Patient had Fall, my fault

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I'm a RN and work at a long term care. I usually don't provide bedside care. Today however, we were short so I decided to help the PSWs. One resident asked to go to the bathroom. I agreed, and planned to transfer her on the commode. According to physio she is 2 person transfer. But most staff tranfer her with one person assist. The point is, I transferred her on my own, and she fell between the wheelchair and commode. She didn't get hurt, and she is stable. I feel like an idiot. I should not have followed what everyone was doing, and asked someone to help me. Please tell me I'm not the only one out there who made such a stupid mistake?!

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Assuming you handled it correctly...told the charge nurse and or doctor or whatever your protocol is, then let it go.

I set my cat's scratching post on fire in the oven yesterday.....I know, not a patient care issue, and I know you really feel badly, but everybody makes stupid mistakes.

She wasn't hurt, you learned a free lesson from the school of hard knocks.

Let it go, fretting and worrying about it won't solve anything. Vow to not make "that" mistake again.

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4 hours ago, brownbook said:

I set my cat's scratching post on fire in the oven yesterday.....

Do tell! Roasting it with a little catnip or what? Some kind of disinfection protocol?

??

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Your ideas are waaay better than the reality. My minor problem is with anythng wet...getting moldy...I do hate mold.

So the cat's scratching "lounge" had water spilled on it. My dread of water/mold kicked in so I put the scratching post in the oven to dry it out. At first I was logical/carfeul. I put the oven on low heat, checked several times, it was still wet. So I decided to hurry this up and put the oven on 350 and wisely put the timer on for 5 minutes to check on it. Thus a flaming cardboard cat scratching lounge in the oven, the smoke alarms working quite well...my house, and hair, smelling like smoke, and on to Amazon to order a new scratching lounge.

Not the first time I have ruined something by drying it in the oven, but this is the first fire. Or maybe second now that I think abou it????

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@brownbook that is awesome, thanks for sharing. I'm relieved at your response because after I posted my dumb laughing emoji and shooting flames I realized I had no clue if there were any injuries or damage. So I'm glad you're okay and hopefully you haven't ruined anything other than your kitty lounge.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
On 9/16/2019 at 10:07 AM, brownbook said:

I set my cat's scratching post on fire in the oven yesterday.....I know, not a patient care issue, and I know you really feel badly, but everybody makes stupid mistakes.

That sounds like something I would do, I've just never had the opportunity. Thanks for the funny story!

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On 9/16/2019 at 1:07 PM, brownbook said:

I set my cat's scratching post on fire in the oven yesterday.....I know, not a patient care issue, and I know you really feel badly, but everybody makes stupid mistakes.

Yes, please do tell. I've got time to wait for your response.... I'll be right here cleaning my laptop screen, my desk and wiping up the floor....lol.

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Specializes in New Critical care NP, Critical care, Med-surg, LTC.

NewNurse 26, these things happen. Sometimes people are listed as an assist of 2 and it seems unnecessary. You took a chance and it didn't work out great. However, as you said, the patient is okay and you learned your lesson, don't beat yourself up.

Brownbook, thanks for one of my favorite thread tangents ever!

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Specializes in IMC, school nursing.

When I worked LTC we were told the residents had a right to fall. I say, bully! bully! Way to exercise your rights, lady!

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