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:
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.
"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.\\"
I was willing to give you some error of margin until I read this comment-why would you 'get an attitude' with a nurse while you are in clinicals? She was right; you were wrong. You'll "do what you want?" You likely would of had more success by stating "Wow, I don't know why I did that, I wasn't thinking-you're right that IS a dangerous thing to do." After reading the rest of your post, I sense some attitude issues-you seem to think that since you BELIEVE that the instructor "is out to get you" that you're excused from being respectful. Sorry, most people at some point are completely sure that at least one of their instructors 'have it out' for them. They are not there to be your buddy; they are there to make you a competent and safe nurse. Period.
Using the fact that you have ADD to excuse your mistakes is not acceptable; "but judge, I have ADD, so it's okay for me to make a med error, I 'm not responsible" just won't cut it. If you were to ask, everyone has some kind of issue while in school-problems studying/clinicals due to the need to work, or childcare, or dyslexia, or money problems, ADD, OCD most people just deal with it and suceed; some use it as an excuse to fail. I am not lightly suggesting that it is easy to do, but you have to, as blue eyes put it, buckle down, and you need to lose the attitude and all of the drama. When a preceptor, instructor, or another nurse corrects you, or gives you a pointer, you don't "[get]an attitude with the lady who flipped out ... I told her that it was my business and I'll do what I want." (what? you wanted to get stuck by an old, used, dirty needle?)not a way to win points or become a respected member of any unit team. Sorry, I know I sound harsh; and I'll likely get flamed; but you made a mistake and then, instead of trying to amend the situation, you copped an attitude-the nurse who said something to you probably would not of reported you if you had not "got an attitude"-you asked to be reported with that move.
"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.\\"
I was willing to give you some error of margin until I read this comment-why would you 'get an attitude' with a nurse while you are in clinicals? She was right; you were wrong. You'll "do what you want?" You likely would of had more success by stating "Wow, I don't know why I did that, I wasn't thinking-you're right that IS a dangerous thing to do." After reading the rest of your post, I sense some attitude issues-you seem to think that since you BELIEVE that the instructor "is out to get you" that you're excused from being respectful. Sorry, most people at some point are completely sure that at least one of their instructors 'have it out' for them. They are not there to be your buddy; they are there to make you a competent and safe nurse. Period.
Using the fact that you have ADD to excuse your mistakes is not acceptable; "but judge, I have ADD, so it's okay for me to make a med error, I 'm not responsible" just won't cut it. I am not lightly suggesting that it is easy to do, but you have to, as blue eyes put it, buckle down, and you need to lose the attitude and all of the drama. When a preceptor, instructor, or another nurse corrects you, or gives you a pointer, you don't "[get]an attitude with the lady who flipped out ... I told her that it was my business and I'll do what I want." (what? you wanted to get stuck by an old, used, dirty needle?)not a way to win points or become a respected member of any unit team. Sorry, I know I sound harsh; and I'll likely get flamed; but you made a mistake and then, instead of trying to amend the situation, you copped an attitude-the nurse who said something to you probably would not of reported you if you had not "got an attitude"-you asked to be reported with that move.
It wasn't a nurse... it was a student. It would have been totally different if it was a nurse who corrected me. I just don't like the idea that a student took it upon herself to yell at me and tell on me.
It wasn't a nurse... it was a student. It would have been totally different if it was a nurse who corrected me. I just don't like the idea that a student took it upon herself to yell at me and tell on me.
Not necessarily. Either person shouldn't have gotten that kind of response back.
Just because someone disrespects you doesn't mean you have to give the same crap back to them (and make a situation worse). Doesn't mean kissing their rear either.
Being the adult in a situation is much more effective than proving one can be just as defiant as another.
Wow, I spent the last 20 minutes reading this thread from start to finish.
I am an exairline mechanic who has decided he wants to be an RN in his next life, and I am presently wrapping up all of my prereqisites in order to start Nursing I in September.
Again, after reading this, I say wow. Completing Nursing is going to be a tremendous challenge. I have nothing but the utmost respect for those you who are in the field. I hope I am up to the challenge, but after reading the interaction in just this thread alone, I can tell you I have doubts about myself.
stuff like this happen when you first start . learn from it/dont sweat it, mistakes like this happen all the time when starting out. I think the other student that flipped on you just wanted to make a scene and let everyone know how responsible he/she is about personal care /company policy etc. its good to worry/concern about other safety, but ppl like that wont get along with anyone in the long run.
"and i too, have ADD" - I think we all have a lil ADD in us.hehe
:scrying: 
leslie :-D
11,191 Posts
it certainly isn't for the faint of heart, that's for damn sure.
and i too, have ADD- but never in a million yrs would i ever attempt to use it as an excuse. bottom line, the ADD is my problem and no one else's.
leslie