Mistake... What to do differently

[Maddie RN]

I think I might have made a mistake at work last night.

I received a new patient right out of report. The consulting doctor wrote orders on the patient including a venous duplex to be done in the AM. When I called the primary doctor he wanted the duplex done stat. I worte the order and changed the order from routine to stat in the computer. This was at 1725. The primary doctor came in and did not write any new orders. I recieved another admission right after I verified the order. I got busy and distracted by my new patient. I saw escort take the first patient off the floor and assumed that they took him for the duplex. It wasn't until 2230 that I realized that they took him for his CXR and not the duplex. I checked to see that the order was entered into the computer correctly and it was. When I called ultrasoud there was no response. Normally ultrasound calls our floor when they are ready to take the patient for the test. They never called.

I gave report to the next shift nurse and told her that the test was not done yet. She yelled at me and told me I should have called down every half hour until they took him. I didn't know what to say so I just gave her my equipment and went home.

What should I have done differently in this situation? I left feeling stupid and incompetent. I am a new nurse and have only been off of orientation for about a month.

[mama_d, BSN, RN]

Is ultrasound even there at night at your facility? At ours, if we have a stat venous doppler to be done, the u/s on call tech has to come in. I probably would have gotten my charge nurse involved in expediting the procedure, that's one of the things they're there for.

Chalk it up as a learning experience and learn what procedures to follow the next time so it doesn't happen again. We've all had situations where we dropped the ball for whatever reason, the important thing is to learn from it so you don't do it again.

[Guest296136]

the best thing to do is learn from that night. Your charge nurse should have been checking the orders for the night and picked up on a stat test that was ordered. Don't beat yourself up, and don't let anyone yell at you. Talk to your floor manager and let her know what happened better to hear it from you rather then a ****** off co-worker.

Any time you get a stat order, let your charge nurse know so if you get busy they should back you up, that's their job to review the charts and look at the orders, so it wasn't just your mistake it was also the charge nurses mistake.

Anytime you get really busy or don't know how to handle something speak up ask for help. Learn from your mistakes and grow from them. It gets better I promise.

[Mulan]

Just an FYI, some hospitals do not have charge nurses.

[Melinurse]

Is ultrasound even there at night at your facility? At ours, if we have a stat venous doppler to be done, the u/s on call tech has to come in. I probably would have gotten my charge nurse involved in expediting the procedure, that's one of the things they're there for.

Chalk it up as a learning experience and learn what procedures to follow the next time so it doesn't happen again. We've all had situations where we dropped the ball for whatever reason, the important thing is to learn from it so you don't do it again.

I agree. I know I am having my own share of learning experiences too right now. ((( HUGS )))

[GrumpyRN63, ADN, RN]

I believe it is up to the Ultrasound dept to follow the stat order.You did your part. If your facility doesn't have a tech at noc, the resident (if you have them) or MD should be the one to call to get the stat ok'd to have the tech come in- not nursing. Many times traumas and true emergencies bump even the most needed procedures (much more urgent than a doppler)-sometimes FOR MANY HOURS be it u/s, MRI's, CT's, add on to the OR, etc. You should not have been yelled at, she was out of line.

BTW, in my world, the charge nurse basically just assigns admissions and checks on staffing for the next shift while keeping a full assignment. She is no way takes off any orders or has any involvement in anyone elses assignment.