Forgot to unclamp the secondary

[DH1234]

I am on orientation still, and I been making mistakes. No serious med errors or any mistakes that has caused harm to the patient. However, this morning I hung an IV antibiotic, and I am pretty sure I forgot to unclamp the secondary tubing. I think I made the same mistake two weeks earlier, but after that I never made that mistake again until today I think. I am pretty sure if it happened the day shift nurse caught it. But I feel so stupid. I do not know why I keep making this mistake. I do not want my preceptor and other nurses think I am incompetent. I honestly feel awful because I sort of delayed his care.

Does this happen to experienced nurses sometimes? I know this a mistake, but is it something I should lose sleepover. Have you ever heard of a nurse getting fired for this? I honestly feel so awful.

[Tron8622]

Tbh I never used secondary I.V. tubing not my cup of tea . I usually just connect them both to separate channels on the pump . The beeping will remind when it is done or if you need to unclap it .

[RN_atlast]

Not unclamping the secondary is a different “mistake” than say accidentally bolusing a K rider or something. But it’s a good time to learn to take your time with medications. When I’m pulling meds or giving the patient meds if the patient is distracting me I say something like “that’s a great question, let me just finish preparing these medications and then we will talk about it.” It comes with time. I’m still a relatively newer nurse, but that’s what I’ve picked up along the way this far. Once a medication is given, that bell cannot be unrung, so just take your time with medications.