Does It Ever Get Easier??!!

[lisa41rn]

I've been working on a med/surg floor for almost a year now. I've always been hard on myself and expect perfection. As a favor and to help my floor, I worked a six week rotation on nights. I do not like nights at all. I really think some day nurses (myself included) take things for granted...even the light shining in helps to give a good assessment.

Anyway, I really have done well and have made very few minor mistakes, but just did one last night, on my last night shift!! I feel so bad and STUPID!! The nurse before me hung a new IV fluid bag. I did a quick check on it and it "seemed" right. I went off my memory. Should have been 1/2 NS and was NS. Well the day nurse taking over from me said the wrong bag was hung. They are very similar, but needless to say were not the same solution and I never caught it. I feel horrible. I told the nurse in charge and she said they were almost the same, the infusing rate was very low and no harm was done, but I still feel so bad. I just never want to make a mistake.

Even though I find many mistakes others make, I never feel a sense of joy in bringing it to their attention if it calls for that. However, I find many other nurses want to find mistakes of other nurses because it makes them feel better and takes the attention off of their own mistakes!!

Needless to say, I'm burning myself out. I really am thorough, have regretted working nights so much because I just don't feel like a great nurse when I'm so exhausted. Are any of you hard on yourself and if so, how do you deal with it? Thanks!

[SharonH, RN]

I used to be very hard on myself but I learned my lesson about that because it is pointless. Yes, you need to be introspective to a point in order to learn from your mistakes but there is no point in beating yourself up especially if there was no harm done. After I realized that the people who were in my face the most were the ones making the worst mistakes, I realized that I didn't need to feel like less of a nurse because I had an occasional oops. As you already know, everyone makes mistakes and you will make others. May I suggest that you do not do your floor any more "favors"? Trust me, in the long run this will not pay off. You know what works best for you, do it and let those whose responsibility it is work out their own staffing problems.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Besides from being not being perfect. What have you learned? You learned you didn't like nightshift, you learned to not rely on your memory. You probably won't make this mistake again. That's how I stop beating myself up, by looking at what is there to learn. Still, I am my own worst enemy. I just got a call that I didn't sign a slip for some blood I hung the other day. Rats, I'm not perfect.

Some people do relish in the mistakes of others. I hate when a mistake that I've overlooked in someone else is pointed out with glee by someone else. But that's really their stuff, not mine, and if I indeed made a mistake no need to be upset with them.

[MimismomRN]

Lisa, I just went through making a much more serious mistake than you. I am a new nurse and was with a new preceptor one day and I followed her to give meds without doing what I know, grabbing chart, checking armband as I was very stressed (med/surg with 11-15 patients) and she gave the meds to the wrong patient and I an injection. Then when I checked the chart I realized the med sheets had been switched in the charts from the night shift and we had not checked armband, etc. in a rush. I reported it to the charge nurse right away, we monitored the patient, call the doctor and thank God my patient was alright. I on the other hand am a wreck, cannot sleep, question my ability to be a nurse. I knew better, I have always been so careful checking everything five times until that instance. I am so upset and anxious that I'm not even sure I can return to work. Please don't beat yourself up like I have. I know it does not good. Just don't know how I will get through and past this. And if I can't, then I will never be a good nurse.

[BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN]

First....we all make mistakes and we have to learn from them. When I find a mistake, I make sure to tell the person that made it...so that they won't make it again. And if one of the gleeful ones points out a mistake to you, you just say "Thanks for bring that to my attention, you are right, I just did a quick glance and didn't realize it!" No more, no less.

You have to learn to let things roll....if you made a mistake, learn from it and move on or you will be burnt out way to quickly!

[SmilingBluEyes]

does it get easier? YES!

Don't beat yourself up....and hang in there.