New Nurse Mistakes

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What is your most regrettable mistake that you have made as a new nurse? What would you go back and do?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Not getting my masters before life got in the way.

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Specializes in Hospice / Psych / RNAC.

I do recommend a search before posting on any website. It's possible that a search was done and it was found that the existing posts were dated and it's perfectly fine to revive a subject.

This forum is suppose to be a website where people feel free to post. I think it's absolutely OK for a new post on this subject or any other subject that has been beaten to the ground. If you see the title and think "OMG; not again!" than you don't have to read it. Asst Admins and Admins look out for us all on this website and take appropriate action when needed.

:)

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Asking one's preceptor first thing where the clincal and reference books are, if there's references on the computers. Really knowing what meds you are giving a patient. Making sure you check vitals before giving medications. And to get in as many head to toe assessments as you can.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

Let's see, 15 months in, on orientation for the job I'm currently at, and I make a med error for a partial package. The patient needed to be monitored, but no harm. I could have been terminated because I was on 90 day probation, but my manager fought for me. Apparently, there were people on the IR committee who *did* want to fire me. Now, I keep a pill cutter in my pocket, and cut the pill immediately after scanning it.

Still new at my current job, and I did not question the procedure for when a new dialysis order comes in. Thought the right people would see it. Near the end of shift, thought, "Why hasn't he been dialyzed yet?" Turns out I should have called our dialysis contractor when the order came in. Patient did get dialyzed that evening, but I should have facilitated it hours earlier. It's now one of the first things I mention to agency or other floats working with me.

Waited too long to do a discharge on a patient to a new nursing home. Thought everything was in order. Turns out they wouldn't take him because some paperwork was missing. If I had done the discharge earlier, the SW would have been in the office to fix it. The attending was ****** that he had to stay another day. Expensive mistake. Now I try to discharge immediately unless it's near a meal time. I don't discharge nursing home patients right before a meal because the facility will most likely not have a tray available.

Not life-threatening mistakes, but they still made my stomach churn. Wanted to give a variety of errors that could happen as a nurse, not just med errors.

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Many of the OPs questions are right there available- immediately at her fingertips. Many people do not do their own research which frankly helps people to learn in my opinion. In addition, it is always better to phrase a question similar to, "I looked at A, B, and C but I still do not understand because of... blah... blah." People tend to be far more responsive when they see that the person asking a question has taken time to evaluate the problem themselves. I have seen others say that part of what it takes to be a good nurse is to be a critical thinker... part of developing critical thinking is to dig for answers in my opinion.

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Yes, I have questions that could be researched easily but I can't access everything on this site until I've started a certain number of conversations. I do respect that you experienced responders are being such good gatekeepers. I didn't know it would ruffle so many feathers, guess I should have done my research on that one too.

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I held a pt's Lactulose because he had frequent stooling. I didn't realize at the time that the Lactulose was to keep his ammonia level from getting too high, and that frequent stools are needed for that. He was a liver failure pt.

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Ashley,

You didn't "ruffle anyone's feathers"... Nobody is attacking you. You are not understanding that GrnTea is actually trying to help. Perhaps it came off a bit rough, but nevertheless what she is saying is true and it would benefit you to listen to her. When I was preparing for the TEAS exam I wasn't even a member of this website and I was searching the archives for information. I did not even need to post because my questions were pretty much answered already.

I have only been a member for about a week and I am certainly no "gatekeeper". If you cannot see in my response that I was providing constructive criticism then well... I guess we have nothing else to discuss.

Regards,

LW

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Specializes in retired LTC.

To dudette10 - TY for thinking of us and our pts in LTC re discharge and meals. Not too many think of us that way and it is appreciated. Usually getting a meal isn't too difficult for breakfast & lunch. Dinner may be a problem if the kitchen has closed but we usually manage.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Here's one you just made....

Grntree is one of the friendliest, most helpful REALIST on this board. Way to make an impression. On all of us....

Why not ignore questions you don't want to answer.
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Or "is this a HIPPA violation?" And yes, I intentionally misspelled "HIPAA" because that drives me as crazy and the constant threads on the subject!

Just like the 10000 nclex threads asking the same darn question. It's just frustrating.
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