Error during clinical

[gina3094]

This past week during clinical my instructor handed me discharge instructions and said my patient was being discharged to home. So I went in the room and gave the discharge instructions. Well the next day on the unit we were notified that her IV saline lock was not removed from here arm. Well since it was my patient i know have to write a 7 page report on iv care and write a critical incident in my journal. I understand the seriousness of this. But anyother time we had to removed a saline lock we were told to. I know it was my responsibilty to assess the patient. But she bathed herself and dressed herself early in the am to be discharged. This is making me really upset that i did this. I wanna be successful in nursing school but right now im pretty bummed and i just feel like a failure. i need help...

[cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN]

You're not the first person to discharge someone with a SL. Don't beat yourself up over this. I know of a nurse who discharged a known drug user with a PICC line! Eeks! I've seen plenty of people come back into the hospital and ask to have thier SLs removed.

Just learn from it and move on. I bet it's something that you will never do again!

[LeapofFaith]

Don't be too hard on yourself!

You made a mistake, it didn't harm the patient-take it as a learning experience.

[hikernurse]

Whoa, seven pages . Is there any comfort in knowing that you're not the first? I've done it myself.

My ; if you are a student you have a nurse or the CI watching over you and what you don't catch, they should. Not to diminish your responsibility, but you wouldn't need to be a student if you already knew everything .

It's a good idea to do an assessment before discharge, just to make sure the pt is stable, even if the patient is already dressed and now you know :). Even so, sometimes things get missed. I'm always surprised the patient doesn't say something because they have to be very aware that it's still there .

Do your paper (sorry, that doesn't sound like much fun) and I bet you won't do it again. I've learned the hard way from doing worse than that. Unfortunately, that's the way it is sometimes.

{{{{{Gina}}}}}

[gina3094]

I am probally being harder on myself because I have to write a 7 page paper about it now..and it due next week..does anyone know of any good information sites to help me with IV caths, IV maitainece, and frequency of changing.??

[hikernurse]

I am probally being harder on myself because I have to write a 7 page paper about it now..and it due next week..does anyone know of any good information sites to help me with IV caths, IV maitainece, and frequency of changing.??

Try an article search through your school. There's probably a ton out there. At seven pages, you may have to branch out a little, though...

[Jules A, MSN]

Anyone that says they've never made an error is a liar, imo. We are in school to learn and part of that includes not being perfect. Hang in there, write your paper and be happy knowing that you won't ever make this same mistake again. In fact I may never make it either now after reading your story, thank you for sharing and helping me learn also.

Jules

[locolorenzo22, BSN, RN]

This actually occurs on the job sometimes....patients arrive back into the ER asking to have their SL removed...

I once was taking out a patient...and we had to wait for the cab. Good thing, the nurse had forgotten to check the patient for a SL....had to come down and check out his arms because she forgot!.....mistakes happen.

The paper is silly....it's a crap job....GL on it.

PS don't feel bad, I almost got kicked out of school after my first clinical...and now I only have 4 clinicals left!!!!! WHOOOOO!!!!

[nurserynurse55]

Why were you discharging as a student anyway? You can do some teaching, but the final discharge should be done by the RN. You are not at fault, but this was a good learning experience. Also, why didn't the patient say, "hey, wahat about mmy IV?".

[MiaKeaRN]

I'm in 2nd semester and we do not do the final discharge, we can go over all the paperwork and instructions, but the nurse does the final "see ya" before they head out the door. Just think of all the tuition and book money we could save if we could just learn all this stuff by osmosis!?

Don't sweat it too much. About 5 or 6 years ago I went to the ER because of a migraine and the nurse and paramedic (tech) that were taking care of me forgot to take my SL out......I pulled it myself at home, after I realized it was still in. I was kinda out of it when they discharged me from my Toradol & Demerol injections, so I didn't notice it before I left (I was more than a little loopy)!!

Hang in there!

[WDWpixieRN, RN]

Why were you discharging as a student anyway? You can do some teaching, but the final discharge should be done by the RN. You are not at fault, but this was a good learning experience. Also, why didn't the patient say, "hey, wahat about mmy IV?".

Wow, that's EXACTLY what I was going to post....I can not understand how any facility would allow a student, without another RN present, do the complete discharge on their own. Not cool in my opinion. As I understand, even LPNs aren't allowed to do that with their license. Very uncool. Good luck with that paper.

[psalm51]

here are a couple of excellent resources. maybe your school library has them. it's normal to feel bad when we make a mistake. but no one was hurt -- and you are not the first to do this. just be vigilant -- especially when meds and invasive lines are concerned.

a part of the learning process involves learning to cross your t's and dot your i's. good luck. i'm sure you will never do it again -- and you've already taught some others through your experience.

thank you.

manual of iv therapeutics by lynne dianne phillips

2008 intravenous medications: a handbook for nurses and health professionals by betty gahart and adrienne r. nazareno