So I think it is safe to say that the honeymoon is offically OVER and I have stepped into REALITY :uhoh21: ...........
I have quickly realized that nursing school is pretty far from the truth when it comes to what really goes on. I am seeing a lot of "covering up" to protect yourself type of stuff. I actually feel terribly guilty about something. Here goes.....
So other day I got an order to give K-Dur 20mEq x 3 now. I gave the first dose....then I went about my busy day, and completely FORGOT to administer the rest. The next morning in report the night nurse mentions that I need to sign for the K, my heart jumped into my throat. Once she left I called my preceptor over and I told her that I had made a big mistake, and asked her what should I do, she said "The K is still going to be low, and the md will order more, so just give that." I asked her what would happen if I just came clean and told the md that it was never given, she told me that he's one of the "nasty" ones so just give it when he orders more, because the patient needs it anyway. She then proceeded to tell me that one of the most important things I have to remember is to "NEVER ADMITT TO ANYTIHNG."
Then yesterday I had to give Dilaudid (sp?) IVP, I went to go do it but the patients IV was clotted and no good. We called the IV nurse to come and put a new one in (she wouldn't be there for an hour or so). So I'm standing there with a syringe filled with a narcotic in my hand and I ask my preceptor what should I do with this? She tells me to put it in my pocket. I ask her again, "in my pocket? are you sure we shouldnt waste it?" She told me again to put it in my pocket, and if the IV nurse can't get a new lock in we will waste it. I felt very uncomfortable walking around with a narcotic in my pocket. But I wasn't sure if this was the right/wrong thing to do. The way she told me to "put it in my pocket" just sounded very shady to me.
I just feel so guilty. Covering up like that. Is this the norm? Does this go on everywhere?? I'm not sure if this is common, or if my preceptor is showing me bad habits. I feel so naive to all of this. Can someone explain this to me???