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.
Finally, just to let you know, if I were a CI (I'm just a student, by the way) and a student made a comment to me about needing to be more organized, I'd snap at them too. That is HUGELY disrespectful. So is showing up late, being unprepared, and not taking accountability for mistakes. I've seen classmates do all these things and it makes me want to slap some sense in them. You'll have a lifetime to assert your independence and individuality in your personal and professional lives, nursing school just isn't the time to make that your priority.
:yeahthat: Some here have mentioned not being treated like adults. Just remember it goes both ways. At my school, we have a zero tolerance policy for latenesses and absences. Two clinical absences and (I think) 2 or 3 lecture absences (and lecture is one full 6 hour day). The students feel we treat them like babies, but you know what? I've told the students that they do not want to be that person waiting for report b/c your releif strolled in at 7:20. Our students need to sign in at the beginning of each lecture (morning AND afternoon). It is a very catholic school mentality. These things just don't happen overnight. Every stupid rule happens for a reason. I went to the same school I teach at, and when I was there, I did not have to sign in like that. Now, b/c someone stated that the scantron that was hers was not hers :uhoh21: . So now, in addition to writing their name, ss# on the scantron, they have to sign the back in front of the proctor when they hand in the test. Ridiculous, huh?
Telling someone to "look up" an answer is completely appropriate - it's the best way to learn. Also, be prepared to have mistakes you make discussed among your entire clinical group - it's a learning opportunity for everyone.
After reading similar threads, I made sure my students know why I tell them to look things up. 2 reasons (and I was very honest) 1- I may not know the answer (that's right, Instructors do not know everything- but few will admit to that), but many of the thinhs I do know- and while our job is to teach you, we are not here to spoon-feed you the answers. I remind them that I am not 'picking on them', and that they need to be able to take initiative for their own learning.
As far as discussing 'mistakes' with the group, I always ask th student if he/she minds that I 'present' their 'problem' in post-conf. It is almost always a learing experience the group will never forget.
Don't talk to the dean about being treated unfairly, you'll come across as whiney. I'm not trying to be hard on you. I also wouldn't bring up the ADD. Yes, it makes your life more challenging, but you probably will not get the response you are hoping for if you bring that up, unless you have specific learning needs that need to be met. If that's the case, your school should have a department for students with special needs and you would want to direct those inquiries to that department, not the nursing department.
Unfortunately, you cannot turn back the clock. But if you had presented your disability (which, technically it is) from the very beginning, you may have had better luck in being accomodated. But now, that you've waited for a problem to arise, it will be difficult to get the resolution you are looking for.
My instructor keeps asking me why I do these impulsive things and why I speak without thinking. Hell... I don't even know why I do it! I'm trying to change it but its not going to happen over night. SHe said eventually I'm going to harm a patient or myself. I think its pretty good that I haven't had any med errors or any other complaints throughout my nursing career so far and many other students have.
In noticed something about some nursing students... they think it's all about the meds. Yes, med administration is important, but passing clinicals is much more than that.
She also told me that she doesn't think that I am going to fail but I may be put on remediation or probation. Whatever, I don't even care anymore. If my instructor is out to get me and doesn't want me to continue then she's going to use every excuse possible to hold me back from passing. This really bothers me because the first semester I had an excellent instructor whom I got along with really well and I did excellent on clinical. Now I get this really hard instructor... whom I actually REQUESTED and she treats me like **** and intimidates me.
If you don't care, then drop out. This is too stressful of an environment to be in if you truly do not care.
Is this your 2nd semester? What were your expectations in clinical in the first sem? Much less, I would imagine. Every semester, the bar is raised. The expectations are not high in the 1st sem. Basically, I feel, as long as you don't kill a patient, you will pass. That may answer the question of why you feel the first semester went so well. And also, you do need to consider the personalities of the intructor.
I kind of want to go and talk to the other dean of nursing about this and how I'm being treated unfair but I don't know if its even worth it. All this makes me think that I'm too young to be a nurse and I've got a lot of maturing to do before I can even think about it. I just dont know what to do anymore... maybe I'm not going into the right field?
I say this very objectively- maybe nursing is not for you. It is not for everyone. This is the reason that people drop out and fail. As much as you want it, it may not be for you. You need to think long and hard about it. You are not too young, but only you can answer the maturity question. There is something to be said for some life-experience though. I felt I did not have that when I was in school, and did make it through (was not easy). I did, however, show respect for my teachers, recognized my mistakes, and laid low (did not draw attention to myself). My lecture grades were not great (barely passed the first year), but clinically, I did what I had to do, and never had any deficiences. I made mistakes, and still remeber them, and learned from them.
If there was something wrong with me and my nursing abilities wouldn't my first instructor have had some complaints about me? She didn't have any and her and I got along great. She was fun and she was also nice and I really liked that.
My answer to this is above. Also, I learned the hard way- fun and nice instructors don't get the students anywhere. I have a feeling I got the rep of being 'easy' last sem, but again, my expectations for 2nd sem have been raised, compared to 1st. Next sem, when I have 1st sem students again, I will have to adjust, and lower my expectations.
love2shoppe85, I'm sorry you're going through this. As far as saying "I'll do whatever I want", I'm sure you now realize that wasn't the brightest thing to say but hey at the moment it happened you were upset and that's the first thing that came out of your mouth. That happens to all of us.
As for the 24 urine test, do you know how many RN's, LPN's and tech's have made the same mistake? I know I have...I've been a nurse for 30 years and about 2 years ago I accidently dumped some pee that was supposed to be in a 24 hour collection and it had only hours left. This can and does happen to all of us. We feel bad because the patient has to deal with it. My patient had to take the big bottle home and re-do the 24 hours test at home and bring it back. I felt bad, sure, I apoligized, they understood. It happens.
The old lady who made the comment that you scared her. I feel like she was just conveying her feelings about having a student care for her but didn't explain herself the way she should have.
Please try not to let this stuff get you down. Try to relax. It's wonderful to be able to vent here but you have to also realize (as I did too, the hard way) that sometimes you won't get the answers you're looking for but will feel as though you are being judged again. You are not being judged again but never the less it does come across that way sometimes.
I started a thread once that went on for weeks and I was more upset about the thread and the way it went than the original incident that prompted me to start it. You as the original poster can always request from a moderator that the thread be closed.
OK, look. The pain you are in now is punishment enough and I doubt you will EVER do anything similar ever again, which should be the real goal of discipline - that is, to correct wrongdoing, not torment the offender.
The other nurse, your instructor, all the immature fellow students who couldn't wait to tattle on you - they all sound like a gaggle of hens who should be cooked for Sunday dinner - for your enemies. What a bunch of losers! But get used to it. You will probably always have people like them around.
Do not blame ADD. Do not (and please listen to me very carefully) do NOT discuss this matter any further. Just do the paper for your Director and do it promptly, timely, and well. IF your instructor or the idiot nurse who blew it all out of proportion try to discuss this, just politely listen, nod, and accept the reaming. Apologize ONCE and then be silent.
If your fellow students want to bring it up, just say you have learned your lesson. If they persist, tell them you are sorry but you cannot discuss it any further. Then change the subject. Don't worry, soon some new horror will happen, hopefully not involving you, and the spotlight will be on that.
Stop with the jokes, Luv. You know she doesn't like you. So just be silent. Give her no openings to misconstrue what you say or do. Just stop.
If you joke about serious stuff, she will feel small, which leads to pissed off, which makes her want to nail you.
As for the pt who was nice to your face then c/o you behind your back - get used to two-facedness. It's everywhere. That's just life. Some people are afraid to speak up directly but will tell on you behind your back. Are you absolutely certain you did nothing to scare her? Like force her to walk when she was SOB? I hope you had an order for that walking and had a w/c a& her O2, if ordered, along with you so she could sit down stat PRN.
Again, your instructor sounds unfair but it's very hard to say, not being in on everything. Unfair or not, though, she has the power in this situation. Good luck.
i just wish there was some magical way to fix this and i could know for sure that i'm still going to pass clinical. i asked her about 3 weeks ago if i was going to fail and she shook her head and said no way. then i asked her the day the needle container thing happened, it was before i did it that and she said no i wasn't going to fail. i asked her after this whole incident and she said she doesn't think i will fail, or that she cant be sure i won't fail or something. its kind of frustrating and it feels like shes not giving me a fair chance. what sucks the most is that i don't have any time on the floor so i can't even try and improve and show her what i've learned because i don't have clinical anymore. i know that sometimes i haven't acted all that professional when i should have... but since she pointed it out to me i agree with her and told her i would do whatever it takes to make me a better nurse. i am reading this communication book right now, and i am going to tell my teacher next week what i learned from it. i know i"m having problems with communication so that is something i will have to work on. my instructor said that i am not having trouble traansferring theory to clinical and that i do everything thats expected of me. it just is this whole communication thing, and not being professional enough that is giving me problems. i'm going to try and lay low now and not get on her nerves... and just hope (maybe since i'm hoping, and my name is hope that wil give me some luck... hah:lol2: ) and pray that i pass clinical. i'm worrying enough about the final exam and now i have to worry about failing clinical. it sucks because there is nothing i want more than to be a nurse. does anyone have any suggestions of things i could do to prove i'm worthy of passing clinical that i can do even though i'm actually not at clinical anymore? we get our final evaluations may 24 so i have until then. maybe write a paper or something to my instructor? about what i learned with communiication, or something aboutprofessionalism. any advice anyone could give would be greatly appreciated!
Okay I am not trying to be a you know what.. BUT STOP WHINNING about your problems and move on. You have posted this exact same problem on about 3 other boards and all I hear is this poor me I am going to flunk attitude. It sounds to me like you are just seeking attention.
I too am in Nursing school. I too have made dumb mistakes felt like a complete idiot and wondered what the hell I was doing. But at some point I stop and remember. I was smart enough to get in I CAN DO THIS. I also am smart enough to know that if my instructor has a problem with me. I take her advice to heart Make sure she sees me doing everything correctly and just kiss her ass the rest of the semester. Enough said. Suck it up be a good girl the rest of the semester and lets move on
I'm not whining about my problems... I'm trying to get help so I can fix my problems and not fail clinical. I want to get other peoples opinions on what to do. If I can't post my problems here then where should I Post them? There are tons of other people asking questions about things to get other peoples insight and I'm entitled to that same priveledge. I posted this thread in the student section to get other students opinions, and in the nursing educators section to get instructors opinions. If this thread is whiney and you dont like it then just dont read it.
How come you keep asking her if you are going to fail clinical?
Just curious. I apologize if I'm out of line.
DeLySh
Because she intimidates me and just makes me question my abilities by making me nervous and stuff. I don't know I just wanted to be sure I wasn't going to fail clinical. I'm somewhat of a negative person when it comes to school.. I always think the WORST, I guess to prepare myself in case the worst does happen. It usually doesn't and I usually succeed though.
:scrying: 
ReinventingMyselfAgain, MSN, RN
1,954 Posts
:yeahthat: Some here have mentioned not being treated like adults. Just remember it goes both ways. At my school, we have a zero tolerance policy for latenesses and absences. Two clinical absences and (I think) 2 or 3 lecture absences (and lecture is one full 6 hour day). The students feel we treat them like babies, but you know what? I've told the students that they do not want to be that person waiting for report b/c your releif strolled in at 7:20. Our students need to sign in at the beginning of each lecture (morning AND afternoon). It is a very catholic school mentality. These things just don't happen overnight. Every stupid rule happens for a reason. I went to the same school I teach at, and when I was there, I did not have to sign in like that. Now, b/c someone stated that the scantron that was hers was not hers :uhoh21: . So now, in addition to writing their name, ss# on the scantron, they have to sign the back in front of the proctor when they hand in the test. Ridiculous, huh?
But I digress.