What is the dumbest thing a student/newbie ever said or did??
I ask because I'm starting nursing school in May and want to know what NOT to do!
I thought it could be entertaining as well if not for those of us that are saying "I don't get it...why was that dumb??" than for you more experienced nurses to get a chuckle!
Also if there is anything that a student did that isn't exactly dumb just a BIG no-no please please share!
Wow I really appreciate the support for this thread. I received my books and started doing calculations and learning abbreviations and when I went back and read these posts they are making more and more sense and getting more and more scary!
Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you!
Some of these are just common sense but I'm sure I'll be able to add mine soon enough.
First off - I did and do plenty of dumb things, so don't think that I think students in general are dumb.
BUT... we had a student nurse give infant tylenol - you know the red, sugary sticky kind? - through a central line running the 18 month old patient's TPN.
And could not understand why this was considered a medical emergency after he did it.
Even with repeated explanations.
And diagrams.
Luckily - I was neither precepting or teaching. More luckily, said patient had no issues from the error.
PO meds go through the mouth, ngt, g tube or j tube. Not into veins or arteries.
Oh and my close friend who is a pediatrician one demonstrated how to d/c a foley on a comatose patient in front of all of her class while a med student.
Except she didn't realize you had to deflate the balloon first.
So she just pulled. And pulled. And finally just planted her feet and gave it everything she had.
Oddly, the patient - who was completely unresponsive to pain for weeks prior to that day - actually moved!
*I know, I know, it sucked for the poor guy, she felt terrible and still does to this day 20 years later, but my point is that 1) everyone!!!! screws up - this woman is the smartest person I know and 2) there's humor everywhere in the hospital.
2. This was not a newbie. This actually happened at a hospital in Tulsa: A nurse warmed blood in the microwave prior to transfusing. As far as I remember, the patient died.
2. This was not a newbie. This actually happened at a hospital in Tulsa: A nurse warmed blood in the microwave prior to transfusing. As far as I remember, the patient died.
I think you're right, SMK1. The microwaving caused the RBCs to hemolyze, and release potassium. The patient died on the operating table soon after the transfusion, after a successful hip replacement.
it turns out you can't hear bowel sounds through breast tissue, no matter how low they hang.
Did this while checking for ng placement. The pts sister said, "Dear...you're listening to her breast." I think about this everytime I check for ng placement.
Did this while checking for ng placement. The pts sister said, "Dear...you're listening to her breast." I think about this everytime I check for ng placement.
I did not do this personally but we had a nurse do something similar on an OB patient. She could not figure out why the woman was crying in pain but she could not pic up any contractions with the toco. It was on the womans breast!!! We all had a good laugh at that one!
There is one new staff nurse followed a physician's round. He asked the staff to hold his TIE for him as he is bending down to auscultate the patient's lungs. Instead the staff nurse held his THIGH.
than for you more experienced nurses to get a chuckle!
Abishag
168 Posts
Wow I really appreciate the support for this thread. I received my books and started doing calculations and learning abbreviations and when I went back and read these posts they are making more and more sense and getting more and more scary!
Anyhow, I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you!
Some of these are just common sense but I'm sure I'll be able to add mine soon enough.
