bad feeling

[birdie22]

I made a med error and its slowly eating away at me inside. I'm still a new grad, almost out of orientation. Last night, my preceptor came in the patient's room to hang tpn. He is the one who was actually setting up the IV machine. I was in the room with him doing other tasks (not that it makes a difference). So we are giving bedside report and its then, 12 hrs later, we notice that the tpn was running at 10ml/hr instead of 100ml/hr. I guess we just never noticed. I went in the room a couple times throughout the night and remember glancing at the machine, thinking 'everything looks good'. It was truly an honest mistake.

So I obviously feel horrible about it - we notified the docs to let them know. I know its a big amount, but its not like missing that tpn was life threatening or anything. I've obviously learned a valuable lesson here. I thought I was pretty good about double checking my IVs, but now I'm going to like a watchdog.

I guess the one thing that is making me even more stressed about the situation is the nurse I gave report to - to put it nicely, can be a bit OCD about things. I just felt her eyes were judging me the entire time and saying 'you idiot, you're a failure. you're in trouble now'. Dreading going back to work because I feel I will be in trouble with management. ughhhh, I just want this feeling to go away.

[tokmom, BSN, RN]

Phooey on the judgemental nurses. No nurse should ever throw stones if they pass meds or hang IV's. You never know when it will be your turn to screw up, lol.

How did the patient do with the change? Where they ok? My guess is they were, or you would have known something was up. I know you are going to beat yourself up, but you learned something. You learned to look a bit more closely and not just glance.

The pt is fine, you are fine, everyone is fine. It could have been a much worse mistake.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

Lesson learned- patient ok- DONE !!!

You care, noticed the problem (someone else didn't run up the hall with the bag dangling from their hand, screaming your name ). You learned something. That's THE best outcome from an error :) :heartbeat

[shouldabeenabarista]

This too shall pass...this is one of your million times in your career that you will not be perfect. Sorry :). I also tend to get upset when I think another nurse is thinking I am an idiot (human nature) but just ask yourself: "did she SAY I was an idiot, does she sign my paycheck, is she my boss, is she REALLY perfect?"

Oh and remember- "I didn't kill anyone today!!!" Perspective when it all hits the fan.

[tvccrn, ASN, RN]

How can it be totally your error? You did say your preceptor was the one that hung the TPN?

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

This too shall pass...this is one of your million times in your career that you will not be perfect. Sorry :). I also tend to get upset when I think another nurse is thinking I am an idiot (human nature) but just ask yourself: "did she SAY I was an idiot, does she sign my paycheck, is she my boss, is she REALLY perfect?"

Oh and remember- "I didn't kill anyone today!!!" Perspective when it all hits the fan.

When people asked me if I cared what they thought of me, I'd ask them if they signed my check, or lived with me--- NO to both, for everybody who asked :).....SO, not an issue. Sure, people want to be thought well of- but if validation comes from without, you're never going to feel it- you have to know for yourself that you did your best- and if you didn't, you fixed it

[ICU_RN2]

At our facility, we double check TPN with another RN. I feel like we double check everything with another RN But both you, and your preceptor, share some responsibility. If the pt was ok, I agree...live and learn!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I had my first med error as a RN a couple of months ago and it haunted me for a long time. Stil will if I let it, but I learned and am a better nurse because of it. As bad as that feeling is, it's a good one because it will help you to remember that it will never happen again, ever. Bet it won't for you. Wishing you peace :)

[birdie22]

why is it that I would be saying the exact things you guys are saying to me if the role was reversed...and yet, I cant seem to take my own and your advice.

I really appreciate all the positive feedback!!

"You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." - Eleanor Roosevelt.

[Chin up]

Let it go...my perfect wisdom:)

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

I made a med error and its slowly eating away at me inside. I'm still a new grad, almost out of orientation. Last night, my preceptor came in the patient's room to hang tpn. He is the one who was actually setting up the IV machine. I was in the room with him doing other tasks (not that it makes a difference). So we are giving bedside report and its then, 12 hrs later, we notice that the tpn was running at 10ml/hr instead of 100ml/hr. I guess we just never noticed. I went in the room a couple times throughout the night and remember glancing at the machine, thinking 'everything looks good'. It was truly an honest mistake.

So I obviously feel horrible about it - we notified the docs to let them know. I know its a big amount, but its not like missing that tpn was life threatening or anything. I've obviously learned a valuable lesson here. I thought I was pretty good about double checking my IVs, but now I'm going to like a watchdog.

I guess the one thing that is making me even more stressed about the situation is the nurse I gave report to - to put it nicely, can be a bit OCD about things. I just felt her eyes were judging me the entire time and saying 'you idiot, you're a failure. you're in trouble now'. Dreading going back to work because I feel I will be in trouble with management. ughhhh, I just want this feeling to go away.

Since you don't really know what the nurse was actually thinking, it's probably best not to project on her. For all you know, she felt sorry for you or was more irritated with your preceptor. Or neither. Best not to dwell on any of this. Move on. Be glad it wasn't something worse. You are learning-you will continue to make mistakes in your career; we all do.

[maelstrom143]

When I first started as a new nurse in a hospital, I hung an IV abt and forgot to open the secondary IV tubing. The patient got the abt over an hour after it was due. I felt absolutely horrible.

People make mistakes. You learned from it. As a new nurse, you trusted the nurse in charge instead of double checking, but it does happen. Just take it in stride and keep going. You will be fine. At least it was not a critical drip and the mistake was caught and corrected.