6 months in... and I had a fall...

[rosyariana]

I graduated a year ago but spent 6 months in an outpatient clinic, and now that I am working med-surg I feel overwhelmed. Not to mention the fact that I am only 6 months in and one of my patients suffered a fall... that only made me feel worse. Anyone else had this happen? It has totally changed the way I feel about being responsible for another human being. I want to do it, and I have worked so hard for this, but I do not feel confident at all. Thank you on advance for your replies!

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

That first fall is the pits! I think my first fall was about 6 months in too; no injury, but I still felt awful. The second time, the patient sustained a hip fracture. It's always a learning experience, that's for sure. One of those taught me to make first rounds as soon as possible and not to take for granted that bed alarms are set, rails up, etc. by your coworkers/previous shift. The other taught me that despite your best efforts, some people are not going to be contained by reasonable safety measures. Feel better! It never feels good, but at least most of the time (in my experience, anyway), the worst part is the paperwork afterward.

[rosyariana]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It helps to know I am not he only one out there!

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

Everyone I know has had a patient fall at some point. I had one that needed stitches to seal up a head wound that wouldn't stop bleeding all night (luckily everything was OK on the inside). I also had a coworker who found her patient crawling down the hallway with a freshly broken hip. Unless we tie down every patient, it's going to happen from time to time.

[coffeetalker]

One of the keys to not being overwhelmed is to ask your co-workers for how they stay organized through a shift- and take the things that work for you and incorporate those into your shift. Also keep in mind that sometimes folks are just gonna fall- after all, they are weak/confused/ stubborn. And no amount of bed alarms will change that - neither will hourly rounds or whatever- nothing will stop a determined pt.

[quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN]

I think that first patient fall is the one that gets us the most. Just remember that no matter what preventions are in place, falls will happen. We do what we can to prevent them, but falls happen.

[loriangel14, RN]

I see at least one fall a week. It happens.

[LeChien, BSN, RN]

You can't watch everyone 24/7.

[amoLucia]

A fact of life is that pts do fall and nothing short of sitting on top of the pt 24/7 will prevent it.

That being said ... unless you did something that DID contribute somehow to the fall, you learn from it.

One thing I learned is to strive for EXCELLENCE, not PERFECTION. Makes a difference in your career perspectives.