and desire to do the job well. The best we can do until we develop confidence and skill again is to learn from these experiences and put it to use the next time the situation arises. Hopefully your fellow nurses are treating you well and helping you along. Good luck to you.

talaxandra · Mar 6, 2009

Nursing is 24-hour care: it's the nature of the job that there will sometimes be things left over, either because you were too busy, they came up too late in the shift for you to address, or because you just plain forgot.

If you think about it, I'm sure there are things outgoing shifts handed over for you to follow up. For me, tonight, these things included an admission on a patient who came up not long before change of shift; a fluid review on a patient receivng blood; e-referrals on three patients; dietary updates on three patients; an IV med that hadn't been given because blood was running; a catch up dose if IV antibiotics because the IV was out; and patient education. That doesn't mean the PM staff were slack or sub-par, just that stuff happens.

As long as it's not routine stuff every shift it's okay :)

MelissaPhoographerRN · Mar 6, 2009

Just do your best!! Like someone said, it's a 24 hour job that never ends. There's always something that you're going to have to pass on. There have been times when I have stayed late to change a central line dressing that I knew needed done all day, but was just so swamped that I never got to it.

When I worked on the floor I wrote down anything that needed done to a patient that was out of the ordinary of passing meds and such. Or even if they had a med due at a weird time or something. Then scratched threw it when it was done. That way if there's something you didn't get to, waiting on supplies for, waiting to hear back from the Dr about, whatever you have it written down right in front of you to pass on in report.

hijabiRN · Mar 6, 2009

I feel AWFUL when i'm at home, in the shower, and I remember that cup of coffee I was supposed to get Mr x!!!!

Just my little tip for report: I write my report out in black, and all day, as new orders are being written, I write those on my sheet in red. That way, when I give report to the night nurse, I know to tell her about all of the new orders for the day, and I don't have to remember what they are, because they are all in red on my sheet. HTH. :up:

Tom123 · Mar 6, 2009

I like the way you think. I have read a couple of your responses, and from what I can gather, you entered nursing for the right reasons -- to care for patients. It is refreshing to see a young nurse look at the "team" and the patient.

Keep up the good work.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

There are times when I'm sure the most experienced, educated and well organized nurse feels like this too. We all do. As another poster said, nursing is a 24 hour job and what you cannot do in your 8 or 12 hours, the next nurse should be able to play catch up with.

It takes a while to get comfortable with a job and I'm sure that is most likely what you are experiencing - inexperience and discomfort. Give it a couple of months or so.

systoly · Mar 6, 2009

Sometimes I would feel completely defeated. These days, I use a two step approach. First I reboot myself by clearing the thoughts of should have/could have. Then I reflect about everything I did accomplish in a very limited time frame. Now that I'm feeling better about myself, I single out the one thing I really regret not having done and figure out how I could have incorporated that without letting something else slide.

iwanna · Mar 6, 2009

I totally understand. I just started new job at LTC. I have only worked in behavioral health. Also, I have not worked in almost 5 years due to physical disability. I should have found a job that was not physically demanding and stressful. Actually, it is the stress that bothers me more. I am way too slow on passing meds, and I end up having someone helping me because I am taking too long. I know there are more things that I should have charted and remember when I get home. I don't know if I will get to the point that I actually accomplish everything that I am supposed to on my shift. If it wasn't for others helping, I would not get it done. I worry that other staff is thinking that I am incompetent. I have been here for one month, and I get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I have to work. I am so stressed. My husband is not very supportive and wants me to quit. He is concerned about my health because I have had some major health problems over the years. I have an illness that has periods of exacerbations and remissions. I don't know how much more time that I should give it, but this anxiety is killing me. Also, I have stress in my family life. My daughter is an active drug addict in deep depression. Also, she has a 2 y.o., and she is a single mom. So, I am taking care of him much of the time that I am off, and the other days he needs daycare. I feel like I am ready to blow from all of this stress. And, I would feel so guilty about quitting because the DON has really been trying to help me. I feel bad if I quit that she just wasted her time on me. However, I am sure that other staff is not thrilled when I am working their shift. Although, they have been very nice to me. I am sure that I am taking away from them, when I need help. I just don't feel that I am a good fit for this type of nursing.

Virgo_RN, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2009

A year and a half in, I still feel this way. The difference now is, I don't take it home with me and let it keep me up at night. Once I walk out the door, I leave it all there.