I no called/no showed a shift for my sister's mental health crisis and I'm panicking

[jvt01]

I am a nursing school senior who has read AllNurses since my senior year of high school. It has helped me land several internships during college and in general learn so much about nursing, including the part time job where I'm working now. It's a small business run by two amazing nurses who I want to emulate someday. They specifically hire nursing students to work part time to give us exposure to running a business and maternal/child nursing in particular, which is my passion. I work at the front desk checking in clients and occasionally do the same for one-off workshops they run. I just started in September so while I have a good track record so far, it's not a lengthy one.

Cut to yesterday afternoon, when I got a call from my mom saying my younger sister had attempted serious self harm. She's physically ok now, but since I go to school up the street from her my mom wanted me to go and be with her until she and my dad could get there, which of course I did. I was scheduled to work a one-off shift that night, and in all the panic (we initially weren't sure what hospital she was taken to or who took her there) I completely forgot about letting the owners know what was happening. As I was waiting with my sister in the ER, I noticed I had many missed calls...and that I had completely no call/no showed for the workshop. I felt terrible and called them back, giving them a very brief outline of what happened and apologizing profusely. It went to voicemail. The next day, I sent a longer email explaining what had happened and again apologizing. They wrote back and told me that it was ok, that obviously this was an emergency. The exact quote was "Last night, the instructor and participants were all locked outside of the door, and we honestly just didn't know you weren't going to arrive. It sounds like today, the case was you were not able to call us, and time swept you away and you forgot, so thank you or explaining that to us. I am sure this is out of character for you as described, and we understand life can happen. So again, thank you for the email and please, lets just wipe the slate clean and move forward, as I know it was a unique circumstance. I hope you sister is okay - sending good wishes."

But my anxiety over it is making me ill. I've NEVER done anything like this at a job (I've been a CNA for four years) and I'm scared they'll hold it against me in the future for shifts or when I need a job recommendation this spring as a new graduate. So I guess my question is in two parts: 1. Did I handle this correctly? 2. How do I move forward? I'm so mortified and my next shift is on Monday and I have no idea how to act or what to say.

Thank you for any help you can give (and for being such a great resource for a soon to be new graduate).

[JKL33]

3 hours ago, jvt01 said:

lets just wipe the slate clean and move forward, as I know it was a unique circumstance. I hope you sister is okay - sending good wishes."

I think they mean it. They wouldn't have mentioned wiping the slate clean otherwise.

3 hours ago, jvt01 said:

2. How do I move forward? I'm so mortified and my next shift is on Monday and I have no idea how to act or what to say. 

Arrive a little early so that you can speak with one/both of them before appointments begin. Simply approach and ask to have a brief convo in a private place, then make good eye contact and say something along the lines, "I am sincerely sorry for the everyone's difficulty/inconvenience on Thursday night. I had never been in that situation before and was shaken up; I'm so sorry that I didn't think to call. I really appreciate your gracious reply and your well-wishes for my sister." [Or whatever genuinely sincere phrasing you prefer].

You may feel it is expected that you talk about the details (you know how we sometimes start blabbing in uncomfortable situations...) but I wouldn't overshare your sister's personal information or the details. They just need to know there was an unusually serious concern that you were asked to respond to right away. Going forward just work hard, show them you care and are reliable, just like you did before this one-time incident.

I hope your sister is soon on the road to healing.

[jvt01]

@JKL33Thank you so much!! I really appreciate your advice as well as the script you suggested. I definitely tend to babble when I'm nervous/anxious so I think it will really help!