OK I made a mistake.... but am I in danger of failing clinical now?

[luv2shopp85]

Okay so I made a really huge mistake today. I'm in my first year of nursing school and finishing up my second semester which is medsurg. We have needle boxes where we throw the needles in when we're finished, its biohazard and stuff. And those are located in every room of the hospital. Well on my floor we have this conference room in the back where we all do our charting, and go over our meds with the instructor and do our paperwork. This is pretty much a student area and the nurses don't come in unless they are looking for one of us. At one time this was a 3 bed hospital room but it hasn't been since we started in January. There are no beds in there just tables and chairs. So today as I was walking out of the room... (dont ask why I did it bc I DONT KNOW!). I looked at the needle box on the wall and saw that there was a piece of paper that looked like a note folded up in there. I just wasn't thinking and I went to grab the paper out of there to throw it away. I thought since this room isn't used there wouldn't be needles in there.... which I know it was wrong of me to ASSUME that. And I didn't think before doing it. After doing it the one lady who was walking out wtih me started flipping out and saying omg I cant believe you did that, what if you got stuck! etc etc I realized what I did then and there and I went and washed my hands. I did not get stuck or even touch a needle. The only thing I touched was the paper. Then I went out in the hallway for a little bit. After that I came back into the back room and I got an attitude with the lady who flipped out and did i forget to mention... TOLD THE WHOLE CLINICAL GROUP about what I did. I told her that it was my business and I'll do what I want. So I figured this was the end of it. Next thing I know we're all going to lunch and then my instructor points at me and says "you stay here." I instantly thought omg what a ***** for telling on me!, then I thought oh no im in trouble! So she basically said she couldn't have unsafe people in her clinical group on the floor and she told me to go to the nursing school which is 10 minutes away to talk to the nursing director. I was shocked... she didn't even give me a chance to explain or ask me what happened. I got tears in my eyes but I didn't really cry or start bawling. Keep in mind that this was my last day on the clinical floor because the next 2 clinical days I am in the OR and the semester will be over after that. So then I realized that I didn't drive to school today and rode with a friend. SO i went to tell the teacher that and another friend in the class was with me and she offered to drive me over to the school and just stop somewhere that has a drive thru to eat her lunch. The instructor said that was okay and she said she woudl tell my friend who I rode with to school what happened and to pick me up at the school when we were done with clnical. So I'm trying to keep it together and I was talking to my friend about it while walking to her car and of course I couldn't help but crying. Everyone is afraid of the nursing director and thinks shes so mean and so unfair blah blah blah. I just decided that I was going to tell the director exactly what happeend, not lie about it, and tell her that I learned my lesson. Well once I went to see her... she was soo nice. I told her everything and I realized exactly what I did wrong. She said to me" you know what happens when you assume something about clinical (assuming no needles would be in the needle box because the room is not used for a pt room).....it makes an ass out of you and me." I kept my cool while talking to her and was very direct and polite. Then she said I violated a disciplinary rule of the school or something. I told her I was extremely sorry and it would not happen again. I admitted that I was wrong and all that. So the nshe kind of lectured me on needle stick injuries. After that she told me that she wants me to give her an article next week about needle stick injuries and tell her what I learned. Wow I was relieved when I heard that! Turns out everyone in my clnical group was worried about me... and the lady who told the instructor on me was crying the entire afternoon because she felt so bad about what happened. She didn't think the instructor would take it that far and she just thought the instructor would lecture me on it and that would be all. She was really upset and worried about me. So then she wanted me to call her and gave someone her number to give to me to make sure everything was okay. I talked to her and everything is good. Now here is the hard part...... I've asked my instructor a few weeks ago and today if I was in danger of failing clnical. This is because she tears my papers apart and puts redmarks all over everythign I hand in. She said no both times so I was glad about that. But NOW.... this little incident happened. I didn't really give it much thought until now that just because the director of nursing did not kick me out of the program that I can still fail clniical because the clinical instructor decides. Is this enough to make me fail?? Is there anything you could reccomend me doing? I would hate to fail clnical because of this even though I know I shouldn't have done it. SHould I email my instructor and tell her what happened exactly and let her know I'm sorry and tell her that I'll give her the same article and explain to her what I learned? I don't want to get an objective not met just because of this error I made. EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES>... no one is perfect. It wasn't like I made a med error or put my patients safety in jeapordy. Does anyone have any suggestions what to do??? I'm going to be worrying about this and the big exam I have coming up. Should I go and talk to the instructor? Is this even grounds for dfailing the program? I just don't know what to do .... i feel helpless and I hate it. I just wish I would have though before doing it. Any suggestions anyone?? Help me someone... :scrying:

[mom2michael, MSN, RN, NP]

You know, it's really sad that there are still schools operating under the Nazi school of nursing thought. We are grown adults. We've been thru h@ll with our pre-reqs and we've worked our a&& off in nursing school so far. Clinicals are designed to teach you to become a SAFE nurse, they aren't designed to humiliate and riducle students. So you did something dumb and stupid that could've hurt YOU, you did not do something dump and stupid that could've hurt a PATIENT. Everyone learned their mistakes, now it's time for this CI to move on and just drop it.

Personally, if it was me, I would call or email the Director back and express your worries to her. I realize this is not moving up the food chain properly, however I think everyone (including your Director) thinks this CI has gone a bit whacky over this incident. I mean come on, you know what you did was wrong and I'm pretty sure you've beat yourself up more on this than any one CI or Director can do. Of course I do not know how your Director feels about being approached by the students outside her request. I know in my school, our Director is also an instructor and a CI and she expects to be approached from every aspect from everyone, so she would be very nice about it.

And as far as the girl that ratted you out, I hope she does feel bad. What did she think was going to happen to you? You run off and tell the CI and then she seemed suprised at what happened? I don't get people sometime. Another thing I'm glad about, our class doesn't always get along but gosh darn it, we stick together. We may see someone do something silly that could turn out to be stupid and we say something to THEM, we don't dare tell our CI anything.

I wish you luck and let us know what happens!!!

[truern]

Yah it was pretty immature of my fellow student to tell on me to my instructor. What makes it worse is that I'm 20 years old, and shes 40+(not real sure her exact age). How sad would it be that I have to repeat this semester because I stuck my hand into a needle container and a fellow student took it upon herself to tattle on me.

Not sure what difference her age makes?? She, regardless of age, realized the danger in which you placed yourself.

Yes, it would be sad if you have to repeat a semester because of something you did.

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

Not sure what difference her age makes?? She, regardless of age, realized the danger in which you placed yourself.

Yes, it would be sad if you have to repeat a semester because of something you did.

Oh gimme a break. She stuck her hand into a sharps container. To her good fortune it happened to be empty. Not smart. We got the point and so did she. This is not a mistake that warrants dismissal or public humiliation.

I'm just wondering - did any of you ever take drivers ed? How did your driving instructor handle mistakes? A traffic mistake can also be deadly, and I know I made plenty of mistakes while learning to drive, but I don't remember being reduced to tears by my instructor because of them.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Tattling? More like expressing a concern. It's not tattling if an instructor is alerted to a huge red flag, because, as someone else already said, by then in school, people should know better than to put their fingers in the sharps trap like that.

It's also not a case "my business, i'll do what i want" if you'd have gotten stuck at a clinical site. Remember whose license (and responsibility) you're under when you're there.

I'm seeing quite a bit of immaturity on all sides of this situation, consindering the reference to someone being a "***** for telling" (i don't blame her one bit for telling the instructor, although she had no business telling the WHOLE CLASS and you seem more annoyed about the class mate ratting and the instructor's reaction than what you did), the age reference (the heck's THAT got to do with anything??), and a classmate telling the whole class about this. Not to mention the instructor not even asking questions before sending you to the school.

I hope things work out for you.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

This is not a mistake that warrants dismissal or public humiliation.

And no one is saying it does, either.

[RNLisa]

Not sure what difference her age makes?? She, regardless of age, realized the danger in which you placed yourself.

Yes, it would be sad if you have to repeat a semester because of something you did.

I agree, what does her age have to do with this? She must have been concerned with what COULD have happened. You don't know her motives, and if she was doing it to hurt your (telling your CI), then she wouldn't have felt bad about it afterwards.

BUT, with that said, I don't think failing you is something they should do, reprimand you, make you do the article is a good thing, but fail you, NO. Good luck.

[RNandlovingit]

I dont think the instuctor was out of line at all..But then again at my school we get written up and deemed unsafe for improper handling of a stethescope.go figure

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

if she was doing it to hurt your (telling your CI), then she wouldn't have felt bad about it afterwards.

:yeahthat:

[ejonesstudent]

Everyone makes mistakes. I see what you mean about the age diffrence thing. I am one of the youngest in my nursing program. I also see myself making more mistakes then people that are older then me. They seem to already know alot of things that we are "supposed" to know already, but I don't know.

Yes, what you did was dangerous, but you weren't thinking. Sometimes people make mistakes when they aren't thinking clearly. We are all human. And it will happen to all of us. This student that was so "concerned" about what you did should have talked to you about her concern, instead of telling the teacher. If the teachers didn't make a spectacle of you, in front of everyone, and make you feel like a horrible person for making a mistake then I could understand letting them know. But, in general, nursing school instructors go crazy about any mistakes that you make. Yes, their license is what you are working under, but they must be patient people, and know that you are students, and you WILL make mistakes BECAUSE you are ONLY LEARNING!!!!!!

[allthingsbright]

I told her that it was my business and I'll do what I want.

Um, I think your attitude was the BIGGEST problem. Smarting off to staff is a BIG no-no! I would suggest just taking responsibilty for what you did, and accept the consequences. In the future, when you make a mistake, own up to it and realize that even that doesnt get you "off."

Sounds like one of those dumb mistakes that you unfortunately got caught at!

[firstyearstudent]

I can't say for sure that your instructor will fail you or not, but it seems that the very worst has already happened -- being counseled by the director. I'd consider the incident over and keep my fingers crossed (that is, not approach the instructor).

I don't know the particulars of your school, but I would think the instructor would only fail you for poor overall clinical performance, not one mistake.

[BeenThereDoneThat74, MSN, RN]

Not sure what difference her age makes?? She, regardless of age, realized the danger in which you placed yourself.

Yes, it would be sad if you have to repeat a semester because of something you did.

The difference, I think (she's trying to convey) is that this was a grown adult who ratted on her. I personally do not judge anyone based on their age, but by their maturity. Unfortunately, many do not. If the shoe was on the other foot, many would accuse the OP of being a young, immature person.

luv2shop- If I were your instructor, I would greatly appreciate a face to face appointment (I know it will be extremely painful). Then again, I would not have sent you immediatley back to the school. But that would show me that you do realize the severity of the situation. If there's one thing that gets me (and this goes for other aspects of my life too), is when people have no remorse for what they've done, and do not recognize they have done something wrong. This is not the case with you, but you might want to make sure your CI knows this. To me, you would be showing genuine concern for what you have done, and for your future. This is me, though.

And my director would have been pissed to know that a student 'tattled' on you (we have a lot of students who don't mind their own business). I'm not saying I would have let it go (nor would my director, nor would she let you know that she thought the other student was a tattletale), but I would have spoken with her, and she and I would probably be meeting with you at school (this is what I'm thinking, but it's pure speculation).

As far as laying low, well that's not going to work (b/c you're done with her). Keep in mind, this is going to be her last impression of you. Clinically you do not have a chance to redeem yourself. Were you ever told that your peformance was not up to par? Do you receive a midterm eval? If so, how did it go? Also, how heavily weighted are your assignments? If they are not satisfactory, is that grounds for dismissal? Do you have the clinical objectives for passing?

As far as what you did...well, I'm on the fence about it. I have to say, honestly, I would not fail you for this alone. But if there were other circumstances where you were unsafe (siderails down, left meds unattended, etc), then I would strongly consider failing you.

I hope this helps Good luck.