Scooby

This may sound terrible, but after seeing a lot of the syndromes and illnesses (chronic, not acute) in my time as a peds nurse, I am really getting paranoid about having kids! I know all the facts, statistics, etc. - and am aware that so many people have healthy kids. I am just wondering if I am alone in this feeling (and does this make me completely shallow?). I love caring for these kids as an RN, but I can't imagine having such a drastic change for my husband and I. I don't know if this is coming across right, and please don't take it as judgemental of special needs children. I just wonder if I am alone in not having kids yet and being afraid of having one with chronic health problems??

I feel like some days I am always passing on work, and I always feel bad about it, but I'm trying to get over that. I do everything I can and prioritize during my day, and some days I get a scant 30 minutes to eat and rest (out of 12 and a half hours). If I don't get things done, it isn't because I'm avoiding them, it is because this is a crazy, demanding job and sometimes you just CAN'T do it all. I have no problem when night shift tells me they didn't get something done. If it wasn't done, for WHATEVER reason, of course it still needs to be done by whoever is caring for that patient. I have good coworkers (well, most of them) and I respect if they were too busy. I hope they do the same for me when I leave uncompleted things at the end of my shift!!

Thanks so much for your input, everyone! I'm glad I am not alone (even though I KNOW this happens to everyone, it is hard to think about that when you have such an emotional response to your own screw-up). I had a much better day yesterday. I felt like I was getting better at time management overall (of course I only have two patients right now, but I am working my way up). It was only my fourth day on the floor, and I'm lucky that they have a nice preceptorship/internship for new grads. Thanks again all for sharing. I am feeling confident again, and all your replies helped tremendously!

Thanks, and I think you're right. As a student, I was taking a full patient load and I was fine. I almost feel like starting slower on orientation is regressing! From now on, I will make sure I list ALL the meds on my "brains". I think that is where I went wrong. I often feel rushed in the morning when everyone is waiting to look at the MAR and I am writing down every med and dose. I know I can look at the MAR again, but I like having that info on my own sheet. This week, I was less detailed - I just put down abbreviations of each med at the time it was due. Tomorrow, everyone will just have to wait for me. Yes, I'm slower. Yes, I might write down more than they do. But I will be safe for the patients. Thanks again. I still can't shake this feeling of disappointment in myself. I guess that will come with time and with enough successful shifts...

Hi everyone, I just graduated and am still on orientation. Things have been going well, until last night when I was leaving and the night RN asked if my pt. had gotten his 1800 meds. I said, "Yes, of course", but apparently I had not signed them all out. I was confused, because I was sure I had triple checked the mar when I gave the meds. I went to look, and lo and behold there was one that I had missed. He hadn't gotten it. I felt terrible - I still cannot believe I missed it. So, he got it an hour and a half late. Not a big deal at all as far as the patient's condition in this case. But in another case it could have been a big deal. And it is a HUGE deal to me. How could I overlook something so stupid? I never in a million years thought I could miss something that elementary. I wasn't even THAT busy or stressed. This really has humbled me, and I guess next time I will check FOUR times. Anyway, has anyone else made their "first mistake" yet? Did anyone else think in the back of their head that they wouldn't make any mistakes (even though you know logically that it WILL happen)? Did you let that "perfectionist" standard go? How do you leave a mess up behind and keep doing the excellent nursing that you know you can do???