I feel like a complete moron

Published

Hello,

I'm a PSW/CNA in longterm care and, I did something incredibly stupid. I was asked by a resident to empty their colostomy bag and instead of undoing the velcro opening on the bottom of the bag, I pulled the bag off the flange and, I had to get a coworker to help me because, I was an eight of an inch off when reapplying the new bag. Should, I resign because, I did something this stupid? There is no way, I'm capable of even smart enough to go back to school for nursing.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

First, deep breath! It's not stupid at all, you may have even done somebody else an accidental favor since the entire ostomy bag/flange is changed on a regular schedule anyway and you probably prevented somebody else from needing to do that. No big deal. Your co-worker that had to help you might laugh at you a little bit for not knowing how to get it all on perfect the first time, but if you can live with that it's all good.

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Community, Nurse Manager, hospice.

This is not a big deal. It's a learning experience. Don't sweat it. You will do stuff like this many more times, and those will all be learning experiences also.

Being a nurse means being a lifelong learner. You will continuously come up against new things, and that's okay. You will look them up and get help when you need it and everything will be fine.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

I'm plenty smart to be a nurse and once pulled the spike out of an art line IV bag that was under tremendous pressure and gave myself and my patient a thorough soaking in IV fluid.

I bet you're plenty smart too- you made a (minor) mistake, and learned something important from it. You're fine!

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Specializes in SRNA.

No, this was a benign mistake. I pulled the spike out of a normal saline bag on an L&D floor after the nurse told me to make sure I take down the bag first before spiking another bag....I was so excited to spike and hang the new bag, that any common sense I had went through the door. I gave myself, the patient, and the infusion pump a shower lol.

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.
No, this was a benign mistake. I pulled the spike out of a normal saline bag on an L&D floor after the nurse told me to make sure I take down the bag first before spiking another bag....I was so excited to spike and hang the new bag, that any common sense I had went through the door. I gave myself, the patient, and the infusion pump a shower lol.

I did the same thing; I pulled the spike out of a bag of D5W. :woot: See, I was accustomed to glass bottles with a rubber stoppers - bottles that didn't leak when the spike was pulled out!

But I knew that this wasn't a glass bottle.

Oops. :whistling:

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I did something incredibly stupid.

Yeah, well, don't get me started, cjp1994.

I often say that I'm really good at making mistakes because I've had a lot of practise at it.

Check out this thread. I think it may make you feel better:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/whats-the-biggest-568589.html

The best to you. Hang in there.

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Ahhh, I remember my first day of CNA clinicals like it was yesterday. I had a resident ask me to help them to the BSC. I got gloves, pulled out the BSC, and the world titled on it's axis because I had the epiphany that "I literally just introduced myself to this human being, and I'm about to stand here while they defecate and then wipe their butt for them. I will then take the bucket of feces, inspect it, and flush it myself".

Healthcare is bizzare, man!

Things become common as you gain experience, but the fact of the matter is, when you've never been exposed to something it's perfectly acceptable to have no idea what to do - tubes and containers putting stuff in, taking stuff out, measurement devices, charting systems....it's a lot to learn!

Ah, I could give you a list of all the stupid things I've done as a CNA/ nursing student / nurse, but it would be a loooong list. Have yourself a chuckle at this experience, learn from it, and forgive yourself. In the future, if you're not sure how to empty or change a device, just ask.

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I am smart and a little vain so you are not going to hear about MY very dumba** mistakes. (I did tell my best friend.) It is nice that you are self-aware and humble but this isn't even that bad.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
I am smart and a little vain so you are not going to hear about MY very dumba** mistakes. (I did tell my best friend.) It is nice that you are self-aware and humble but this isn't even that bad.

Come on Alex...we're all your best friends on the internet. Spill the beans!

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