Scared of hurting someone!!

Yalonda1 · Mar 22, 2001

Everyone has that same feeling was they realize they want to be nurses or once they come out of nursing school. I even felt that way once I graduated in December but wherever you may work, just take your time doing things and if you have questions about something or are not sure about how to do a procedure or if the medication amt is right, then ask somebody else to help you such as another nurse or the pharmacy (for medication). You are not expected to know it all once you get out into the "real world".

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Yalonda Ferguson, RN, BSN

toronto rn · Mar 22, 2001

Originally posted by colleen10:
I am currently applying and interviewing at nursing schools and I really believe that nursing is "it" for me. I am not in it for the money, understand the bad things of nursing like administration, large patient loads, risk of disease, odd hours, and often times not being recognized. At the same time I can't wait to use my brain, HELP and COMFORT PEOPLE, and do something that I am genuinely interested in.
Despite all these I am scared to DEATH! of hurting or killing someone by giving them the wrong med. or the wrong amt. of med., doing a procedure wrong, etc. This is worrying me so much that I'm not sure if I want to be a nurse.

HELP!!!!

going to nursing school is going to give you the tools to be able to be confident and safe in the areas that you are expressing fear of. Most nurses have a some point in their career made med errors or inadvertantly caused harm, The safest way to avoid this is to always use a system of rights, right patient, right dose, right med, right time, and right documentation. Time and experience will overcome fear, good luck

MollyJ · Mar 23, 2001

We do our best, each and every day. Yet we may error because we are human, we are overwhelmed, we are distracted. Then we must do the hardest thing: to forgive ourselves.

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us...

to be concerned and worried shows that you have high standards and what to do the very best. Imperfections beset all of us, but the only ones who never error are those who never do.

Platitudes maybe, but they are the hardest part.

melanie19 · Mar 23, 2001

Originally posted by colleen10:
I am currently applying and interviewing at nursing schools and I really believe that nursing is "it" for me. I am not in it for the money, understand the bad things of nursing like administration, large patient loads, risk of disease, odd hours, and often times not being recognized. At the same time I can't wait to use my brain, HELP and COMFORT PEOPLE, and do something that I am genuinely interested in.
Despite all these I am scared to DEATH! of hurting or killing someone by giving them the wrong med. or the wrong amt. of med., doing a procedure wrong, etc. This is worrying me so much that I'm not sure if I want to be a nurse.

HELP!!!!

Don't give up before you get started, as Nurses we all have a fear of "hurting someone" The best advice I can give you is to take your time, check and double check and whenever you are unsure "ASK" Don't be afraid of asking a "stupid question", there are no stupid questions when comes to safety!

Good luck!

sunbunz · Mar 24, 2001

Originally posted by colleen10:
Hey colleen. We all felt that way as a nursing student. School will teach you the fundementals you need and how to apply them through the nursing process.Which is "how we care for our patients every day" #1 always ask if in doubt. Ask a fellow co worker how to do it but find out first if you don't know. #2 Listen to your patient. He or she knows theirself better and will clue you in if things are not right with them.#3 If you don't know a med, look it up first or call pharmacy or whatever. You darn well better know what your giving and how to give it. Don't always trust that the Dr knows best. Trust me I've stopped a few drug errors in my days. #4 If you make a mistake ( we all have) own up to it!! you'll feel good about yourself and you'll never make it again. Trust me! #5 Just do the best you can for your patient, because when your day has gone horrible and your still there charting 2 hours after the shift is done, you can be proud that your patients got the best possible care you could give. No one else will appreciate it, so appreciate yourself.Lastly, a day doesn't go by that I pray that I don't make a mistake, and I have been a nurse for 18.5 years. Nursing is tough. Drs depend on you for everything. They don't always praise you for a problem you catch or stop but they can chastise you if you miss something. As your confidence grows, youll learn how to deal with them also! Good Luck in nursing. Youll do fine!!
I am currently applying and interviewing at nursing schools and I really believe that nursing is "it" for me. I am not in it for the money, understand the bad things of nursing like administration, large patient loads, risk of disease, odd hours, and often times not being recognized. At the same time I can't wait to use my brain, HELP and COMFORT PEOPLE, and do something that I am genuinely interested in.
Despite all these I am scared to DEATH! of hurting or killing someone by giving them the wrong med. or the wrong amt. of med., doing a procedure wrong, etc. This is worrying me so much that I'm not sure if I want to be a nurse.

HELP!!!!

Robin61970 · Mar 24, 2001

Look at it this way (I am going into the ADN program) If you are worried about this it will make you better at your job because instead of taking the orders for granted you will think about it and may catch a mistake....being cautious is a good thing in my eyes and it sounds like you will be wonderful at nursing...I feel the same way so feel free to email me if you need a sounding board...