I recently graduated, so I'm not exactly on the level of one of the super hero nurses out there kicking butt and taking names like the ones I admire. I'm lucky to get my kicked butt in gear and clumsily juggle an average work day as a baby RN. Today was just one of those days. The frustrating days we all have where you can't seem to do anything right or smoothly. I wondered what the first domino was in the chain of fallen ones I'd left behind myself all day. I figured it out. I figured it out in my car after a grueling 12 hour shift. I looked down while cranking my car in the parking lot of the hospital only to realize something horrible.
No, I didn't make a med error that just popped into realization.
No no I didn't forget to give report.
No no no I didn't find "saved for later" medications in my pocket I'd neglected to give.
I looked down to see I had managed to put on unmatched white shoes from two different pairs.
I can only hope I was alone in this hilarious enlightened moment where I'd missed the detail which started my day off on the wrong foot.
What are some of your embarrassing moments as a nurse?
Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I recently graduated, so I'm not exactly on the level of one of the super hero nurses out there kicking butt and taking names like the ones I admire. I'm lucky to get my kicked butt in gear and clumsily juggle an average work day as a baby RN. Today was just one of those days. The frustrating days we all have where you can't seem to do anything right or smoothly. I wondered what the first domino was in the chain of fallen ones I'd left behind myself all day. I figured it out. I figured it out in my car after a grueling 12 hour shift. I looked down while cranking my car in the parking lot of the hospital only to realize something horrible.
No, I didn't make a med error that just popped into realization.
No no I didn't forget to give report.
No no no I didn't find "saved for later" medications in my pocket I'd neglected to give.
I looked down to see I had managed to put on unmatched white shoes from two different pairs.
I can only hope I was alone in this hilarious enlightened moment where I'd missed the detail which started my day off on the wrong foot.
What are some of your embarrassing moments as a nurse?
You did better than me. I used to get dressed in the dark so as not to wake my husband. I got to work and found I was wearing purple and green striped socks with one red patent leather Dansko and one "Oil slick" Dansko. There was no way anyone missed that!
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
My most embarrassing wardrobe malfunction happened when I was a student. We had to wear white uniforms in those days, which was difficult for me personally because I was really never meant to wear all white---every dirt molecule in the universe was attracted to me. I quickly learned never to eat or drink anything other than water when I was suited up for clinicals. Anyway, I had to get up in the dark and go to work in the dark, which meant I didn't see the half-eaten chocolate bar on the seat when I got into the car...
I had no idea what had transpired until my clinical instructor pulled me to the side and pointed out that I had a delicate situation in the general region of my backside. Now, I'd already walked in from the far parking lot, crossed the lobby of the hospital and taken a crowded elevator to my floor. Fifty people must have seen the brown stain on the back of my uniform pants. Needless to say, I did clinical that day in a pair of pink-and-blue scrubs borrowed from the OB floor.
My most embarrassing wardrobe malfunction happened when I was a student. We had to wear white uniforms in those days, which was difficult for me personally because I was really never meant to wear all white---every dirt molecule in the universe was attracted to me.
This was me too! My whites also seemed to attract ball point pen ink and betadine. And every new pair of white shoes got baptized immediately with that stupid blue food coloring we used to put in tube feeds.
You know that dream where you show up to school naked? Well one time I forgot to put on my skirt and showed up to work wearing a blouse and A PAIR OF SHEER SPARKLY TIGHTS.
Luckily we had a pair of scrubs with the emergency supplies in the back, and my coworkers got a great laugh at my expense haha. I still wither inside when I think of it!
ETA: I still legitimately CANNOT BELIEVE that happened to me.
I once dropped my daughter off at daycare and was already late for work due to a MASSIVE blow out diaper. I got to the floor and realized I had baby poop in my hair and on my scrub bottoms. Argh!!
I worked for years as a fitness instructor in a gym,running home to change and make my shift on time,well the shoe thing happened,two different white athletic shoes,I did not realize until next morning.
Standing in the middle of the nurses station at shift change and noticed something hanging out of my scrub top sleeve, I pulled it out, yep it was a pair of my panties. Every one got a good laugh.
Ruby Vee, BSN
17 Articles; 14,051 Posts
You did better than me. I used to get dressed in the dark so as not to wake my husband. I got to work and found I was wearing purple and green striped socks with one red patent leather Dansko and one "Oil slick" Dansko. There was no way anyone missed that!