Kicking myself

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.

(This is basically just to vent, but I digress) I had my first ****show of a night last night and thought that I handled it very well. I mean like to the point that I didn't sit for the first half of my shift and felt like I literally just ran in place for six hours. I was all yay me! Until...I realized that I missed an order. I checked my orders at the start of the shift for this patient and didn't see anything new going on, so I went about my shift. Well, he had tube feed running and was supposed to be NPO after midnight...which I did not do. His procedure is hopefully happening today, possibly evening at last update, but the family can't be reached for consent. So while it's hardly a set in stone kinda deal, I'm feeling really frustrated with myself for missing that. I hate making mistakes, and I'm kicking myself for missing that.

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Many more shows to come. If you kick yourself every time, you really won't be able to sit down.

Who processes the orders?

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(This is basically just to vent, but I digress) I had my first ****show of a night last night and thought that I handled it very well. I mean like to the point that I didn't sit for the first half of my shift and felt like I literally just ran in place for six hours. I was all yay me! Until...I realized that I missed an order. I checked my orders at the start of the shift for this patient and didn't see anything new going on, so I went about my shift. Well, he had tube feed running and was supposed to be NPO after midnight...which I did not do. His procedure is hopefully happening today, possibly evening at last update, but the family can't be reached for consent. So while it's hardly a set in stone kinda deal, I'm feeling really frustrated with myself for missing that. I hate making mistakes, and I'm kicking myself for missing that.

I've learned to force myself to make time to check orders, read results, etc. Most tasks can be put off. It's more important to know what's going on. Even still, something manages to get by me occasionally. Tomorrow is a new day.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.

The orders were acknowledged on the previous shift. The patient's been with us for a while so the list of orders for him is long. Regardless, I should've caught it, but thankfully I checked back with my coworker about it an hour or so later (couldn't stop thinking about it) and she told me the surgeon couldn't get a slot til the evening so it ended up being okay. Phew!

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Sounds like part of the blame lies on the nurse that acknowledged the order and didn't pass the info along. At any rate, no need to beat yourself up. Use this experience to do better.

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If the order was processed and you missed it and did not carry it out, THAT is a dangerous error. That would be one of few times I would write myself up. You need to own it.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.
If the order was processed and you missed it and did not carry it out, THAT is a dangerous error. That would be one of few times I would write myself up. You need to own it.

I made the surgeon aware of it, since it was my error. I saw no reason not to own up to it. He didn't seem to understand my freaking out and they were able to proceed with the procedure since it ended up being off for so long (surgery was done this evening).

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.
Sounds like part of the blame lies on the nurse that acknowledged the order and didn't pass the info along. At any rate, no need to beat yourself up. Use this experience to do better.

Thank you for the kind words, I have to work on the whole Not-beating-myself-up part (I'm a little type a at times í ½í¸‚)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

You learned. It turned out fine. You recognize your error. You feel responsible. You will change your practice because of it. This is the very nature of being human and being a nurse. Dust yourself off. We need more nurses like you.

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Specializes in CCRN, ATCN certified.
You learned. It turned out fine. You recognize your error. You feel responsible. You will change your practice because of it. This is the very nature of being human and being a nurse. Dust yourself off. We need more nurses like you.

Thank you very much, that's very kind. I know everyone makes mistakes it's just tough to make them yourself :(

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