I am a new nurse working in a sub acute rehab facility/LTC. I am typically assigned to care for 28 to 40 patients on midnights. I have been trying to get into a hospital but not having prior experiance or a BSN forced me to accept this job for experience. I have been concerned from the being with patient safety and the patient load I have.
Awhile back I had a patient whom I was not familiar with. She had a trach site, on O2, with continuous tube feed, and a mental illness condition. Later the CNA said she told her she was having difficulty breathing. So I checked her spo2 I raised the HOB from 30 to 45 degrees and increased her o2 and the sp02 increased. I notified the doctor on call.
When I later entered the room I noticed the patient looked really pale and asked if she was ok, the nurse replied "no she isn't, get a suction machine". I was in a panic, I thought "should I have suctioned her ?!?" I ran out to the find someone who knew where suction machine one and was told that there was one on the crash chart so I grabbed the crash chart and ran toward the room. When I came closer to the room someone said it was a code and to announce it on the overhead.
I feel like I did not do all I could for her and I have been crying almost daily because of it. I even started smoking again after quitting 6 years ago. I can't sleep without sleeping pills and I see her pale face in my head over and over. I would love some honest opinions from more seasoned nurses on this event because I feel so horrible about what happened.
I want to thank you all for the support, encouragement, and most of all advice. It truly means the world to me right now.
I feel the need to clarify a detail though based on your questions and comments.
The patient did not have an order for suction.
I do plan on still continue nursing and I will learn from this and all your advice and input. I just thought I should quit until I find a better hospital or facility. I have been applying at hospitals ever since I passed my NCLEX, but I think if I don't work, I'll have more time to look for work and less of a chance at a event like this one. My insurance just kicked in so maybe I’ll quit after I get a few therapy sessions in. I still don't know what I am going to do but I will defiantly renew my liability insurance that I had in nursing school for now. If anyone has a good company they would recommend I would love to research them.
I really want to thank everyone again for the support and input! I will try my best to learn, be better, and move on from this.
Are you angry about getting insurance and quitting....why do it defiantly? Lol. If you do quit, do it respectfully....don't burn any bridges.
I think having some protection is a great idea. Its not very costly and gives a little peace of mind. What's $100?
10 years ago I was a new grad. It was confusing, overwhelming and discouraging at times. I've learned over the years that not all facilities are the same. Some (particularly non-profits) are good about proper staffing and supplies. I haaaate for-profit facilities. I haven't seen a good one yet!
We've all been through heck and back or soon will. We are of the same cloth, us nurses and need to support each other.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
I want to thank you all for the support, encouragement, and most of all advice. It truly means the world to me right now.
I feel the need to clarify a detail though based on your questions and comments.
The patient did not have an order for suction.
I do plan on still continue nursing and I will learn from this and all your advice and input. I just thought I should quit until I find a better hospital or facility. I have been applying at hospitals ever since I passed my NCLEX, but I think if I don't work, I'll have more time to look for work and less of a chance at a event like this one. My insurance just kicked in so maybe I'll quit after I get a few therapy sessions in. I still don't know what I am going to do but I will defiantly renew my liability insurance that I had in nursing school for now. If anyone has a good company they would recommend I would love to research them.
I really want to thank everyone again for the support and input! I will try my best to learn, be better, and move on from this.
Oh honey...you don't need an order to suction. They are area few the one I have used (Thankfully never needed) is NSO they are supported by the ANA
Oh honey...you don't need an order to suction. They are area few the one I have used (Thankfully never needed) is NSO they are supported by the ANA
I know you don't need an order for suction I was answering Gardenfan’s question from a previous post. I learned that in nursing school, I unfortunately didn't think of implementing it until it was too late ...that is the dilemma here….I forgot... I didn't put it together…I looked at her vitals and saw they where WNL after increasing o2 and the HOB and I didn't take time to think twice about the whole picture. I know I will never do that again, and I will just now pray for her soul and her family. After leaving that morning I went to my church and let a candle for her, her family and one for me to me a better nurse. I can't help but feel like I was inferior and I failed her.
Maybe she wouldn’t have lived even if I suctioned her, maybe she would have still died, and at least if I did I would know I did all I could with what the facility had. I just don’t understand why none of the other more experienced nurses who took care of her the two days she was there and the oncoming nurse who has been nursing for 20 years didn’t think of suctioning her either… I guess we all failed her. I plan now after reading these posts recommending an in-service for trach care during and post trach removal. I guess now I can only try to pick up and be better each day.
I don’t feel persecuted at all on here. I just wanted to answer questions and clarify the situation, so I can get advice and insight for what actually happened. I only felt hurt by one person on here, but not persecuted.
Are you angry about getting insurance and quitting....why do it defiantly? Lol. If you do quit, do it respectfully....don't burn any bridges.
I think having some protection is a great idea. Its not very costly and gives a little peace of mind. What's $100?
10 years ago I was a new grad. It was confusing, overwhelming and discouraging at times. I've learned over the years that not all facilities are the same. Some (particularly non-profits) are good about proper staffing and supplies. I haaaate for-profit facilities. I haven't seen a good one yet!
We've all been through heck and back or soon will. We are of the same cloth, us nurses and need to support each other.
Wishing you luck!
:)
Hahah I have no idea what happened there...no I'm not mad about that, major typo there …lol...I always give two weeks notice, even when I had crappy high school temp jobs...even though this facility sucks I know I might need them as a reference...I just don't feel it is safe there and I don't feel supported by the management.
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Hahah I have no idea what happened there...no I'm not mad about that, major typo there …lol...I always give two weeks notice, even when I had crappy high school temp jobs...even though this facility sucks I know I might need them as a reference...I just don't feel it is safe there and I don't feel supported by the management.
Thanks ...I wish you luck in your career also! :)
It is easier to get a job when you have one....get a job first then place your notice .....especially in this job climate.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
First of all, accept yourself as an imperfect person. Anyone who points a finger at you is a bully.
When we start out as new nurses we make mistakes. Sometimes you don't know that you can't
handle an assignment until something bad happens. Any nurse who says he or she has never made
a mistake that affected a patient is a liar. My first year as a nurse was a nightmare. I cried quite a bit.
But, there is always the nurse who points a finger and say things like "you should have done this or that"
Yes, there are nurses like this wherever you work. Just do your best. Realize nurses, doctors, RTs-we are all prone to
mistakes and some mistakes may be very serious. Learn from what you do or don't do. I am now at the end of
my career. You become stronger and smarter as you go. If you like nursing stay with it, grow and learn. If every
nurse quit because he or she made a serious mistake, there would be more of a shortage than we currently have.
Forgive yourself and find a better place to work.
I agree that anyone who tells you it was your fault a patient died is being a bully. Are there times when a situation could have been handled better? Yes, of course. This is where experienced nurses can share their knowledge and give you guidance on what to do the next time you are faced with that same scenario.
Anyone who plays Monday morning quarterback here probably isn't worth listening to. They weren't there, didn't know the patient's history, and they don't know you.
I agree that anyone who tells you it was your fault a patient died is being a bully. Are there times when a situation could have been handled better? Yes, of course. This is where experienced nurses can share their knowledge and give you guidance on what to do the next time you are faced with that same scenario.
Anyone who plays Monday morning quarterback here probably isn't worth listening to. They weren't there, didn't know the patient's history, and they don't know you.
mrrrhhhh... critical thinking skills. It's critical knowledge, training, experience, and a willingness to learn - including a proactive learning style. Whatever percent , zero to a hundred, you may have contributed to this unfortunate situation, grieve first and then use it as a springboard for educating yourself about equipment, prioritizing, codes, etc.
The job doesn't ever get easier - you just get more skilled and knowledgeable! You need to be somewhere where there is a chain of command, teamwork, and hopefully some training! Be sure to be your own, best teammate though - be on your own team :-)
Nurses make mistakes. The good ones take the mistake seriously and learn from it so they never make it again.
As for the posters who are critical of the people who gave their honest opinions, if you don't want an honest opinion no matter how tough it might be to read, don't post a question asking for an opinion on a public forum.
I posted this tread to get advice for what happen, how much fault of it was my own, and insight for what I could do differently. The only thing that upset me was the person who said forget about looking for a hospital job. That is like saying I am a horrible nurse and I should just stick to where I am or quit. I appreciate the post that had constructive criticism, support, and/or advice on what they would do so I may do things differently next time. I know I set myself up for nasty comments, but that doesn't mean I have to take them lying down and accept them.
Jane82 is obviously very distressed about this event and has reached out for support. Your response came across as inconsiderate and callous. I'm sure she has learned from this and it will likely bother her the rest of her life. She didn't need to be scolded and made to feel worse than she already does. BTW, this is @ doppleganger2.
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
This is how you learn.
Learning to be an "experienced" nurse is a process and a sometimes brutal one.
You have done exactly what a good nurse who will become an excellent nurse does. Reflect on the situation and figure what might have helped more and ask for input from others and learn and act on what you have learned.
Any nurses who are ctitical of you for this have their own little secrets no doubt................
...that is the dilemma here….I forgot... I didn't put it together…I looked at her vitals and saw they where WNL after increasing o2 and the HOB and I didn't take time to think twice about the whole picture. I know I will never do that again, and I will just now pray for her soul and her family. After leaving that morning I went to my church and let a candle for her, her family and one for me to me a better nurse. I can't help but feel like I was inferior and I failed her. 
thenursemandy
276 Posts
Are you angry about getting insurance and quitting....why do it defiantly? Lol. If you do quit, do it respectfully....don't burn any bridges.
I think having some protection is a great idea. Its not very costly and gives a little peace of mind. What's $100?
10 years ago I was a new grad. It was confusing, overwhelming and discouraging at times. I've learned over the years that not all facilities are the same. Some (particularly non-profits) are good about proper staffing and supplies. I haaaate for-profit facilities. I haven't seen a good one yet!
We've all been through heck and back or soon will. We are of the same cloth, us nurses and need to support each other.
Wishing you luck!
:)