stupid errors with no known harm/want to quit

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2012

We all make mistakes. We are human and not perfect. The point is to learn from thos mistakes and move on.

Andy Droid · Jul 19, 2012

Use the guilt as a reminder to not do it again. (take shortcuts that could lead to harm)

I would add "no harm no foul", but have no idea the severity of the shortcut or what you preceive as "no known harm".

luellamae · Jul 19, 2012

oh it was just a few times I didn't wipe iv hubs before hooking up fluids....now feel so guilty..most of the time I would never take a shortcut but have very few times

luellamae · Jul 19, 2012

I don't know that I did cause harm but also on the other hand don't know that I didn't

Andy Droid · Jul 19, 2012

oh it was just a few times I didn't wipe iv hubs before hooking up fluids....now feel so guilty..most of the time I would never take a shortcut but have very few times

Unless you're shaving seconds that are going to be spent saving someones life, shortcuts are usually never a good thing.

I would just assume the karma gods gave you a pass by having nothing bad come of it, and use the remorse as a reminder, but not dwell on it.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jul 19, 2012

"three hail marys and three our fathers (or if you're not a former parochial school girl, a penance of your choice). go thou forth and sin no more." that should cover it.

seriously, if you are having intrusive thoughts that you can't stop about this and won't forgive yourself when nobody else is on you for something, you need some better help than we can give you here. is something else bothering you? is something else going on? ask someone-- your pcp, the hospital social worker, a spiritual advisor-- for a referral for some short-term counseling to help you get this monkey off your back. :hug:

RNperdiem, RN · Jul 19, 2012

Your conscience is a more powerful force than the Board of Nursing.

Listen to it.

Carry alcohol swabs in your pocket at all times, forgive yourself for the past and perform nursing like you know you can.

luellamae · Jul 19, 2012

I have made some stupid errors from taking a shortcut in the past when I worked on med/surg a few years ago. I was not aware that it caused harm to patient but feel guilty about the what ifs....feel like I shouldn't be a nurse sometimes....so stressed

thank you all so much for your kind words and replies...the advise is well received

buytheshoes11, MSN, RN · Jul 19, 2012

I think that it is important to learn from our mistakes, when they do happen. No one is perfect and there is always chance for a human error. I won't say to stop feeling bad, because I know that most nurses are perfectionists and often we are harder on ourselves than others would be. I hope you start feeling better soon!

AweSmiles · Aug 7, 2012

luellamae,

If you're still concerned about short cuts you've made in the past, what that tells me is that you "care". Which is the core of nursing and the backbone of a great nurse. If you knowingly made short cuts and weren't bothered by them later on, that would be worrisome because then that would show that you don't care, therefore you wouldn't re-think your actions, and would most likely continue taking short cuts. I know everyone tells nurses to leave their work at work and don't bring it home with you, but I've always thought that a good nurse, the one who "cares" will always bring home something to ponder on.

So, no worries, you are just being a true nurse. We all make mistakes. In fact, it's sad to say but most nurses will tell you that they'll never do this or that ever again because a mistake the made years ago. Like I said, if you care, you've acknowledged that you made these short cuts, you're a good nurse and probably will never take those short routes again. Keep caring my friend because that's why we became nurses in the first place. :-) ;-)

sauconyrunner · Aug 7, 2012

I do think you should probably stop worrying about a few hubs. That said, I changed jobs from a beside nurse to the infection prevention nurse. one of the first patients I worked up was one of my own. While it is unclear if the Foley I put in her caused the infection or not, I was floored that it was my patient who had gotten so ill. We really do not see the outcomes. And I think sometimes we focus on being too nice to point out outcomes to people.

You will never know about the things done in the past, but...you can always control the here and now!