Feel like I have no clue UGH

Nursing Students General Students

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Last semester I had a professor that hated me. Failed me for something I wasn't even supposed to be tested on, made unprofessional comments about me, my personality etc. Whatever.

Bottom line is whatever confidence I had is pretty much shot.

Just started my second semster of clinical, with a new professor. the first nite out, she put in info on a patient incorrectly and I proceeded to stick the patient I assumed she put in the right info, she had the device w/ patient's name in her hand and his paperwork in her hand. I assumed (which I will NEVER do again) that the info she had put in was correct. We caught the mistake and it was fixed. HOWEVER, she has brought this up numerous times referring to it as "You screwed Up" and "You won't screw up again next time". Two other students saw what happened and both knew she was also at fault for what happened. I should've taken the device out of her hand and checked it so I was at fault too and I own that.

Anyway, now I feel so stupid and can't seem to do anything right. I get mixed messages regarding professors and their teaching styles and I know that they have my future in their hands. Any advice on how to survive?? And thanks for letting me vent.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

The biggest tip I can give you sounds harsh but it is meant to help:

Take responsibility for your role in both school an clinical actions.

This is not a profession where it is ok to assume

things. In my opinion, even though she put the wrong info in, you were the one the ultimately made the error. It sounds like you have started down this road realizing that you should have checked; I am sure you will never make a similar error again.

Blaming the school or professor or instructor does nothing to help make you better. Take responsibility for your contributions and learn from them; it makes the most of a bad situation.

Edit: In my first clinical I saw a clinical instructor run down the hall and stop a student from injecting a insulin dose a RN drew up and gave the student. Can you see what's wrong with that situation?

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Hi,

In my previous post, I did own up to my portioin of this mistake.

One of my classmates explained to another professor, "we are treated like abused children, we are not allowed to ask questions, or we'll get in trouble". Unfortunately that's how our program is run.

I definately should've checked the device. But they have the fear of God in us to the point that we are chastised if we ask anything. However, I do know that if anything like that happens again, I will be more assertive.

On of my bff's is a nurse, she thot maybe this was a "test" from the professor. I wonder...

Ironically last night, I passed meds. When the same Prof pulled them from the Pyxis, I double checked everything she did. I am starting to learn, this is my practice and as the old song goes, "I won't get fooled again".

I just wish our envirnment was more encouraging and not of scolding.

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why didn't the student draw up the dose herself? OR watch and check as it was drawn?? Right...Gotcha!

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Every student or nurse makes a mistake at some point. It happens. I will always remember mine. It also helps us learn.

I am sorry to hear about your program, it sounds like it is not a good learning environment (insane even).

If it was a "test" and she let a pt get stuck the she would be in some serious trouble.

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ALWAYS check 3 times. Since this was your instructor, I understand why you automatically assumed everything was fine, I probably would have too, which is why we also have to check.

You won't make this mistake again and it probably was a lesson your classmates learned too after seeing what happened. This time it was your instructor handing you the mistake, when you are a nurse it will be the doctor, pharmacist, etc. You are the last line of defense for the patient in any situation! Lesson learned the hard way, but we will ALL make a med mistake at some point in our careers, so remember that when you start to feel totally incompetent!

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Ironically, a few years ago there were many issues with this program and few if any students passed NCLEX...so they fired quite a few ppl and brought in brand new staff and retooled the whole program. Thx soo much for the support!

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Thx!!! Yet anoter hard lesson learned on the road to nursedom...

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