I dont know what I did wrong?!?!

[PiPhi2004]

Soo I got this nasty-gram from my preceptor in my email from my last shift. My patient was vented and supposed to go to CT and MRI. Our MRI unit closes at 10pm, and I arrived at 7pm for my shift. As soon as I had the chance I asked the charge nurse (same person who wrote me the email) how I should coordinate the CT and MRI to get them both done before the night was over. She suggested I call MRI and see if I could get the ball rolling and get him in first. I said fine and I called them twice, let it ring 20ish times, no response. I assessed my pt and his sugars were in the teens, no reason as to why (possible adrenal problems) so I was pushing D50 q1h. No time to call MRI back and the Doc told me it wasnt needed stat and that it could wait. Well I get a call from CT and schedule the CT for 2130. RT is supposed to go down with me, but this RT is new and cannot go to MRI if for some reason we get the call to go down. MRI calls. I tell them that we have a scheduled CT for 2130 and if they would like for us to continue to MRI after it was finished. They stated that they werent sure if that would be possible and I stated that the RT could not go and we would need to wait on a supervisor to go because RT was short that night. MRI told me they would call in CT and let them know whether or not that would work. I stated that I needed to know one way or another to let RT know if the supervisor would be needed. Well no one called so I went to CT and came back. By this time it was already 2300 and I assumed that MRI was closed and since it wasnt needed stat not to worry, but I made one more call just to be sure and no one answered again. I thought I had done as much as I could have to get my pt to MRI and get the test done. So I come on my shift tonight and the day nurse was unable to get the MRI done either and told the day charge nurse that I had told her I didnt go to MRI because I "didnt want to do it." The same charge nurse was on the next night and I guess she caught wind of this and decided to email me about how she hoped the pt didnt have to stay on the vent because he couldnt get the test and about VAP and all this stuff because I didnt want to go do the test. I dont know how she didnt know that I tried as hard as I could to get the test done!!! She also sent the email to the manager and DON. I sent one back and forwarded it to the manager and DON stating everything I had done to get the MRI done and if there was anything additional that I could've done to let me know as I am still learning and would like to be better equipped next time to coordinate travels. So my question is what to do from here? The nurse who told them that, I believe, is trying to cover her orifice because she has been getting into trouble and is at risk of losing her job. Should I try to meet with my preceptor and manager to set the record straight or is an email enough? I just dont know what I could have done differently to get the MRI done, so of course I feel bad but I also feel angry that someone would hang me out to dry like that!

[helper T cell]

It sounds like you did everything in your power to get this pt down to MRI. It is good you e-mailed everyone because now it is documented in writing but I would go meet with your preceptor and manager. If you don't feel like they have appreciated your situation and don't give you the feedback you desire I would make an appointment with the DON. This will show them that you are serious about learning from the incident. It is such a shame that some people will totally disrespect the integrity of another collegue and make them look bad so they don't get in trouble. So unprofessonal. I'm hoping your management will see through this other nurses devious ways. Keep up the good work.

I just finished week two of on my own. So far so good but my patients come first and of course saftey but we each have to protect our own license and our reputation. Boy am I glad I have four days off to chill and re-energize.

[iluvivt, BSN, RN]

You did good. Just remember to document your attempts to get the tests done...then that way the record will speak for itself...and now you know that you cannot trust that nurse...if she will lie to make herself look good...and sell you down the river...then no more chances for her. E-mail is OK...but for now i would do nothing else and see if you get a response. It seems to me there were a lot of obstacles that were out of your control....everything is not your fault...although it does seem nursing gets blamed for everything... good job though...you were honest and said the key words...how can I learn and how can I do it better next time...Managers love RNs like this...you can never lose with an attitude like that and neither can your patients!!!