New Grad Nurse

[Ms Petite 93]

First of all forgive me for this. I have posted this topic under the first year licensure topic but realized I also wanted an experience nurses ear.

I made a huge mistake a couple days ago during my shift. A patient of mine was finishing his second blood transfusion on my night shift. Around midnight I drew blood for an HandH level. Patients lab was stable. Here comes the mistake...I looked over discharging the patient for the night. I was so wrapped up in my patient assignments that I neglected to read up the provider order regarding the patients discharge. The day shift nurse has relayed to me about discharging the patient but I took it as discharge in the morning shift not soon after lab results :/. The order also was placed during day shift so it was buried under other orders from the provider.*

My mistake was recognized in the morning and I profusely apologized with tears running down my cheek. I own up to my mistake and understand what action I need to take in order to not miss an order whether from day or night. The charge nurse reassured that she was just as responsible because she didnt pay attention to the charting to recognize the patient needed to be discharged. She repeatedly told me that she thought i was a wonderful nurse and that its ok Im new and will make more mistakes in the future. She told me i was too hypercritical of myself and have seen how great I am with patient care. The patient did not die on my shift, all my patients are alive, and the patients lab results werent avaulable until 2am.*

However, I just cannot help but to feel horrible. Everyone is saying Im doing a good job but i dont believe it myself. So for this to happen, makes me start doubting myself. By the way this is my 7th day by myself off orientation. I just needed to vent, thanks to whomever is reading.

[JKL33]

I own up to my mistake and understand what action I need to take in order to not miss an order whether from day or night.

But it seems that you didn't even actually miss an order so much as not understand this situation that truthfully is odd/surprising to a lot of people (including patients and families oftentimes). If you had understood that we do sometimes discharge patients in the middle of the night, it would've registered (stayed in your brain) that you needed to plan for and accomplish that, and my guess is you would have - just as you accomplished the other things you needed to do on that shift.

I don't know you obviously but I'm willing to bet you're doing quite well - great, even. Please don't let little things cripple you; allow yourself to accept the complimentary comments and reassurances being offered by your co-workers.

Yes we should strive to do our very best, but the truth is that the mistake that you made was not serious. We do ourselves and our entire profession a disservice when we don't keep things in proper perspective.

Kudos to you on working hard for a great start to your career!

[NICU Guy, BSN, RN]

If your worst mistake is having a patient spend another night in the hospital instead of discharging them the previous night, you are doing pretty good.

Cut yourself some slack.

[Ms Petite 93]

Thank you guys

[LovingLife123]

You need to relax a little. It's really not a big deal. It's not like you missed a critical lab or med. It was a discharge. I agree with your charge, stop beating yourself up.