Staying back a semester

I haven't been as successful this semester as I would have liked to, and then last week I was called out for negligence in clinical, and I feel like a total LOSER. I never want to be negligent with my patients. I never want anybody to be unsafe in my care, and I hope that this will make me a better nurse once I am out of school. I am now going to graduate a semester later, but I know it is for the best. It just sucks to have to admit that you did something wrong (I delayed getting a temp because I had difficulty finding a thermometer, and then my pt spiked a temp).

How do you get to be at peace with yourself when you mess up like I have? My patient is ok, but her safety was at risk with me as her SN. Somebody please help me feel better about myself. I am so depressed and trying not to beat myself up too much.

[bsugar888]

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????

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]

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]

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]

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!!!

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]

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 :) )

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........

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]

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.

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.

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.

Be thankful that they are allowing you to stay in the program. Many people just get booted. But be mindful that you will be under scrutiny from here on out. You will have to put extra effort into making certain that you meet standards. Don't let this small setback keep you from reaching your goal. You know you won't make this mistake again. Just hang in there until the end. We're here to help if you ever have any questions.

[MnemonicFanatic]

If you had the option of continuing, or repeating it, and you chose to repeat it because you felt your skills were not where you thought they should be...CONGRATULATIONS!! A huge pat on the back for you! You will make a better nurse for realizing your limitations- you won't every settle for 'just getting by'...and for that, I applaud you!

I missed passing third semester by 1.1 grade point. Talk about disappointing! There were so many other students who continuously tried to convince me to fight it. They said they don't think its fair that I failed by such a small margin, and if I challenged it, I may be able to get into fourth (and final) semester. I though about it, and decided that if I went into fourth, it would be in the back of my mind that I 'squeeked' by passing by challenging it. In all reality, I missed passing every test by two questions, so there was obviously something I was missing. I decided that it was in my best interest to repeat the semester. I would rather go into fourth semester feeling comfortable that I know and understand the material, rather than continuing with the doubt. The program is hard enough without extra stress added to it! I am passing this time with a high B average, and everything is making soooo much sense- everything just clicked into place.

In the long run, I think you made the right decision, and I feel you will be more comfortable with your skills and decision making abilities after its all said and done. Keep up the good work!

:yeah:

I missed passing third semester by 1.1 grade point. Talk about disappointing! There were so many other students who continuously tried to convince me to fight it. They said they don't think its fair that I failed by such a small margin, and if I challenged it, I may be able to get into fourth (and final) semester. I though about it, and decided that if I went into fourth, it would be in the back of my mind that I 'squeeked' by passing by challenging it. In all reality, I missed passing every test by two questions, so there was obviously something I was missing. I decided that it was in my best interest to repeat the semester. I would rather go into fourth semester feeling comfortable that I know and understand the material, rather than continuing with the doubt. The program is hard enough without extra stress added to it! I am passing this time with a high B average, and everything is making soooo much sense- everything just clicked into place.

In the long run, I think you made the right decision, and I feel you will be more comfortable with your skills and decision making abilities after its all said and done. Keep up the good work!

I think this is a wise decision. It was just announced today that the grading scale starting next fall is being changed. It had been and will be for this semester 75-82=C, 83-91=B, and 92-100=A. It will now be 80-86=C, 87-93=B and 94-100=A. I think that it is a good move on their part. I personally think that the scale was too low for nursing school. I'm in my first semester now and it seems that we've been having a high attrition rate. We have a number of students that are just at that 75 mark, it'll be interesting to see how the final plays out. They are also raising the admission requirements which is also long over due. I just think that it was a disservice to the students if they are just squeaking by A&P with a C and then having to handle nursing application questions that require a stronger background.

Okay, off my soap box.