student_nurse_11

I agree with you all. My dishonesty was inexusable. I shouldn't be allowed back. I have such a guilty conscience... i feel like a criminal. If I did not feel so vulnerable during that day and during that situation, I would have thought much more clearly about what I had done and what nursing actions I should have taken after the incident. To disregard my patient like that and to not assume any responsibility for him after my medication error is clearly negligence on my behalf. Looking back, I know I should have stayed focused and provided care to the patient as best as I could to ensure that he did not experience any adverse side effects from the medications (ie. take vital signs, reported to my RN and CI immediately, told the patient what happened, called the physician, etc). I was negligent that day and I really should have critically thought about what best for the patient - and not have been so concerned about myself and my needs. I know it looks as if I did not show any remorse or empathy for this patient, but it felt like my world had crumbled that day and my potential career as a nurse seemed almost no longer possible which is why I shut down and failed to provide the necessary care. I should have put myself in the patient's shoes or put myself in the shoes of his wife, daughter, son, and other relatives in order to understand how horrible it was for me to just walk away and do nothing. I know that I have shown to be completely incompetent at this level and you may have come to believe that I am too dangerous or unsafe to come back to the clinical setting to provide care. I really hope that this is not the case and its very hard to defend myself in a situation like this. All I can think to do is apologize and learn from this incomprehensible mistake. I know that there is nothing that I can say or do to make ammends. This incident is something that I will take to heart and learn from and will carry throughout my life. Some hopeful news... at least for me. I have actually been given a chance to write a letter to the progression committee so that I can tell my side of the story, my extenuating circumstances, explain why I lacked good judgement and did not uphold my responsibilites and duties as a student nurse, and to explain what I did to own up to my error. This is a letter that I will write that will probably determine my fate in the nursing program. However, I know most of you already know what my fate will be. However, I am hoping that some of you will help me out and tell me what I could possibly write in this letter of appeal. I just want you all to know that I am truly a honest, conscientous, considerate individual who made a HUGE mistake by lying on a particular day in my life that I totally regret ever happened. Thanks for you words.

Thanks for the words everyone. Elpark, why would another nursing program not accept me? How would they know? I would not be able to transfer to another school? Regards.

i'm a 3rd year nursing student and I failed my CPE II and i am not allowed re-entry into the nursing program.. i made a couple of bad mistakes in clinical. ie. med error and lied about it and didn't inform my clinical instructor or nurse. what can i do????? i believe I am a great student. i have a GPA of 3.53. i am conscientous and hard working. this is totally not fair =( i'm having trouble focusing b/c my brother in law was recently dx with leukemia the day after my sister announced she was pregnant and another relative died yesterday from end stage ovarian cancer!! is this a not good enough reason to perform poorly? would i be able to transfer to another school? would they accept me? please help guys! i desperately need some advice. Thank you.

thanks so much for your insightful reply. it really helps. i'm planning to start off in med-surg like a lot of RNs do after graduating. and i'm 99% certain that i will transition to another speciality/expertise. I will be graduating 1 year from now and I have one nursing elective to take for next semester. I'm debating between a critical care and an ER introductory course. Can you make any suggestions for me? Could you possibly list the pros and cons of each?! - to the best of your knowledge? Thanks! Corinna

Wow! Thank you for your insightful reply! Its really helps me understand the challenges that may take place if I do perhaps decide to transition to another speciality/expertise after med-surg - I'm 99% sure this will happen. I will indeed start off with med-surg because everyone I have spoken to (including you) believes that it is a good area to start off. I will be graduating 1 year from now and I have one nursing elective to take for next semester. I'm debating between a critical care and an ER introductory course. Can you make any suggestions for me? Could you possibly list the pros and cons of each?! - to the best of your knowledge? Thanks! Corinna

Hello RNs! Please tell me about your nursing career path. Did any of you start out working in one unit and realized you belonged elsewhere? Why? Was it difficult to make that transition? Other questions I need answered!: -Do you specialize in an area of nursing? How long did that take? -Did your government or employer help pay for your additional education? Any information would be very helpful to me! I'm interested in med-surg, but would like to eventually branch out to different areas like maternity & perioperative nursing. What do you think about this? Its almost like jumping different professions don't you think?! student_nurse_11 BC

Hello RNs! I am interested in knowing what nursing career path you have chosen. For example, where do/did you work and why did you decide to change? Did you start out working in one unit and realized you belonged elsewhere? Why? And was it difficult to transition from an area like med-surg to an area such as maternity or pediatrics? Did you end up specializing in an area of nursing? How long did that take? Did you ever get on-the-job training? Did your government or employer help pay for your additional education? Any information would be very helpful to me! I'm interested in med-surg, but would like to eventually branch out to different areas like maternity & perioperative nursing. What do you think about this? Its almost like jumping different professions don't you think?! student_nurse_11 Vancouver, BC