Staying back a semester

bsugar888 · Apr 21, 2008

That is ok.............it could have been alot worse, If we do something like that we get marks against us.....and they come off our grade at the end....I feel thats a bit harsh for a temp..............But patient safety if very IMPORTANT...............cheer up things happen for a reason...dont beat yourself up over it.....what semester are you in????

AliveToday · Apr 21, 2008

Next semester should have been my last semester in my associate degree program. Now I should be graduating in May instead of December.

:urgycld:

AprilRNhere · Apr 21, 2008

How long of a delay? That sounds very extreme...what was your pt being treated for? How often were temps ordered?

((hugs)) just keep going...it may take a little longer..but you'll still get there.

Sabby_NC · Apr 21, 2008

Next semester should have been my last semester in my associate degree program. Now I should be graduating in May instead of December.
:urgycld:

But you will learn from this and graduate so go easy on yourself. You are not a loser ok?

Abishag · Apr 21, 2008

Hey

((Hugs))...I wouldn't beat myself up about it too much. People make mistakes...its how we humans learn. I'm sure if you asked any of your clinical instructors what the dumbest thing was they ever did they could tell you a hundred things. Actually if you see the link below I started a thread on "The dumbest thing a student/newbie ever did..." Its very eye opening and has helped me learn what mistakes to try to avoid. You should read it.

Now I don't mean to add insult to injury but if a patient had a sustained spiked temp it could possibly cause brain damage. The CI is probably thinking that those few minutes could have been crucial in a "what if" situation (especially if patient was infant/child). It could also mean a law suit. They are trying to stress the importance of what some students think are "little things"...I know you DO NOT think that it was a little thing but some students would probably not realize what could have happened or figured well it didn't happen so what is the harm?? Well it doesn't stick out in your mind for the rest of your career you may accidentally repeat your mistake. I'm sure you know all this but to play devils advocate, I can understand why they held you back a semester (to ingrain it in your head). Granted it would be nice if the punishment wasn't soo harsh (like they made you work thru break instead of holding you back). I think making you repeat the clinical or not giving you credit for that one day would have been a better punishment but I'm not a CI. Thank goodness!!! :bugeyes:

Try to cheer up and if you want to feel a little better read my thread. https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/dumbest-thing-student-newbie-ever-said-did-291380.html Some nurses that have been doing it for years have made some mistakes that seemed like no brainers. It happens to EVERYONE and will continue to happen!!!

HTH! :heartbeat

CritterLover, BSN, RN · Apr 21, 2008

umm, how were you supposed to get an (accurate) temp without a thermometer?

were you somehow lacking in your efforts to find one??? i'm a little confused, because that just doesn't make sense.

i've worked in units were thermometers (at least functional ones, with working batteries) were next to impossible to find, so i know it happens.

please tell me there was more to it than that (though don't feel you need to give details if you don't want :) )

morte, LPN, LVN · Apr 21, 2008

umm, how were you supposed to get an (accurate) temp without a thermometer?
were you somehow lacking in your efforts to find one??? i'm a little confused, because that just doesn't make sense.
i've worked in units were thermometers (at least functional ones, with working batteries) were next to impossible to find, so i know it happens.
please tell me there was more to it than that (though don't feel you need to give details if you don't want :) )

i was thinking along the same lines, i never developed the skill of touching someone and knowing their temp........

AliveToday · Apr 21, 2008

I should have delegated for somebody to find a thermometer for my patient.

The patient was on 3 antibiotics and q4 vitals. I was already having problems with my organization throughout the semester, but I was on my way to proving myself to my instructor and passing clinical when this happened. I was not forced to retake the course. My instructors had a meeting with me, and after discussing how things went down and thinking about how it has taken me weeks to get a groove on the clinical floor with multiple patients, I was asked what I thought should happen at this point. I told them that I felt the need to repeat the course -- that I wanted more clinical time, and that I didn't feel ready to move on to the final semester of the program (which would have been the fall).

I realize now that I was more concerned about getting all of my tasks completed in time in order to satisfy my clinical instructor than I was about my patient's safety. That patient needed her temp taken, and I failed to do it until it could have been too late. I take full responsibility and don't blame it on others (or on the unit for being short on thermometers). Never again will I get an incomplete set of vitals, and never again will I put my desire to be on time for my instructor above my patient's safety.

Abishag · Apr 21, 2008

I should have delegated for somebody to find a thermometer for my patient.
The patient was on 3 antibiotics and q4 vitals. I was already having problems with my organization throughout the semester, but I was on my way to proving myself to my instructor and passing clinical when this happened. I was not forced to retake the course. My instructors had a meeting with me, and after discussing how things went down and thinking about how it has taken me weeks to get a groove on the clinical floor with multiple patients, I was asked what I thought should happen at this point. I told them that I felt the need to repeat the course -- that I wanted more clinical time, and that I didn't feel ready to move on to the final semester of the program (which would have been the fall).
I realize now that I was more concerned about getting all of my tasks completed in time in order to satisfy my clinical instructor than I was about my patient's safety. That patient needed her temp taken, and I failed to do it until it could have been too late. I take full responsibility and don't blame it on others (or on the unit for being short on thermometers). Never again will I get an incomplete set of vitals, and never again will I put my desire to be on time for my instructor above my patient's safety.

I think that is very professional of you to request to be held back.:) Although IMO I think you have it together. All of us get a little frazzled time to time. I know if I'm not head of the game (even if I'm not behind either) I can kind of switch to panic mode and things get disorganized in my head. I know if I'm ahead I am in control. So if I get frazzled I have to take a day where I give my hubby the kids and find a quiet nook to attack my studies/assignments/tasks.

Do you seriously want to be held back or would you prefer to continue? If you think you'd rather continue could you ask them to let you come in on another groups clinicals for a couple weeks to get a solid grip on your tasks and then possibly take the weekend to work all day on getting yourself organized. Finish any assignments that might be weighing on your mind, out of the way, get your reading done and get any simple tasks out of the way so you don't have to keep them on your list of things to do. You may be exhausted for the next couple weeks but at least things will start to fit right again. :nuke: Unless of course you prefer to be held back.

nrsman1 · Apr 21, 2008

Don't beat yourself up. There is not one nurse or student that has not messed up, I know I have. Take your mistakes and learn from them that is all you can do, thats all anyone can do.

jjjoy, LPN · Apr 21, 2008

While the OP may have been just fine continuing on, I don't see any harm in retaking a course, especially when it means more clinical time. If it helps improve self-confidence & increases experience, it's a benefit.