made a big mistake in clinical.... now what?

luv2shopp85 · Mar 11, 2006

I have to write about what happened today when I talked to my instructor in private.... its going to be a lot to write so I"m going to wait until I get a few responses before I continue on with the story....

soliant12 · Mar 11, 2006

Blaming your mistake on ADD is the last thing you want to do. Just admit what you did wrong and learn from it. By blaming it on ADD you are not taking responsibility for your actions.

I made a thread about this in the student nursing section but I figured if I posted it in general that I may get more responses. Here is the original thread and what it says:
https://allnurses.com/forums/f50/ok-i-made-mistake-but-am-i-danger-failing-clinical-now-146991.html
Okay so I made a really huge mistake today. I'm in my first year of nursing school and finishing up my second semester which is medsurg. We have needle boxes where we throw the needles in when we're finished, its biohazard and stuff. And those are located in every room of the hospital. Well on my floor we have this conference room in the back where we all do our charting, and go over our meds with the instructor and do our paperwork. This is pretty much a student area and the nurses don't come in unless they are looking for one of us. At one time this was a 3 bed hospital room but it hasn't been since we started in January. There are no beds in there just tables and chairs. So today as I was walking out of the room... (dont ask why I did it bc I DONT KNOW!). I looked at the needle box on the wall and saw that there was a piece of paper that looked like a note folded up in there. I just wasn't thinking and I went to grab the paper out of there to throw it away. I thought since this room isn't used there wouldn't be needles in there.... which I know it was wrong of me to ASSUME that. And I didn't think before doing it. After doing it the one lady who was walking out wtih me started flipping out and saying omg I cant believe you did that, what if you got stuck! etc etc I realized what I did then and there and I went and washed my hands. I did not get stuck or even touch a needle. The only thing I touched was the paper. Then I went out in the hallway for a little bit. After that I came back into the back room and I got an attitude with the lady who flipped out and did i forget to mention... TOLD THE WHOLE CLINICAL GROUP about what I did. I told her that it was my business and I'll do what I want. So I figured this was the end of it. Next thing I know we're all going to lunch and then my instructor points at me and says "you stay here." I instantly thought omg what a ***** for telling on me!, then I thought oh no im in trouble! So she basically said she couldn't have unsafe people in her clinical group on the floor and she told me to go to the nursing school which is 10 minutes away to talk to the nursing director. I was shocked... she didn't even give me a chance to explain or ask me what happened. I got tears in my eyes but I didn't really cry or start bawling. Keep in mind that this was my last day on the clinical floor because the next 2 clinical days I am in the OR and the semester will be over after that. So then I realized that I didn't drive to school today and rode with a friend. SO i went to tell the teacher that and another friend in the class was with me and she offered to drive me over to the school and just stop somewhere that has a drive thru to eat her lunch. The instructor said that was okay and she said she woudl tell my friend who I rode with to school what happened and to pick me up at the school when we were done with clnical. So I'm trying to keep it together and I was talking to my friend about it while walking to her car and of course I couldn't help but crying. Everyone is afraid of the nursing director and thinks shes so mean and so unfair blah blah blah. I just decided that I was going to tell the director exactly what happeend, not lie about it, and tell her that I learned my lesson. Well once I went to see her... she was soo nice. I told her everything and I realized exactly what I did wrong. She said to me" you know what happens when you assume something about clinical (assuming no needles would be in the needle box because the room is not used for a pt room).....it makes an ass out of you and me." I kept my cool while talking to her and was very direct and polite. Then she said I violated a disciplinary rule of the school or something. I told her I was extremely sorry and it would not happen again. I admitted that I was wrong and all that. So the nshe kind of lectured me on needle stick injuries. After that she told me that she wants me to give her an article next week about needle stick injuries and tell her what I learned. Wow I was relieved when I heard that! Turns out everyone in my clnical group was worried about me... and the lady who told the instructor on me was crying the entire afternoon because she felt so bad about what happened. She didn't think the instructor would take it that far and she just thought the instructor would lecture me on it and that would be all. She was really upset and worried about me. So then she wanted me to call her and gave someone her number to give to me to make sure everything was okay. I talked to her and everything is good. Now here is the hard part...... I've asked my instructor a few weeks ago and today if I was in danger of failing clnical. This is because she tears my papers apart and puts redmarks all over everythign I hand in. She said no both times so I was glad about that. But NOW.... this little incident happened. I didn't really give it much thought until now that just because the director of nursing did not kick me out of the program that I can still fail clniical because the clinical instructor decides. Is this enough to make me fail?? Is there anything you could reccomend me doing? I would hate to fail clnical because of this even though I know I shouldn't have done it. SHould I email my instructor and tell her what happened exactly and let her know I'm sorry and tell her that I'll give her the same article and explain to her what I learned? I don't want to get an objective not met just because of this error I made. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES>... no one is perfect. It wasn't like I made a med error or put my patients safety in jeapordy. Does anyone have any suggestions what to do??? I'm going to be worrying about this and the big exam I have coming up. Should I go and talk to the instructor? Is this even grounds for dfailing the program? I just don't know what to do .... i feel helpless and I hate it. I just wish I would have thought before doing it. Any suggestions anyone?? Help me someone... :scrying:
It doesn't help that I have ADD... should I maybe tell my instructor that this is my problem? She keeps asking why I do things without thinking and I don't know what to say. I don't want her to think of me as an even bigger problem if I tell her that I have ADD and then she will think theres no way in hell I could become a Nurse.

luv2shopp85 · Mar 11, 2006

Ive already taken responsibility for my actions and I'm probably going to be put on probation for it. I dont like the fact that this lady went and told on me and the manner in which my instructor was told. I would have liked to pull her aside and explain to her what happened. But instead some student runs up to her and exagerates. makes me look bad, and made the instructor really mad. I didnt even get a chance to epxlain what happened. I'm not blaming it on ADD I'm saying that it seems to have a factor on what I did. I tend to do things on impulse, and say things without thinking .... which are both things that happen with people who have ADD. I know I need to learn to control these actions either by meds or self control. I just thought if I expalined to the teacher about this that maybe she would be a little more understanding to know that she's dealing with soemone who has a learning disability, and not just someone who could be deemed unsafe and immature.

leslie :-D · Mar 11, 2006

accountability is one of the most important traits to learn in nsg. no excuses allowed. also, in nsg school there will be alot of things that happen to you which you will find unfair; pick your battles wisely.

make sure you do the assignment on needlestick injuries for the DON. if you instructor fails you, you need to get clear input from her as to why. if you don't agree with the outcome, there's always an appeal process. and bring it up the chain of command. document everything. keep a journal of everyone you talked to....and please, do not use your ADD as a reason. the instructors expect you to get a handle on an potentially intrusive issues, so if it takes medication to stop the distractions, the impulsivities, the forgetfulness, then go to your pcp and get a thorough work up so you can be treated appropriately. we all make silly mistakes, all of us.

and i wish you well.

leslie

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Ive already taken responsibility for my actions. I dont like the fact that this lady went and told on me and the manner in which my instructor was told. I would have liked to pull her aside and explain to her what happened. I didnt even get a chance to epxlain what happened. I'm not blaming it on ADD I'm saying that it seems to have a factor on what I did. I tend to do things on impulse, and say things without thinking .... which are both things that happen with people who have ADD. I know I need to learn to control these actions either by meds or self control. I just thought if I expalined to the teacher

Whoever it was who told on you was so wrong and should have minded her own d*** business. You did a stupid thing, you didn't get hurt, you learned from it and that should be case closed. I'm glad to hear she was upset and crying, I hope that will make her think next time. There's no reason why you would be obligated to explain anything to her, she is neither your instructor, patient or co-student, just a busy body.

I wouldn't mention ADD as a factor. My son has ADD and when he doesn't take his med and does dumb things or flunks a test...I tell him it's in his control. He has to be responsible and take his mew.

Off the subject here...My son nearly flunked out of school until he decided to take his Strattera and is not an honors students with all honors classes. You might want to think about Strattera. It is not a CNS stimulant and stays in your body for only 8 hours at a time. He only takes it on school days. Good Luck.

weesyanne · Mar 11, 2006

It's a safety issue and the school wants to make sure that you completely understand that your mistake could have cost you your health or your life if you had gotten stuck by a contaminated needle. I think that the fact that you mention that you got an attitude with the person who freaked out made your instructor think that you handled the criticism poorly. You are going to run into a lot of people in life, from your patients, to their family members, to other staff members that you work with and if you get an attitude with everyone who upsets you, then life will be difficult for you. I think you handled yourself maturely with the director of the school and probably kept your space in the program by keeping your cool with both her and your instructor. Just keep all that in mind when you have another difficult situation arise with a fellow student. I would do as others on the board have advised and accept responsibility for the situation and learn from it. I think that is probably your school director and your instructor's main concern, honestly.

Nutmeg5575 · Mar 11, 2006

I have a question on a similar note. When you are in school and you witness another student doing something they should know is wrong, aren't you obligated to do something. Like, what if she would have gotten stuck and the other girl didn't say anything. Then later it turns out she got something from a contaminated needle. Would they both get in trouble? I'm just curious.

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

If you learned from this (don't pull paper out of a red box again young lady) then will you please relax about it? Fortunately you did not get injured and you will no doubt be more careful in the future. Your curiosity is whats getting you in trouble.

I have to say I think the school went WAY out of hand in how they dealt with this. The instructor sounded like she was nice but overboard. I don't get these types. Now I am all for safety and discipline, but compared to the dumb stuff I see students (and RN's) do, it was small potatoes.

Defenitely leave out the ADD or next you know they will start nitpickin on you and find a reason to call ou impulsive and unsafe.

kitten77 · Mar 11, 2006

I commend you for being honest about your actions! I, as someone else mentioned, would not blame this on ADD or anything else. This could, and, (I bet my license on this) will be used against you in more ways than one. I commend you for addressing this as being something you know is wrong, but please don't beat yourself up for this. Infact, besides your lapse of judgement you could have been doing a helpful duty - gee, what is that doing there, let me help out & get rid of this. They say (I have no choice to throw two quotes in, hope you don't mind) the road to hell is paved with good intentions....And another one.... No good deed goes unpunished.

I would address this with whoever you need to before they address this with you. Coming forth in a calm but apologetic manner seems best. Who you address this with is dependent on your school/program, ect. Best wishes

kitten77 · Mar 11, 2006

Just another note. Besides this incident, if you are in any danger of failing clinical I would quietly approach my instructor and ask them how you can be a better nursing student. I would tell them I respect their opinion and value their imput, even if this is not true. I would put the ball in their court but follow through with literally everything they say - every minute. Best wishes

slinkeecat · Mar 11, 2006

To the original poster:

So you were a BUCKETHEAD for one moment in time in your clinical...Learn from it.... Reb boxes + hands= bad idea. Please do not play the ADD card. it will clearly cause you grief and misery thru out the days of your clinicals...

Focus on what you need to do to grow and gain the skills you need. Apparently your CI told you that your therapuetic communication skills lack. Well, get on it and learn the STEADFAST model....she did not seem to harp on the stupid red box. She clearly told you that you have a communication issue... so, focus on that. Show her that you are "THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR" dazzle the kiddies with the that. Move on sister!!! Let go of this stone, or your gonna drown.....