Messed up in Clinical

[BSN89]

I am hoping to find some guidance. I made a major error at my first clinical semester and have been obsessing since. The pt room (my 3rd day) had contact precautions, the 3 individuals I had seen going in and out of the room were not donned appropriately, the nurse I shadowed was not wearing even gloves...I went in without a gown on and only gloves but did not make contact as a fellow student caught me and yelled at me, in front of the patients rooms and nurses then promptly ran to our instructor before I could even doff and get to her. As soon as I had completed talking to my patient and doffed, I went straight to her for clarification. Apparently the pt room was "at will" contact as it was a VRE concern..regardless, I should have used my head and appropriately donned. For the life of me, I cannot believe I did not think this through and don correctly.

I am terrified I am not doing well enough at clinical now and wont get through now. Is this error going to be the end for me? I am a 4.0 student and have only weeks left of this first semester. I am not up to par with the timeliness of my charting just yet either, as I am trying to work out the balance of time management with assessing, caring, vital taking, errand running, and helping in any way I can.

I am just so distraught I have worked so hard to get to this point and seemingly stumble so bad and am holding back tears constantly. The other student degraded me in front of the instructor so badly and said I placed other patients in danger.. She follows me every where trying to catch me in errors and im just terrified of clinical now. The kicker is she made the exact same error the week before and a nurse told her to put a gown on, she never reported it to our instructor! She also went into the room without a gown on again after she tried to get me in trouble! I am just beside myself and am doubting I can get through this after these mistakes..the charting and missing placing a gown on before going into the contact precaution room, which I take full responsibility for..despite what I had seen others do just have be petrified I am not meeting expectations and am a liability and not up to standard. I am learning but do not understand how I could make such an error..I am usually immensely cautious.

Any guidance would be so very appreciated, thank you.

To add, I have approached my instructor to discuss my concerns..she told me she thinks I am placing too much pressure on myself..I am trying to be everywhere and do every thing perfectly, but that is just how I operate. She has not told me I have things that are detrimentally concerning but I fear with being the only one in the group she is aware of making errors..I fear I am in a compromised spot for passing. The fear I have is indescribable and I know it is effecting my clinical experience. I want so badly to do well.

[KrCmommy522, BSN, RN]

I think everyone has covered the gown "mistake" (which as others have said, you're a student - this is your time to make mistakes and learn from them! Your instructor is the one grading you, and he/she said you are doing fine. So hold on to that!). I just wanted to say something about your charting. You said that you are not on par with the timeliness of your charting because you are trying to work out your time management. When I first started clinicals, I always ended up having most of my charting to do at the end of the day. I needed to work out a way to work it into my schedule and to get it done in a timely manner. What I started doing was doing the charting as I went, for the most part. When I went in a patient's rooms to get vitals, I would log onto the computer and enter the vitals right then. If there was something that I thought would take a long time to chart, I made a note of what I needed to chart on my brain sheet and the first chance I got where my patient's were all set, I would do that right then. It is important to help out where I could (like you said, errand running and helping in any way you can), but it is more important to have your charting done in a timely manner. IF your patient's are all taken care of and your charting is done, THEN you should look to where you can help out at - helping aides, other nurses, other students, etc. You definitely shouldn't be sitting around not doing anything, but you need to focus on getting what you need done. Of course it is nice to help others and you want to do your part on the floor, but you need to make sure your patient's are taken care of and your charting is done. The important thing with time management is managing what can be done in the time you have. You focus on getting your stuff done - handling your patients and your charting - once that is handled, then see where you can help out at.

Also, even though its been said, by your post, I just feel it can't be said enough - RELAX! You're a student. You are there to learn, and you are going to make mistakes! Just take a breath and remember you are learning! Good luck!

[DextersDisciple, BSN, RN]

This response is of such immense reassurance, thank you TONS. All of the responses are, of course...but you are 100% right about everything. I am beyond thankful I posted here for guidance. I was treated for anxiety related issues some years ago and received therapy to work through a lifetime of trauma, though I was cleared by my provider and had enjoyed years with a healthy state of function.

I am discouraged to realize I may be experiencing a bit of recurring symptoms, likely exacerbated by the strains and pressures of performing to the highest of my expectations, minimal sleep, poor nutrition, severe loss of family time, and pushing myself with minimal self-care. That fact that others around me are noticing a bit as well, is concerning. Though everyone jokes about my freak out mode, as it is often comical at times..it is difficult to deal with, as you can relate...I also take EVERYTHING to heart and I do not want it to effect my ability to work or my interpersonal relationships. I will be sure to seek out appropriate avenues of help in managing the anxiousness.

Thank you again.

Sorry for the late response. I'm assuming this was towards my post? :) you can always hit "quote" at the bottom of a persons post and Then type your response. That way we know who you are responding to and I'll get an alert.

I'm glad you were encouraged by my post. Like I said before, I was you and all the worrying was a heavy weight to carry. It also affects everything you do and say and how you are perceived by others. I can look back now and say "wow I can't believe I worried about that". I like to pay it forward" when I can- take an experience I've been through, think of the great advice I got and also what advice I WISH I got and use it to help someone with a similar dilemma.

[Medic_Murse, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Oh, I wish I could put the Goodfellas laughing image in here...it's perfect for it.

Sorry, not making fun of you. I've worked in an ER for several years as Tech/Paramedic and the amount of times you'll be in and out of a patients room touching them and then touching things, people, etc. after the fact...and then find out they are contact precautions, is too many to count.

P.S.

Your classmate needs a swift kick in the ass.