Have you ever said something so dumb...

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

Yes I have said something so dumb I wanted to dissappear and I am still here. Guess what? I do it all the time and I survive just fine!

Don't worry about it, everyone does it.

I can't even remember the last dumb thing I said because there are so many times I stick my foot in my mouth.

You tried which is what counts.

Hyper/Hypo, sometimes we confuse them when on the spot.

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 13, 2008

I told a patient once that she MUST continue to take her hypertensive medications. I immediately corrected myself afterwards.

Also, I fill out the Transmitted Disease Infection Control Report weekly, for the Department of Health. We get a list of the medical record numbers of patients who were diagnosed, and we have to scan which clinic discovered it (we do it for our own clinic, not others). Then, we have to fill out the demographical information, check diagnostic labs and treatments if applicable. I saw the information of a patient who was supposed to get three treatments of Bicillin for syphillis (I think I spelled the name wrong-sorry). Part of what we have to do is to check with the doctors and see if they require the recommended treatments or if not, what. I noticed that I gave the first injection and the patient was going to his own country the following week. Spoke to the doctor at that time, and his instructions were to obtain the script, take it to his country and have a doctor there administer treatment #2, and since he was due back two weeks after that, one of the nurses in our clinic can administer #3, probably check titers again, and see if treatment should be repeated.

Well, I only see my note, see no further treatment and went to alert the doctor. But something seemed familiar to me outside of the fact that I administered the first one about three weeks prior. I keep a list of the medical records and dates of when I treated patients for whatever reason in my personal file that is kept at work. Also write little notes about the basics of what I did, in case I don't get a chance to chart immediately. Something told me to get that list, and I see that the patient came three days prior, and I gave shot #3, but forgot to document it (it was a REALLY busy day). I had to revoke a letter that I just placed in outgoing mail to instruct the patient to come back (thank goodness it wasn't picked up yet), and then, go to this doctor who I annoyed to no end to say my mistake. I am glad that this was one of the more understanding attendings, because he told me that most nurses that do the infection control reporting don't even bother to include the physicians and just laughed it off. I had to do a Late Entry in the chart and really pull from my memory what exactly happened.

I realized then, that I have to at least use a highlighter for the few things I don't get to chart immediately for my accountability record, so that I'll remember at the end of the day to record. Forgive yourself. This may not be the last time...LOL!

jessiern, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

I charted the other day that a patient voiced no distress and showed no signs of needs.

A doctor just happened to sit down beside my notes and read it.

Ms Kylee · Mar 13, 2008

Today, I called down to Linen and asked for extra pj pants for our patients. The linen guy is a friend and asked what I needed size wise. I told him "Just send up a mixed assortment. I have patients in all size ranges, the cart is empty and I don't have any pants". He immediately told me "Kylee, you're going to be looking pretty funny if you're up there working with no pants on."

*Still waiting for the hole to swallow me up whole*

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

I charted the other day that a patient voiced no distress and showed no signs of needs.
A doctor just happened to sit down beside my notes and read it.

:lol2:

zumalong · Mar 13, 2008

Everyone in this world says something that can be embarrassing. I used to always tell my nsg students that no question were dumb--only not asking or stating what you thought is the problem--because you could go on believing something that is false-or never understanding a concept.

Sounds like you caught yourself and no harm done. If we can't laugh at our mistakes sometimes--then it is a boring world. :yeah:

nurturing_angel · Mar 13, 2008

Had a female co-worker once tell a male nurse who was talking on the phone to an MD that she was going to "get into his pants" and get the drug cabinet keys. He had the keys in his pocket. We laughed about that all night. LOL-LOL-LOL-

3dogs1cat · Mar 13, 2008

Recently wrote patient had "runny eyes and itchy eyes x 1 week with green sticky stuff" I blame the allergy meds that I was taking! :rolleyes:

Luv2BAnurse · Mar 13, 2008

Had a female co-worker once tell a male nurse who was talking on the phone to an MD that she was going to "get into his pants" and get the drug cabinet keys. He had the keys in his pocket. We laughed about that all night. LOL-LOL-LOL-

That just reminded me of a time I had a male patient that was quite eager to go home and was going to be discharged. I had told him numerous times that the orders were not yet written as the doc was still making rounds and that I would be in to take out the saline lock and change his dressing (or remove it- depending on the d/c orders). He voiced his understanding. Wellllllll the doctor was quite slow finishing rounds and the patient stayed on the light wanting to know if it was time yet, I would go in and tell him "no, not yet". I suppose he was tired of waiting on us, so he came out, fully dressed, and wanting to go. By this time I was gathering dressing supplies as the MD had finally submitted orders. A co-worker called out "what do you want him to do" I looked up and saw him standing there and told him "go back to that bed and get those pants off, I'll be there in a minute" OF COURSE everyone heard that and laughed. I was embarrassed...

KulRN · Mar 13, 2008

This always gets me everytime I call transport when a patient has been given discharge instructions and ready to go...." Hi, I'm calling from ___, I have a discharge"....sounds awful huh???:imbar:uhoh21:

SDS_RN, RN · Mar 13, 2008

I was at work the other noc and it's about 330 am and the two other nurses I was sitting w/ were stickering charts for the am admits for surg. I'm just watching dazing off & then I said what are you doing stickering that many charts? We work in the ED so we don't sticker that many charts in advance. She said yes, we are doing surg am charts what did you think we were doing? I said ya know sometimes I really need to think before I speak and we all got a good chuckle out it. Doesn't seem as funny now as it was at 330 that morning!

This happens to me often. Insert foot in mouth!