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

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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: :scrying: :bluecry1:

Specializes in Neuro, Critical Care.

Keep your head up Luv...

Everyone makes mistakes, none of us are perfect. Im pretty sure every nurse has done something stupid that she regrets...

The important thing is that you LEARN from your mistake and take all criticism constructivly or you'll never get through nursing school. Look at every situation as a learning opportunity and a way to make yourself a better nurse. Im sure your classmate just wanted to make sure that you were being safe, she just didn't go about it the right way. Telling the whole class was immature but alerting the clinical instructor, can't blame her for that.

Just think about it this way....after this you wont EVER stick your hand into a sharps container again!

Hope everything works out for you.

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They enjoy making a huge spectacle out of mistakes becuase it makes THEM feel better about themselves. They're brutal at our school. I can't wait 'til I'm out there and have a student to follow me. I'm going to help them as much as possible to ease their anxiety so they shake less...lol Instructors...they kill me. Really.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.
They enjoy making a huge spectacle out of mistakes becuase it makes THEM feel better about themselves. They're brutal at our school. I can't wait 'til I'm out there and have a student to follow me. I'm going to help them as much as possible to ease their anxiety so they shake less...lol Instructors...they kill me. Really.

:nono: You know, I was tempted to write a nasty retort about students...but I'll save it. You're remark is rather inflammatory. I don't need a student to make me feel better about myself. And when my students make mistakes, I feel terrible, not good. We don't get paid more for failing students!! Believe me, I am well aware that not all instructors are as caring as you'd all like them to be, but do you really think most of them do this for poops and giggles??? :angryfire

Maybe some of us are truly in it because it is rewarding and enjoy mentoring.

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Jeesh....Talk about the clinical instructor making a mountain out of a mole hill! Seriously! Did you endanger a patient? No. Did you endanger your co-workers? No. Why couldn't your clinical instructor just talk to you about it?

Would a school fail a student for getting a needle stick while on the job? For that matter....would a hospital fire an employee for sticking themselves?

Everybody makes mistakes.....it's unfortunate that your clinical instructor didn't take the time to educate you in a constructive manner rather than sending you to talk to the director. It's also unfortunate that the tattler couldn't of backed up her "caring" by leaving it at just talking to you. She demonstrated caring for your well being when she talked to you but then,in my opinion, when she went to your clinical instructor she just wanted to point out your mistake and sugar coated it with "I'm just concerned for her safety".

Stand up and brush yourself off....nobody is perfect and every one of us has made what others may call a stupid mistake at one time or another. Hang in there!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Talk about the clinical instructor making a mountain out of a mole hill!

The potential for the student to hurt herself i wouldn't call a molehill.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, Intermediate and Home Care.
jeesh....talk about the clinical instructor making a mountain out of a mole hill! seriously! did you endanger a patient? no. did you endanger your co-workers? no. why couldn't your clinical instructor just talk to you about it?

everybody makes mistakes.....it's unfortunate that your clinical instructor didn't take the time to educate you in a constructive manner rather than sending you to talk to the director. it's also unfortunate that the tattler couldn't of backed up her "caring" by leaving it at just talking to you. she demonstrated caring for your well being when she talked to you but then,in my opinion, when she went to your clinical instructor she just wanted to point out your mistake and sugar coated it with "i'm just concerned for her safety".

yes thank you for pointing these things out. whether this situation, or any other, we all need to learn to be supportive of one another, in order to help erase nervous anxiety -- so that we can focus on priority #1, our patients for gosh sakes. when we practice compassion with each other, we will give better care to our patients by (keeping our frame of mind and) demonstrating compassion toward our patients with a peaceful atmosphere. patients do hear us when all the "gobbledygook" goes on, and it leaves them feeling forgotten with a host of mixed emotions, which they don't need. we have got to "get over" ourselves and get fired-up over the victories that patients have, instead of pouring too much energy into negativity. thank you shasta for remembering how you felt back then i hope luv gets to orient with you when the times comes.

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Well, Thank God that it wasn't worse. Sometimes things happen for a reason so take it as a lesson learned. Remember the saying if it doesn't belong to you don't touch it. As for the instructor ask what you are doing wrong on your papers and take it as constructive criticism and learn and grow from it.

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