Mistake... Need advice!

[Mountain Nurse]

Sorry... long post...but there is a point, I promise!

I recently had an order to hang one unit of blood. H/H wasn't bad, but it was right at shift change. So I decided not to "pass the buck" and went to lab to get the blood. When I got back I grabbed one of our nurses to check blood with (policy is two nurses check). and went to hang tubing. I usually have it ready and infusing before I pick blood up, but like I said, shift change and there was a high critical sodium. The other nurse gives me crap about doing this at shift change and staying w/ the pt for 15 min and yadayadayada and then she looks at the bag I'm just about to spike... and it's D10. crap. So, we fix it, no harm no foul. And I continue on. So, I listen to the pt, do my assessment, and then I realize.... no consent is signed. crap. The pt is not A/o so I have to call around and around to get verbal consent. And finally, I start my blood and stay w/ the pt for my required 15 min.

I was very upset about the whole ordeal and decided that next time, I will NOT start the blood at shift change. Then I get a call from my manager today. She wants to know what happened. The other nurse wrote me up for this (even though none of these reached the pt.) I am being required to do 4 remediation classes withinin the next 10 days. I know that something has to be done, but I'm very upset. I caught all of the mistakes. And apparantly, she told my manager I didn't intend to stay with the pt for the 15 minutes. How would she know? Did she ask me that? Did I try to leave? NO! I know what I'm supposed to do. I've only been a nurse for 5 months, but I have hung blood. It's not my first day.

I'm angry with myself for the mistakes, but also for the assumptions that I would've not stayed with the pt. I have to meet with my manager soon, and I'm not allowed to hang blood until the courses are complete and I've spoke with the unit manager. She wants me to "think about how to avoid this in the future." Like I will ever forget this! I just hope none of my pts need blood and I have to tell my whole story to two other nurses. Even though i'm sure the other nurse has already spread the word.

I'm not sure what will happen with my meeting. It could be worse, and I guess I could be in worse trouble than I am. I guess i'm mostly angry with myself...

Any advice?

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

Dont stress about it, do the refresher course and just treat it as a learning experience. I no longer worry about making sure everything is done by me on my shift because thats when mistakes are made unfortunalty.

Time management can be an issue with some new grads, eventually this sorts itself out and you will not stress about the things you havent been able to do, but you will know that everything you have done was done safely and in a timely manner.

Please dont be hard on yourself, you didnt do anything wrong and you have learn't a huge lesson in not rushing to do stuff at the end of shift-tough if the following shift have to pick up things it is a 24hour care not day shift 12 hours.

[caliotter3]

Probably the easiest way to avoid this is to avoid that particular nurse. She does not sound like a team player. I agree with you that you should not do such an important task at shift change and definitely stay away from that nurse. She is not your friend.

[bjz823]

I appreciate you sharing your experience. I think I would have tried to get it done also. I am just starting as an LPN. I have anxiety about getting my meds right. I think I am good but I am slow because I am checking and rechecking when I do my med pass. During my transition at the end of school I made a mistake of only giving one potassium tab instead of two. I am getting nervous around the experienced nurses. I think I need to boost my confidence and just go at the pace I need to make sure I am 100% accurate.

Don't let it get you down. You were trying to do a good thing.