Hulababe169

Just wanted to say thanks everyone--- Feel SO much better! I can stop crying now! Best of luck to all of you! Thanks so so so much.

I need some honest, re-assuring advice... So yesterday on a med-surg floor I had a patient that had been admitted at 0200 (shift before) (I was day shift) for a SBO (or according to OR nurse possible SBO). The nurse who gave me report said the patient's NG was on susction and was only suctioning out a small out of green drainage in the tube. I checked the tube and she was right- the patient only had green fluid in the tube. I checked and rechecked the suction equipment- It was on. I gravity drained the tubing into the canister for accuate #. Throughout the day the patient complained of a little back pain, but mostly pain from the tube and throat. She hated it. She said it really irritated her nose/throat/ear. Throughout the day I asked several nurses if it was common for there only to be fluid in the tubing and it barley coming through the cannister. My charge nurse said yes. The patient denied pain/nausea in her abdomen, and I continually kept checking the cannister. The surgeon consulted came in the afternoon and consulted the patient for a exp. lap. That evening- around 4:00 I was still feeing strange about the cannister. I asked another RN walking by (another new grad) to look at the suction. By that point I collected 100ml in the cannister. She said it was normal- but then said wait- the switch on the cannister that said suction was turned to off! But the suction on the wall was operating! I felt HORRIBLE. I turned it on immediatly- and the tubing cleared. A few hours later- about 6:45 almost 400ml had been collected (for the whole day!) The patient was NPO all day- and her stomach was not getting any more distended... thank goodness! So all in all- the night shift nurse did not hook up the suction properly and I didn't notice that the little white switch wasn't turned to on untill the afternoon- only a few hours before surgery. The nurse that helped me out said it was okay- because it will drain it all out, and that I won't ever do it again. I told the NOC shift nurse- and she laughed and said happens all the time. I am still feeling horrible over it.... all because I didn't notice the stupid little switch. And all because I should have told the nurses earlier that I wanted them to look at the NG drainage. I work in an enviorment where most of the nurses are so helpful- but the manager is not. Yesterday I asked her to read two words of two orders because I couldn't read the doctors writing and she said to me: "Are you not your normal assignment today--- is that why you have been bugging me all day?" She will yell at you in front of other nurses and patients- and has called me into her office for doing something I didn't do. She confused my name with another nurse- and never apologized. I'm terrified of her. So what to do? All I know is I will ALWAYS check the suction switch and equipment even if the NOC nurse set everything up! I asked the RNs if I should write myself up or do anything and she laughed and said don't worry you won't do it again- and you didn't set it up. Should I tell my unsupportive mean manager?? Thankfully the patient was okay- and tolerated the suction after it was officially turned on correctly. She still complained of throat, back, and nose pain. No change. No decrease in distension. Blah... Guilt! Thanks for letting me Vent! I hate making mistakes... i'll never do it again. Note to ALL nurse: Always check another nurses set-up. Understaffed, exhausted, with not enough CNA's and a work clerk- all nurses make mistakes.