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.
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.
Not to sound unsympathetic but, as I see it, there are 6 pages of posts responding to your questions...all good advice. Maybe part of the communications problem is that you only want to hear what you want to hear. There is no magical way to fix this, and I would stop asking the instructor if you're going to fail. She told you no and if you continue to badger her she may just start wondering if you know something she doesn't (but should!) I hope things work out for you!
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.
First of all.
I am not saying you shouldnt post your problems here.. just not in three different threads about the same problem. You say you want advice but I dont see you taking any of the wonderful advice people have given you. You keep on whining about the problem over and over and over again
Secondly
You say Clinicals are over and you will just have to wait for your eval in May. Okay then. If there is nothing you can do about it why stress yourself out for
two more months wondering if you are going to pass or not. School in general is stressful enough without worrying about the stuff you cannot change. You cannot change your instructors impression of you. Its too late for that if Clinicals are over. I would just work really hard in your lecture classes and SHOW those instructors that you want to be there. In my opinion
you seem to worry to much what others think of you and as a future nurse you are going to have to learn that you are not going to be able to make everyone happy all the time. You need to be able to stick up for yourself, but you need to learn how to do it while still showing the other person some respect. If I was your co-worker on a nursing unit and you ever spoke to me like you spoke to your fellow student, I would write you up in a heart beat for
unprofessionalism.
I am sorry if I sound mean I am not trying to,
I am in my 4th semester of Nursing school. I have an instructor that wrote me up for 1) while listening to lung sounds on patients back(i was behind him) forgot that he couldnt hear out of that ear but i kept talking to him anyway.
2) while watching enter and leave patients room she didnt feel i was washing my hands enough.(even though i was using the alcohol foam outside the door each and every time.) and washing my hands every 3 or 4 patients. AND I was always washing my hands if patient was on contact precautions.
The first one I just wasnt thinking and not using my therapeutic communication. The second. I work as a nurses Aid and I have learned from watching and talking to other nurses .. You just sometimes dont have time to wash your hands that much every day. ANd studies have shown the alcohol is just as effective as handwashing. However when in School. If you want to graduate you do how the instructors want you to. They are there to teach you the textbook way of doing things. You wanna take short cuts do it after you graduate!
Am I worried if I am going to flunk? NO, I am not worried because my instructor has a clincial evaluation form on each one of us in her group. She shows it to us after clinicals each week. and there are 5 sections, and in order not to pass I would have to get a 3 U's in each section. I am not even close. After that day at clincial I met with my instructor she had a form from the school That basically said what I did and I had to write a plan of action. As long as I follow that plan of action I am fine. Do I necessarily agree with the instructor? NO! But I am a student it doesnt matter If I agree with her or not. She has the ability to pass or fail me and I will be dammed if I have made it this far in school to be flunked 2 months before graduation. So i just suck it up listen to what she has to say and do everything right in front of her!(and behind her too)
It sounds like you cannot change this semester, but for your next two semesters I hope that you take the advice EVERYONE has given you to heart and use it.
You are young.. You just need to learn the fine art of ass-kissing..:rotfl:
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.
I don't know if this is how it is in school but in the military, both parties will get in trouble because the person who saw this action didn't tell so they must have thought it was ok. I agree that the instructor took it over board because she could have made the student do a report and then showed her in clinicals the safe method.
I really don't think it was the fault of the student who told the instructor because, to me, lov2shopp85 got all in a huff because the other student called her on it. I am very sure that if lov2shopp85 had shown some type emotion other then snobbish attitude then that srudent would not have taken it a step furthur. Lov2shopp85's attitude needs to be adjusted, especially since she is a student who is learning. I really think the other student was only trying to help. But with Lov2shopp85, "not my fault" attitude, this may get her in some trouble in the future.
Just think if no one told, would she still be sticking her hands in sharps containers? That is also what happens with teenagers who have that thought process "it will never happen to me" concerning AIDS. I don't mean to come off wrong to anyone but I just thought the blame was going in the wrong direction.
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.
Good luck, Luv To Shop.
matt
Matt,
if you are open for critisism (spelling error I am sure) especially being a student, then you will do great!! It is a challenge though but not like this situation
FYI... i am taking everything everyone says into consideration. I just didn't want to reply to every single comment people made because then it would be 10 pages of me just writing thanks and taht I agree with people.
FYI... i am taking everything everyone says into consideration. I just didn't want to reply to every single comment people made because then it would be 10 pages of me just writing thanks and taht I agree with people.
luv2shopp.....what i am reading most from all your posts is your very, very high anxiety level. if you can get that under control, whether it's with the help of your pcp, meditation, whatever works- once that is under control, your performance will soar. trust me. at one time my anxieties were interfering with nsg school and i quickly nipped it in the bud. after that, i was in control and it felt great. please sweetie, do it for yourself. you are worth it you know.:icon_hug: i'll say it again: show them what you're made of. you are a capable young woman, now prove it.
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.
I agree. Part of what made info sink in better is having to find it myself, not for someone to feed me the answers.
Specializes in jack of all trades, master of none.
Hmmmm. Luv2shopp, I agree that it does seem like you have some pretty big anxiety issues brewing. Nursing school can make everyone anxious. But, how you choose to approach & control that anxiety is what's going to make a difference in your attitude & your future clinical perfomances. You mentioned you were young & couldn't grow up overnight. How old are you? It seems like if you are old enough to be in nursing school, you are certainly old enough to stop making excuses for poor choices (ie. the ADD issue). It sounds like there may also be a tad more to this concern you have about failing.
While I applaud your honesty in admitting your mistakes, I have to wonder if you are truly aware of all mistakes that you may have made.
Maybe it's time to make yourself a list of why you think you will make a great nurse. Keep this list for yourself. Then make a list of the issues you have that could keep you from being a great nurse. Also keep this list for yourself & work on changing those problems. You have already mentioned the ADD & communication issues. Get yourself treated for your ADD. If you are impulsive as you make yourself out to be, you NEED treatment, ASAP. You can seriously harm a patient with impulsive behaviors. With some therapy, you may be able to overcome these issues.
I am the mother of a child with ADD & it is a never ending struggle with her. She is great when she takes her meds. I had to put the ball in her court & make her accountable for when she doesn't take her meds. She could have gone to take her test for her driver's license, but I am being the "mean mom" & not letting her, until she proves she can be responsible enough to take her meds on school days & get ALL of her grades up to a passing level. Granted, she has never been one for school, but if she isn't responsible enough to take her meds & stay after school for a little extra help, she certainly isn't responsible enough to get behind the wheel of a car. I hope you can see how her story relates to you. If you are not responsible enough to get yourself treatment for what you seem to be describing as pretty severe ADD, maybe you should re-think your career choice & do something that will not place people in danger with your impulsive behaviors.
Know what I mean?
It does sound like you have a strong belief in honesty, but unfortunately, that isn't enough in this profession.
:scrying: 
hi fellow military member
RN_Jen
131 Posts
Not to sound unsympathetic but, as I see it, there are 6 pages of posts responding to your questions...all good advice. Maybe part of the communications problem is that you only want to hear what you want to hear. There is no magical way to fix this, and I would stop asking the instructor if you're going to fail. She told you no and if you continue to badger her she may just start wondering if you know something she doesn't (but should!) I hope things work out for you!