Paranoia

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Hi everybody,

So do you ever notice that it seems like you have to make mistakes to actually have things sink in. And the problem is the paranoia that you've made mistakes that you won't find out about until you go to work next. Of course working 12 hour shift means that you might not find out about them until you go back three days later.

Does anyone else have this total paranoia about work when you aren't there. Everyone always says to leave your job at the hosp, office, whatever, but honestly how do you really do that.

This afternoon I realized that I think I might have screwed up on an short stay admission from last night, it was the first time I had done one. I found the home meds already written out on our form, but didn't realize that it was something new that short stay surg. was doing. It was just written there on the home meds sheet we use on our floor and wasn't signed by anyone. I thought that it was something that short stay did when they came in incase of a admission. I went over them with the pt and doctor, but didn't rewrite them on our sheet, which I later found out that that was what I was supposed to do. When I got home today and read through my mail, which I was a day behind on, bam there it was. The new policy. So, now I'm dreading Monday when I go back to work and the educator points it out to me.

When I get home I always wonder, did I check that med off, did I sign that paper, did I chart that pain level. I always try to double check and be very careful but then as soon as I leave I go, hmmm did I do this or that. My question is this something eveyone who is new is dealing with? Does it ever go away, the thinking about work constantly after you go. I even dream about work. Anybody else dealing with this. It's driving me crazy.

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Specializes in post-op.
Hi everybody,

So do you ever notice that it seems like you have to make mistakes to actually have things sink in. And the problem is the paranoia that you've made mistakes that you won't find out about until you go to work next. Of course working 12 hour shift means that you might not find out about them until you go back three days later.

Does anyone else have this total paranoia about work when you aren't there. Everyone always says to leave your job at the hosp, office, whatever, but honestly how do you really do that.

This afternoon I realized that I think I might have screwed up on an short stay admission from last night, it was the first time I had done one. I found the home meds already written out on our form, but didn't realize that it was something new that short stay surg. was doing. It was just written there on the home meds sheet we use on our floor and wasn't signed by anyone. I thought that it was something that short stay did when they came in incase of a admission. I went over them with the pt and doctor, but didn't rewrite them on our sheet, which I later found out that that was what I was supposed to do. When I got home today and read through my mail, which I was a day behind on, bam there it was. The new policy. So, now I'm dreading Monday when I go back to work and the educator points it out to me.

When I get home I always wonder, did I check that med off, did I sign that paper, did I chart that pain level. I always try to double check and be very careful but then as soon as I leave I go, hmmm did I do this or that. My question is this something eveyone who is new is dealing with? Does it ever go away, the thinking about work constantly after you go. I even dream about work. Anybody else dealing with this. It's driving me crazy.

Hello! I am a new nurse, just grad last May. I totoally know what you are talking about. I am always worrying that I made a mistake that I was unaware of making, or I forgot to tell the oncoming nurse something in report. I can't tell you how many times I have called the unit on my way home :) The one thing I do, is I tell myself that if someone comes across something, they will more than likely call me at home. At least that is what I have seen done for others. Everyone I work with tells me, that as a new nurse, if you leave work and everyone is still breathing and alive you did ok :) Others have told me that this is normal and that it will go away. If you are like me and double and triple check your charts before you leave, what more can you do. We are human. Good luck!

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Does anyone else have this total paranoia about work when you aren't there. Everyone always says to leave your job at the hosp, office, whatever, but honestly how do you really do that.

LOL! That is what I am doing today. I am just remembering all the things that I did wrong, or what I might have done wrong. But I don't really have to worry so much, because I gave report to the queen of Satan and she will find every single little mistake that I could have made and make it public knowledge!:angryfire So, at least I will find out eventually how much I suck.

Sigh...why do some people have to make it so hard?

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Specializes in Med Surg/Tele/ER.
LOL! That is what I am doing today. I am just remembering all the things that I did wrong, or what I might have done wrong. But I don't really have to worry so much, because I gave report to the queen of Satan and she will find every single little mistake that I could have made and make it public knowledge!:angryfire So, at least I will find out eventually how much I suck.

Sigh...why do some people have to make it so hard?

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2: At my hospital we have Satan I & II so I know what you mean! I have posted about them before...some of the nurses get really bent out of shape just knowing that it is the Satan's day to work & having to give report to them. I don't know why anyone would want to be like that...:idea: (must be some kind of defense mechanism). I refuse to give them the satisfaction....I will be cool, calm, & professional. I do not put any more time/details into their report than I do for anybody else. They seem to love to try to intimidate people :angryfire

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Thanks guys. While I don't have the Satan nurses to report off to, but they are more then happy to point out my mistakes to me in the morning when I come back. For example I had a med time wrong on the MAR. I heard the Aren't you lucky we caught it for you. We saved you from a med error. It wouldn't have even been a huge deal, I mean I think it was a daily suppliment that he would have gotten 2 hours early. But I understand that if they don't point it out I won't learn.

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Ok, so I made it a whole day without stressing, but now I have to go back to work tonight and I'm worried about finding out I screwed stuff up from the other day. I left with everyone doing fine, but I keep thinking about stuff. Did I remember to tell them this in report, ect. I guess that it shoud be a comfort to know that my pts. have excellent nurses that come in after me, but I still panic. I would hope that if I did something horrible they would call me and tell me. Oh well I guess I'll find out tonight. Now I just have to relax enough so I can sleep and not work myself up before I go in again. Thanks again for eveyone's advice.

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