was reported by a nurse... what's going to happen?

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i thought i had a pretty good day at clinical today, until i found out that my instructor, another student, and I had been reported. It was not by my nurse for my patient, but from another nurse. My instructor wanted me to hang vancomycin for a patient receiving chemotherapy. we got the vancomycin from the med room and made our way to the patient room. We did not enter the patient room an was observing the patient for a while. The nurse then approached us. We told her what we planned on doing, and she said that the patient was still receiving chemotherapy and told us to wait 15 minutes before administering the vancomycin. We waited, and after a while, the nurse approached us and told us that the patient was not happy with us because she felt that we barged into her room and did not introduce ourselves. My instructor then asked the nurse if she wanted to give the vancomycin instead, but the nurse said it was okay for us to give the medication, so we reentered the patient room. This time we introduced ourselves to the patient, and then i proceeded with hand hygiene (sanitized hand and put on gloves) and hung the IV piggyback with my instructor. My instructor conversed with the patient, who also is an RN, because they discovered that they used to work at the same hospital on the same unit. After that, we said goodbye and left.

looking back, i realize that i should have performed hand hygiene upon entering the patient's room before introducing myself. That was my fault. I was thinking i would introduce myself to the patient first (because she was upset that we did not do so when we were observing her), then perform hand hygiene.The nurse had reported that we did not check the patient's chart before giving the vancomycin, so we did not know that the chemo was still running. But it was not my patient. We received the okay from the charge nurse to administer the vancomycin to prepare us for our practicum. The hand hygiene was reported, which i understand. She also reported that we did not introduce ourselves to the patient.

I am also wondering if she reported me for not doing well with administering the vancomycin. She was sitting in the patient's room watching me as i was administering it, which made me even more nervous, because i felt like she was looking for another reason to report me.

My question is what is going to happen to me. My university was also notified, so I am wondering if i am going to be kicked out of the program, and if my instructor is going to get in trouble because of it. I feel terrible! Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Wow. That sounds like much ado about nothing.I have idea what will happen but it doesn't sound like you did anything terrible.

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Wow. I bet that nurse filled out ten indecent reports today and she'll fill out ten more tomorrow.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Wow, but did you guys actually check her lines to see if the chemo was running at the time you pulled the vanco? And we have to use identifiers and check the MAR at the bedside when giving meds. There sounds like maybe more went on? Always do hand hygiene in and out of rooms and make sure you introduce yourself when going in. Maybe she just felt like you all barged in, who knows. Just follow up with your instructor.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I'm so sorry that happened to you but I just wanted to give you a word to the wise -- lots and lots of people read this forum and even though you didn't use any specific identifiers there is an abundance of detail in your description of the incident. I understand how upsetting this is but just want to caution you that it is possible you may suffer repercussions from it which is the last thing you need right now. I say this out of nothing but concern. All the best to you.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

Wow....I have to say that is a big hullabaloo over nothing....and your instructor is responsible for you.

You probably should have not stood and looked at the patient for 15 minutes without introducing yourself. Just always think about how you would feel in their position. The hand washing before you say hello....wow...you didn't touch her. I am a regular patient these days and if I reported someone for a sequence of events....I'd do nothing but complain. I take immunosupressive drugs/chemo myself so I get it....I keep sanitizer on my table for al;l to use before they touch me.....but reporting the school you, another student and your instructor seems excessive.

Be humble apologize and remember you instructor is there to teach you what to do and it seems to me she failed you.

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okay. thank you for all your advice. I just thought the nurse was being really mean. Hopefully, nothing happens.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I think she was being really mean...I think she blew it all out of proportion...but that is not going to help you now..... I think it will be fine....I think that nurse is angry at having cancer and being a patient....but she is a patient. Take this as a lesson to always look at things from the patients point of view.

((HUGS))

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Wow. I bet that nurse filled out ten indecent reports today and she'll fill out ten more tomorrow.

I meant incident, but "indecent" sort of fits, too. :wacky:

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I laughed and then was sad, yes, it was, specifically in this case, applicable.

I meant incident, but "indecent" sort of fits, too. :wacky:
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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

I saw that and thought it was a smart phone being smart again.

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That was just my fingers typing what they want instead of what my brain tells them to.

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