How do I get over the "what ifs"

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Nov 27, 2011

You just have to let it go or it will make you crazy. What is done is done and if you have not heard anything by now, it is unlikely you will.

TriciaJ, RN · Nov 27, 2011

If they haven't died by now they're fine. Anxiety gets to be a habit. Ask yourself if you have any realistic anxieties at the moment and deal with those. Those old errors are in the past and you need to let them go.

mtsteelhorse · Nov 28, 2011

Oh honey, I know how you feel. Just let it go. You owned up to those errors...we all make them. If you're not hiding in a sea of darkness and shame then just know you learned from it. Heck, I gave someone the wrong insulin once! I had just received a bad phone call from my ex and I was not thinking clearly. I was mortified!!! I owned up to it and the patient was fine. I still cringe when I think about it. We all make errors. Accept that you are a caring nurse and forgive yourself. If that doesn't work I'd see a counselor. There are great techniques for moving on...one is EMDR. Don't let this eat you alive.

AgentBeast, MSN, RN · Nov 28, 2011

Most sane folks struggle with this. Unfortunately we can't change the past. We can however change the future, we learn from our mistakes.

maelstrom143 · Nov 28, 2011

You cannot allow yourself to wallow in your past. You owned up to your mistakes and did the right thing. Now it is time to let them go. Do not let your past poison your future and your love of what you do. It makes you less effective and increases your risk of making errors in the future. Learn from what you have done and use it to provide better care to those you minister to nowadays.

Things happen, life goes on, we learn and grow. You cannot change your past actions, but you can definitely use them to make a better future.:hug:How we deal with issues defines who we are and who we will become.

tjnurse67 · Nov 28, 2011

Thank you thank you all for the awesome words. You have helped me tremendously and I do feel better. I loved all the comments to my post. Thank you again soooooo much

Jenni811, RN · Nov 28, 2011

im new, i worry about this everyday. some anxiety and worry is a good thing...that is what keeps you from making large mistakes. If you had NO WORRY and no anxiety over making a mistake that could take someones life, that would be the thing to worry about, because thats when mistakes happen.

We all make mistakes, i have made them (and i'm new) and i've seen other nurses make them. I saw a nurse give a rectal suppository in the lady parts. I've seen a nurse d/c a foley on the wrong patient and have to re-insert foley. One of my coworkers gave 40 units of novolog instead of lantus. Ended up being ok, and because she was honest with her mistake we were able to take care of it right away. Because of that error lantus is no longer stocked in our pyxis and comes from pharmacy ALWAYS. This prevents the wrong insulin being drawn up. So we as nurses only draw up sliding scale novolog and have lantus sent up.

Errors happen, hospitals know that. Sometimes errors can be a good thing because it lets you know something is wrong with the system and something isn't working and needs to be changed. (for example, the insulin. The protocol for us drawing up insulin needed to be changed).

Best of luck.