Think im in big trouble!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

you nicked the line with something sharp (?scissors?), i'm guessing (the knicks are a basketball team), and that's why you're in this pickle (that's a baseball term...too much sports on tv lately). no need to use anything sharp in a way that would damage a line.

there is entirely too much fuss on these boards about "losing my license." if you were exceeding your scope of practice, you might get a warning at most for this; people lose their licenses for fraud, theft, working under the influence, diverting narcs for personal use, etc., not for nicking a line.

see if you can get a job with an actual internship/preceptorship in a hospital. home health is no place for a new grad, because, as you discovered, you are on your own out there with no back-up.

good luck.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Mar 23, 2012

Did you report the incident to your base company as soon as it happened? Did you offer to call ems? I would probably be afraid to let pt leave my sight if actively bleeding unless handed off to another medical provider. Did you approprietely document the incident? And inquiring minds really want to know how the picc line got nicked in the first place.

Will you be reported to BON? perhaps. It would be in your best interest to consult with an attorney, as it could be considered patient abandonment or negligence (depending on the fine details).

Dummyrn · Mar 23, 2012

I did not leave him alone and I did most likely cause an integrity issue with scissors which I know is no no. I offered to call ems and he insisted on driving. I stopped the bleeding. I know Imade some bad decisions but I freaked out for a sec. The only thing I didnt do is.notify supervisor as soon as it happened. I should of but I didnt. I dont know what I was thinking. Ive been in shock fir a couple of days but now ive ran it through my mind a hindred times and im a mess. Ive never posted in forum so again sorry about my grammer

DroogieRN · Mar 23, 2012

Hindsight is often 20/20. Please stop beating yourself up over this. You did everything you knew to do. If it should ever happen again, you'll be able to pull from this experience and not make the same mistakes. Every one of us has made a mistake, whether by commission or omission, as a nurse. We are human! I cannot imagine you'll lose your license or that it will even be in jeopardy.{{{hug}}}

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

What have you learned? What would you do differently if this happened again?

Dummyrn · Mar 23, 2012

First no scissors ever! Stopped the bleeding and at least notified my supervisor or the call the dr and see what he wanted me to do. I also learned not be intimidated by my boss. to grow up because its my license!

Dummyrn · Mar 23, 2012

Oh I also learned to keep my mouth shut. I told another nurse I got suspended and she told everyone. Id had already put my two weeks in and understand why they suspended me to protect, their behinds. Im just going to be sweating for months wondering if theyll file a complaint. And I realized home health is not the setting for a new nurse and took steps to correct hince why I found a new job. This whole situation has caused me to lose some confidence in myself when I know im a good nurse a truly care about my patients

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

OK, can you explain what in the world "wat" and "wit" really mean? And "sld"? Sorry, I don't understand words that really aren't words =(

mellzie22 · Mar 23, 2012

OK, can you explain what in the world "wat" and "wit" really mean? And "sld"? Sorry, I don't understand words that really aren't words =(

I think you can infer from the context...

BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN · Mar 23, 2012

"wat" and "wit", yes probably. No idea what "sld" means!

Dummyrn · Mar 24, 2012

Should

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Mar 24, 2012

I think you can infer from the context...

Sure you can, but im not going to lie, it take a lot of mental effort trying to figure out what it means. Its not THAT hard, but surely annoying.