So many ways to mess up!

Specialties Geriatric

Published

:uhoh3:

I am a relatively new nurse in LTC. Started in April of 2010. Did well on my first floor, got transferred to a dementia unit.

I love it, the people I work with are great, the residents, I'm getting used to.

Lately, I have started making little and not-so-little mistakes and getting in trouble. There's just so much going on, it's hard for me to remember the basics.

Example, wrapping an emergency bleed in the dining room. not checking on IV's early in the shift and finding a dry one losing the line and getting reamed by the super. cna's taking advantage of my good nature. not wearing gloves while cutting a sandwich. not knowing a res has a skin infection and leaning on his bed.

See, nothing horrible, but a lot of little things. Oh and BTW we have 43 residents, two nurses when we're lucky, and over 200 meds and 70 treatments on the 3-11 shift.

Any ideas on how to be better at this?

:crying2::uhoh3:

Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Oh and we have 3-4 CNA's depending on the night.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
Thanks Michelle,

Most days I'm happy when no one falls!

.

I tell the CNAs after giving report.. no falls, no slips, no cuts, no bruises, no skin tears tonight! Please? For me?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric/Geriatrics/ Wound Care/ HH.

thanks for making this post.. I was starting to feel the same way. It would seem as if.. the most minor detail would screw me over. Aides would screw me over, unit managers would bash my every judgement. I almost quit that very month. But like every says.. I guess we do have to grow thick skin. Keep your head up!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow...you can come work with me! Srlsy..The nit picking some supervisors do drives me crazy and drives good nurses from LTC.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Oh I know about the nitpicking! Especially when there are fixable problems all over! I look around every day and see things I can't believe,

* We have to borrow a thermometer from another floor

* Nurses who don't clean the suction machine

* No soap for two days in the bathroom!

* Broken/missing lights in the parking lot

* Broken blood pressure machine, bring your own!

* Dirty sheets

* Dirty residents

* No hand wipes in the dining room

* Lack of supplies for every tx I have to do

So why doesn't admin see these problems and fix them!?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, geriatrics.

:yeah:My routine at work varies considerably: sometimes things are slow, often there's clearly more to do than will be possible, even with years of honed time-management and efficiences. In all cases it pays to:

1) Remember Maslow'd hierarchy: First keep people alive, then safe, and so on up the ladder from the least optional & most pressing needs (like having a pulse) upwards towards the things-it-would-be-nice-to-do-but-if-not-we-can-live-with-it. This reasoning also helps fend off the nit-pickers in your work environment - do you really want me to focus on relatively minor Issue A absolutely every time, or would you rather have me use my professional judgement to prioritize effectively?

2) After you've done your best in terms of efficiency and prioritization and your shift has ended, pass the torch and go home - physically AND mentally. It pays (it is crucial actually) to learn from your mistakes and thus grow professionally, but beating yourself up and ruminating both do not help anyone AND hurt everyone - you lose, and ironically all that negativity impairs your ability to function optimally, so everyone else loses too.

3) Regarding 2), understand that you cannot expect yourself to turn your feelings off at will, or to steer your thoughts at will. Self-control is hard to learn - we all get distracted, discouraged, upset, angry, etc. Still, it pays to try to control your thoughts, and steer yourself towards proactivity, learning, and positivity. With persistant practice you will find it easier and easier, and the benefits build as you go. After years of practice, I fret much less than I once did, and it allows me to think and act better, which of course makes me feel better and more confident, so I can work better, etc. A downward spiral easily happens without any effort - an upward, positive spiral requires persistant effort but the benefits FAR outweigh the costs.

4) If at all possible, when you need help, ask for it, whether help with tasks or with knowledge, perspective, what have you. As you have done so here :):yeah::nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Thanks for the post, N.

All of us make mistakes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics, Geriatrics, LTC.

Wow popwhiz, what a great post. You are so right about leaving work at work and I love your downward/upward spiral discussion. I will get a lot out of that! Thank You! xoxoxox

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, geriatrics.

Thanks so much, glad it was helpful. I've done years of reading, writing, and experimenting trying to bring knowledge to nursing from outside of healthcare, its my dream job, still largely imaginary but any positive feedback really helps me keep following my dream. Again, thanks.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

gosh i just have no idea how nurses continue to work ltc.....we should really go on strike b/c that many patients is dangerous....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment