nursing errors

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Specializes in Oncology.

There has been a number of threads r/t med errors. however, what about medical errors. I am seriously considering leaving my current position because of a mistake I have made. No harm came to the patient, but I did not heed my own critical thinking skills. I was questioning myself the entire time, but went ahead without asking anyone why. I have been in nursing for 2 years and should not be making these types of mistakes. I mistakenly placed an enteral feeding tube instead of an ng tube. I realized my error and placed the correct tube within a matter of minutes. My supervisors are aware. I am not sure where to go from here. Any advice?

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I think you're being WAY too hard on yourself.

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So you're human. You have a problem with that?

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i agree w/emmanuel....you are being WAY too hard on yourself.

if this is your first mistake in 2 yrs, consider yourself blessed.

leslie

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Specializes in Oncology.

Thanks for responding so quickly. Hopefully, I'll sleep okay. I think maybe because I am one of those "mature" new nurses, I don't allow myself to make mistakes. Most of my peers agewise have been in nursing for 30 years! I need to slow my actions down to allow my thinking to prevail. Thanks for the support.

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I totally agree you're being too hard on yourself. You will do alot of good for patients during your career. Don't cut yourself short or them.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I've been a nurse for 5 years now and I often ask the advice of my fellow nurses if I am not completely sure of what I am doing. Fortunately I work with a great group who have the same work ethic I do. Sometimes I seem slow, but this helps keep me from making many mistakes.

Slow down, and ask advice if not sure, and give yourself a break. We all make silly mistakes sometimes.

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We all make silly mistakes sometimes.

and thank the Lord this was one of the sillier mistakes.

could have been much more serious.

leslie

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Thanks for responding so quickly. Hopefully, I'll sleep okay. I think maybe because I am one of those "mature" new nurses, I don't allow myself to make mistakes. Most of my peers agewise have been in nursing for 30 years! I need to slow my actions down to allow my thinking to prevail. Thanks for the support.

I placed an NGT once, and it went down soooo smoothly. I was certain I had it in the right place. Took my syringe and bolused the air in--- nothing. Listened all over the chest and upper abd--- nothing. Looked in the throat, didn't see it coiled, but I figured it must have. So I pulled it back, started over. Whoosh, right down again. Air bolus--- nothing. I handed over the syringe to the nurse assisting me and had her listen. Nothing. In the meantime, the patient is just lying there, calm as could be.

As I'm getting ready to try for a third time, I happened to glance over at the table, and there lies the syringe with its cover still attached. I held it up for my buddy to see, and of course she starts grinning. Patient looks up and smiles back at her.

I wanted to die lol.

But I did learn my lesson. And haven't forgotten to remove that cover again ;)

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one time, i pronounced a pt. (daughter in room).

after pronouncing, dtr starts crying.

just as i approach dtr., pt makes a loud snoring sound. :stone

pt resumes cheyne-stoking.

dtr jumps off her seat.

i quickly excused myself, getting another nurse.

nurse and i walk back in room.

pt. 'looks' dead....again.

other nurse softly says, "oh yeah, she's gone".

i whisper back, "don't be too sure". :stone

this time, i check pulses, pupils, pulses, pupils, pulses and pupils.

pt. has died.

i again, tell dtr that mom is gone.

dtr: "ARE YOU QUITE SURE THIS TIME???"

me: (ever so meekly) "yes agnes, i'm sure".

so yes, even the best of us, make mistakes. ;)

leslie

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That happened to one of our docs. He pronounced a patient twice, only to be called a third time that no, the patient wasn't dead yet...

He pronounced again, then sat down and stared at her for about 20 minutes before finally leaving.

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Herb, it doesn't matter how old you are or how long you've been nursing. You will make mistakes and I gaurantee that this will not be your last one. We all make mistakes....some more serious than others, but there is not one single nurse on this planet who has not made mistakes.

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