I am a new nurse and I made a big mistake last night... my DNR CC patient who I have (probably had) an awesome rapport with her and her family.. had some labs that I just forgot to check.. well she had hgb of 6.1... 6.1! how could I miss this??
so the nurse who I gave report to (who is never nice to me but that is not the point) was of course bitter towards me and rightly so.. doctor of course was furious and rightly so.. 7 hours after the fact... and close to midnight we are getting units of blood and consents signed
I work on a floor of sharks... I can't speak to them about this... I of course began crying pretty much on the spot (I really hate working with women for this reason) .. why does it always feel like when you oversee something, you are all alone?
I am just putting this out there... I realize that most of the people who read this will be women and I hope you know what I mean when I made the women comment above..
I am working so hard to keep all my patient information together here.. I know that 4 patients for me is more than enough to manage... I am in AWE of the night shift who sometimes take on 6.. let alone a charge nurse who has a whole floor to contend with.. and I thought I was making progress but this whole situation is making me take a long hard look at the decision I made... yes we all make mistakes but this???
I am being super vulnerable .. I have been up all night, I am one raw nerve here
I do not want to go back for fear of all kinds of judgement.. legal, the family, co workers... all of it.
If you have read this far, thanks for letting me vent this... If you are judging me... don't blame you but know I can't get any lower than I feel right now.
What do I hope to gain by this? tell me I 'll get better with time .. tell me I am full of sh...and just give it up? I don't know.. just hurting here
It isn't misogyny (completely inappropriate use of the word)...it is the truth. And this is coming from a female. Women can be so damn evil to each other sometimes very quick to tear each other down more so than their male counterparts, sadly. That's what the op meant by her statement. Stop putting words in her mouth.
Op, don't let them see you cry...they will use that against you. I would talk to your manager too before someone else does because everything seems to find its way through the grape vine. *Hugs*
Ruby Vee said:
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. You've made a mistake, and hopefully you've learned from it and won't make the same mistake again. But if anyone ever tries to tell you they don't make mistakes, they're either too stupid to recognize a mistake or lying. Everyone makes mistakes.
I don't understand the statement about when you oversee something, you're alone. Did you mean overlook?
And I don't understand the part about how you "of course started to cry immediately) and you hate working with women for this reason. You hate working with women because they cry? Because they saw you cry? I don't get it, and I don't understand your comment about women, except that it sounds somewhat misogynistic and makes me lose some sympathy for you. There's enough misogyny in the world without nurses contributing to it.
I have a lot of sympathy for new nurses who make mistakes and CARE about it. You seem like you do. Trust me, the first year is the worst and the only way to get through it is to GO through it. But I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for misogyny. You may want to rethink your comment about working with women, especially since YOU were the one who was crying.
... for the love of God people stop doing this ... all the time. Sorry I'm a grammar nerd. Those three little dots are overused and improperly used ALL THE TIME. A period ends a sentence. An ellipsis indicates an omission. Sorry, rant over. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/ellipsis
Hang in there. The first year of nursing is the hardest. You're still learning. Keep your head up ?
I work with sharks too. It is hard, especially when you are new. I can't say anything about this that hasn't already been said, but I must say this- for the love of God people stop doing this ... all the time. Sorry, I'm a grammar nerd. Those three little dots are overused and improperly used ALL THE TIME. A period ends a sentence. An ellipsis indicates an omission. Sorry, rant over.
ok, all grammar aside- op- There are more things that could be failing.Now you know to check labs if they are due. It kind of stinks that we get blamed for a lot of things. Everything is electronic where I am. The docs usually look up the labs, especially if it's something suspected, like a low hct or hgb. No saying it's not our responsibility to notify the. It IS also ours, but he should have been following too.
Maybe a transfer is in order to get out of the shark infested waters. Not all areas are like that.
Sorry you had a bad day. Hopefully you will have a better one next shift. And yes, don't cry in front of others if you can help it. It just gives them more reasons to pick on you. I know, easier said than done. But with practice.....
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Meriwhen said:
That was my thought. The fact that they are DNR doesn't necessarily mean "Do No Treat."
I said that in the beginning but it isn't just a DNR it's a comfort care......in my state that allows and almost mandated no labs, interventions comfort measures only. If they were distress somehow OK but I am wondering why labs are being done and aggressively treated,...what is missing in the story.
Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.
(((Hugs))) OP. Always always check your labs... and channel them to the appropriate person if needed. You most definately have learned from this. Although uncomfortable and painful to go through...you will come out a better nurse!
Even if you think the MD/NP will not do aggressive treatment concerning certain values, cover yourself by relaying the information. Dont be too hard on yourself...it gets better! God bless:-)
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
caddywompus said:
I work with sharks too. It is hard, especially when you are new. I can't say anything about this that hasn't already been said, but I must say this- for the love of God people stop doing this ... all the time. Sorry, I'm a grammar nerd. Those three little dots are overused and improperly used ALL THE TIME. A period ends a sentence. An ellipsis indicates an omission. Sorry, rant over.
So sorry....I am the guilty party....They are a habit....and just my style. They indicate a pause in thoughtful thinking, a breath taken in conversation. I'm a hand talker and it helps me think . If I don't use my hands I'm mute.
My apologies if they annoy you but they have little to do with grammar.
OP hang in there....everyone have those moments and things that get forgotten. We all work with those who perceive themselves and perfect and infallible when in fact they are not. I usually find these people essentially insecure and somehow feel better by making others feel badly. Crying only empowers them.
"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent"........ Eleanor Roosevelt
I am not sure how it got missed...lab has to call critical values. Who did they call the lab to? They have to report a name. So the MD got angry, it won't be the last time a MD gets angry ((HUGS)). Learn from this....it is clear to me that you are remorseful and will never forget this which means you have learned. Now, smile and go forward.
We have ALL made mistakes...ALL of us!! Now go back and show them how far you have come!
Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.
If I have a moment while at work...I go into my prayer closet ( aka~the laboratory ;-) for a few seconds and say a prayer, take a deep breath, think of my wonderful blessings and redirect my thoughts to I can do all things thru Christ which strengthens me) then I come out with a fresh mindset.
Maybe you can try something similar to cope with those moments you encounter while at work. I think its sad nurses are supposed to be compassionate individuals and then they act as you describe. Never let them see you cry... remove yourself and regroup.
I always check labs before I start the morning med pass because there is usually someone with a low K, so I get K ordered and hang it as soon as possible. I floated to the burn ICU at my hospital the other day and there was a hgb of 6.4 on a pt, which resulted at 0430 and I came on at 0700. Why wasnt that addressed? I wasnt even told in report about that one, I notified MD and started up transfusion eventually. What was the pt's baseline? If it wasnt too far off I wouldnt dwell on it, lab shouldve called with critical.
Specializes in Float Pool-Med-Surg, Telemetry, IMCU.
In response to the misogyny comment, I respectfully disagree. I am a woman, a lesbian, and a feminist and to be honest, I find all-female environments very hard to work in too. Women can be downright evil to each other and to recognize that does not make one a misogynist. Check out Queen Bees and Wannabes by Wiseman or Odd Girl Out by Simmons if you're interested.
To the OP: We all make mistakes and I agree that this seems like a systems failure. I burst into tears at work recently after a coworker called me out on not giving a flu shot to a patient in full- blown heroin withdrawal. (I did, however give Q1 hour clonidine-which no one else had done, move her to a room closer to the nurses station, call the doctor, talk with her anxious parents, administer pain medications, get her comfortable, etc) It just seemed like not the best time to stab her in arm.
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
ThePrincessBride said:
It isn't misogyny (completely inappropriate use of the word)...it is the truth. And this is coming from a female. Women can be so damn evil to each other sometimes very quick to tear each other down more so than their male counterparts, sadly. That's what the op meant by her statement. Stop putting words in her mouth.
Op, don't let them see you cry...they will use that against you. I would talk to your manager too before someone else does because everything seems to find its way through the grape vine. *Hugs*
Dictionaries define misogyny as 'hatred of women' and as "hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women". Dictionaries don't state that this hatred, mistrust or dislike of female MUST come from a male. Many women -- many women on this site, in fact -- meet the definition of misogynists. From your statement, you are one of them. It is your OPINION that women are "quick to tear each other down more so than their male counterparts, sadly". The fact that this is your opinion does not make it the truth.
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Thank you that term is a California thing!!
. If I don't use my hands I'm mute.
ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP
1 Article; 2,594 Posts
It isn't misogyny (completely inappropriate use of the word)...it is the truth. And this is coming from a female. Women can be so damn evil to each other sometimes very quick to tear each other down more so than their male counterparts, sadly. That's what the op meant by her statement. Stop putting words in her mouth.
Op, don't let them see you cry...they will use that against you. I would talk to your manager too before someone else does because everything seems to find its way through the grape vine. *Hugs*