How is it that I can't seem to focus?

[ScaredieCat]

I am currently at the fourth year of the nursing education. I am good with my academics but when it comes to duty perce, I always make simple mistakes which a 5th year nursing student should not do. I am very hard on myself and whenever I make a mistake even the simplest one...I pound on myself until I can't pound anymore. Just last week, I computed the IV infusion of d50.3Nacl as macrodrops when it should have been microdrops for a pedia pt. with possible dengue. I informed my clinical instructor the next day, she said that I should fix the IVF now. She did not reprimand me. I was so wrong!!!! When we started our charting we asked her to check, I included the regulation in the charting...but she did not say anything. Many questions came to my mind....what if the patient went into shock? What if the patient became dehydration....When I checked the patient the next day, he was fine and his vitals were ok. Another mistake was his diet...it should have been soft not DAT...I also informed the staff nurse he said it was ok as long as I should follow the latest order....These are rookie mistakes...I want to pound on myself some more...why do I keep having these mistakes...please help me...anyone:banghead:

[rn-jane]

First of all you need to just relax here. Don't beat yourself up for these things, you owned up to your mistakes. You should have somebody always check your calculations, instructor or another Rn before making any changes until you pass your test. Why didn't your instructor catch your mistake or the nurses who followed behind you? They also are responsible for this patient and luckily it was just d5 and not some other med. Always check your orders, check and recheck your calculations. We all make med errors even when we've been out there for a while but you must learn why you made the error so it does not happen again.

[ScaredieCat]

Thank you for the advise...I would always ask somebody to check especially during calculations..

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

You will continue to make mistakes even after you gain your license. It is human nature. You sound like a responsible adult, so think of these experiences as learning experiences. Speaking of learning - remember your psych courses? Didn't you learn that stress causes all sorts of brain fa-ts? When you get in a regular routine you will begin to relax. There will always be stress, but you now recognize that and should develop some coping abilities to get you thru those periods - like asking for help!