First clinical. Forgot to document vital signs.

Today was my first clinical, and I had to do my last set of vital signs before it was time to report to the nurse and leave. I could've sworn I documented them but at noon, the nurse assisting me, emailed saying I didn't document the vital signs and she needs them from me. I'm just now getting the email and it's night now. She already left the hospital and before I left the charge nurse said the patient might be discharged that afternoon. I feel horrible because I may have caused a big problem for them because of this. What is usually done when something like this happens?

A missing set of vitals does not cause a big problem.

If somebody needs a set of vitals, they can take one.

If the patient left, without a final set of vitals, it is highly unlikely that this will cause a problem.

If those vitals were important, it was somebody else's job to get them. They might have screwed up, but that's not on you. Nothing personal, but any nurse who depended on a first day student to do something exercised poor judgement.

And, most important- You are a student. You are there, essentially, to make mistakes and learn from them.

Congratulations, you are on your way.

It is still the responsibility of the staff to make sure stuff gets done?

I don't see why she would have bothered to email you vs just go get a set of vitals. I'm going to assume that's what she did when you didn't reply after a while. If the patient is ready for discharge their vitals aren't overly concerning to me. If i noticed a student didn't enter the non vitals before they left, I'd simply go get a set.

That's said, I do remember my first clinical and basically all clinicals through nursing school, and I know that every little thing feels like life or death or if your clinical instructor will crucify you. Just breath. You're doing fine. Best of luck to you!

at noon, the nurse assisting me, emailed...

Is that the usual thing now? Why are they able to email students about patient care? Or about anything?

Anyway, don't worry about this. It wouldn't have caused a big problem or even a tiny problem.

Nothing personal, but any nurse who depended on a first day student to do something exercised poor judgement.

This...in spades!

Is that the usual thing now? Why are they able to email students about patient care? Or about anything?

Right? And asking the student to share patient information via email that isn't likely encrypted? That would not be wise!

There's so many plot holes to this movie!

When I worked in the hospital, nursing students were usually on the floor from 7am-1pm-ish. If, after they left at 1pm, I noticed that there were no 12pm VS documented, I'd take 2 minutes to do a set myself.

In my clinicals, we documented a set of vitals but so did the aide. Students were not relied upon. No one had any of our contract info.