Skill Competency Error

[um_bek]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new to the board, but have been reading threads for quite a while. What prompted me to start a thread was my skill competency which I completed today. I feel horrible about how I did, and thought that maybe I could receive some encouragement on here.

I had studied for the skills we were going to be tested on extensively, and felt well-prepared. We were working in a simulation type lab, and I got the order to give the "patient" Zosyn IVPB. I knew how to hang the bag and everything and was just mentally ticking off each step that we were told to memorize. Well, I made a huge mistake and didn't realize that the simulation patient had an allergy to Penicillin. I can't believe I made such a stupid mistake, and the instructor grading me obviously gave me a harsh talking-to, and afterwards I left just feeling so defeated. I feel like I tried so hard preparing for the practical, and am nervous about the rest of the year if this is how it started out Anyway, I guess lesson learned

[jesskidding, LPN]

Just learn from your mistake and move on. You are still learning. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Remember to always check pts charts for allergies. Triple check everything and make sure what you are doing is right.

No human was harmed. At least you were in a lab.

[Relentless91]

Don't sweat the sim stuff; they're trying to challenge us there. Lesson learned, so now you know better in 'real life'. Yeah, it's a bad mistake, but we're in school because we still have a lot to learn. If we were already prepared and good to go, we wouldn't need to put ourselves through this hell. :) I try to be grateful for the inconsequential mistakes I make in lab, because it embarasses me enough that I'm especially careful and thoughtful later on when confronted with similar situations. Don't defeat yourself, come forth from the flame as gold.

[mangopeach]

Don't beat yourself up. You are still learning and yes, while in nursing school, chances are you may make some mistakes. The good thing about lab, is that is where they want us to make the mistakes so we don't make the same mistake on a real patient.

The one critical error I made on a skill checkoff, you betcha bottom dollar that I'm always super careful about it when I'm in clinicals. I have a heightened sense about it since I made the mistake in the lab so don't sweat it. Its a learning process.

[CrazziiRN913, ADN, BSN]

Last year during skills testing I did everything perfect with my head to toe and catheter, and then I get to my I'm injection and the teacher said I did everything perfect the only thing I did was I RECAPPED. THE STUPID NEEDLE...needless to sayu a week later I was retested on the same skill....I bet I'll never recap a needle again lol...you live and you learn!

[NursingStudent17]

My first simulation day over a year ago I gave my "patient" with a concussion ibuprofen. Now I always think about it! Never will make that mistake again! I feel that that's the entire point of simulation though...I think about ALL meds and lab values! I bet you will too from now on, and soon we will be amazing nurses!

[NCRNMDM, ASN, RN]

We were told to check three times prior to giving the medication. When you receive the order, check the chart and the allergies. Ensure that the order on the chart matches what you have in your mind, and ensure that the patient isn't allergic to what you are about to give. When you go get the medicine out of the Pyxis or Omnicell, check the order on the chart against what is written on the vial, bag, etc that you just removed. Then check the medication to make sure that the patient isn't allergic to it. Draw the medicine up, mix it in an IV bag, do whatever you have to, and then go into the patient's room. Check the order, tell the patient what you are going to give them, ask if they have an allergy to it, and check the allergies on the chart again. Once you've done all this, you can administer the medication. Think about that every time you draw up a medicine, dispense a tablet, or hang an IV bag. It doesn't matter whether you're in skills lab, clinical, or practicing on your own, you should make a conscious effort to remember those steps. Of course, mistakes happen, and it's better that it happened in skills lab, but you have to begin making yourself aware of whether the patient has allergies, whether they can tolerate the medicine, whether the order is reasonable, whether you are giving what has been ordered, etc. Start doing it now and life will be much easier for you later on.