lost all self-esteem

[garfieldrn]

I have been in L&D for a little over a month now and have been feeling pretty good until the other night. I had a patient walk in a half a hour before the end of shift and when I checked her I swore she was complete, I didn't feel any cervix just the head. Anyways, I called her doctor right awhile and she was feeling really uncomfortable stating she wanted to push. I checked her again just to make sure the baby is not coming and it still felt like she is complete. well, right before I was going to go home the doctor showed up but I left and day shift took over. Anyways, when I went back to work the next day, one of the day nurse told me that the patient was only 6 cm and that I didnt know what I was doing. :nono:That doctor had to wait 40 mins before that patient could deliver. I felt really embarassed and I felt like I lost all my self-esteem. I'm now dreading going back to work cuz my mojo is gone. I've been pretty accurate with my VE's so I don't know what happen?

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Don't give up on yourself. I have with over 11 years' experience, still had to have others back me up on uncertain SVE. Also, I have been wrong, too, even after years of doing this. It's not an exact science and we all can make a mistake. Sounds lik this is not one to stew over. Your patient was fine, and you are learning. Go easy on yourself, please.

I concur!! I've had to ask other nurses to check me at times and I've been wrong too.

Effacement can trick you.

Go easy on yourself and don't put up with someone making rude comments like that.

It is unprofessional.

steph

[lakebabynurse]

I agree with all posts here. That nurse was being spiteful and doing the "eat their young" trick, so that she could look better by making you look and feel bad. Everyone started out as a beginner at some time. When you have a cervix that is far posterior, or to the left or right, 100% effaced and the baby is low station IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE....esp. those of us with short fingers!:nuke:

The lesson here is....when you are a charge nurse or precepting another new nurse in 2 or 3 years, remember these times and never do it to anyone else...

[dukemidwifeprof]

Anyone who has been an L&D nurse for any length of time has done an inaccurate cervical check. I would shame on the nurse who berated you....we need L&D nurses and learning cervical checks takes time! You hold your head high and let it roll off....and take that nurse aside and tell her you are a "novice" who is learning and you hope to gain her level of expertise someday...but in the meantime you need to be mentored! What she did to you is called "lateral violence." It accounts for 30% of the reason new grads leave a unit or worse yet....NURSING. We need to band together and stop this kind of behavior. Get your hands on the book by Kathleen Bartholow (probably spelled her name wrong) on Horizonal Violence in Nursing. It is a classic. ARM yourself with a comeback when older nurses do this to you.

Don't feel bad about making the doc wait....you would have gotten more grief if the patient had delivered before he/she got there. They are after all, paid well for what they do. HOLD YOUR HEAD HIGH!

Helen