Think im in big trouble!

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Knicked a pts picc line. Started to.bleed applied pressure n pressure dressing. Sent pt to er for replacement. Pt drove self against my advice. checked bavk wit pt later that day n pt stated they put new picc n he was fine. Fam complained I was suspended n they r investigating. Sld I b concencered bout bon?

Don't lose confidence, you should try and find a hospital that has a great mentoring program as a new nurse. I hated it a lot but the lessons I have learned have been invaluable to me and turned me into a confident nurse.

You should've called an ambulance and reported to your supervisor but you know that now. Hope the outcome is not as bad as you think.

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Thanks. I know now what I should of done for sure. I did what I felt was best at the time but of course looking back I could ofdone many different things. I found a new job. This happened in my last week. My former employer is investigating so ill have to wait and see.

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The patients ok so that what really matters. More upset about er visit cost than anything. I know I wasnt grossly negligent but still in the back of mind im worried

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Trying to figure out how you nick a picc line? What the heck were you doing to it/near it?

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Specializes in Geriatrics.
Well, geez, once you told the OP, she fixed it. No need to beat her over the head with it when she is already stressed out.

Really, I totally agree mellzie!

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Dressing changing and yes ill never have anything sharp around a picv ever again

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You learned a powerful lesson, and the patient was not harmed. It will take time to regain your confidence, and I think that is just fine. It's the nurses who think they will never make a mistake and get cocky that are dangerous. I wish home health agencies would not hire new grads for just this reason, unless they have a great orientation program and a supportive, team approach. At least in an acute care setting, there are other more experienced nurses all around you, so you can ask questions and get help if you need it.

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At the hospital I work at, I heard the resident speaking to his new team of interns a few days ago, and he said "I expect you to make mistakes, it is part of learning. The only thing that I absolutely insist on is knowing that you've made a mistake so we can fix it." I thought about this and it's a fundamental difference in how we train new nurses and how we train doctors. I think that with nursing mistakes/miscalculations/errors are not considered part of the learning process, but they are! So learn from your mistake. Your patient in the end was fine.

Also! Change that user name!! ASAP. Don't identify yourself that way. Don't call this energy to yourself and your nursing career.

Nursing is the hardest job you'll ever love.

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

I see it comes clearer to this DummyRN now, you were using scissors to change the dressing and nicked the line.

My advice would be stupid now with better said, but I would recommend investing in a pair of $2 "Stats" at a medical store, you never know when they will come in handy.

I know this was horrible and scary, but if it's the worst thing that happens to you in nursing, you will have a pretty uneventful career. I know they are expensive, and it really sucks, but it's done now, and the BONs don't take licenses for accidents that occur within the normal scope of our practice.

A good rule of thumb to gauge something when your not sure about your nursing practice act is "What would a prudent person of the same education, and scope of practice do in this situation", and you handled it well, you took her to an ER, you assessed, diagnosed, implemented, and ER will evaluate.

Now what you done wrong is come into AN, and got everyone excited with texting online, Lol, just use common typing (I use my iPhone to keep up posts), and you got a better keyboard:bow:(so I think you'll be fine).

If it makes you feel better, I got in hot water for typing in caps(got to passionate at times.)

If they can teach this old dog a new trick, your in good shape;) I'm going on a ledge bolding the bottom line, but no risk, no gain huh?

Careful with the scissors(none with any line dressings), Change the screenname, and Good Luck

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Thanks everyone. I got on here on a whim and again sorry about text speech. Thanks for your advice. I still feel like crap but it will be ok and ill be able to move past this.

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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Thank you!!!!!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks everyone. I got on here on a whim and again sorry about text speech. Thanks for your advice. I still feel like crap but it will be ok and ill be able to move past this.

We all make mistakes. Once, years ago on a REALLY difficult intubation....I went to re-tape the ETT because it was messy and had blood on it and I accidentally snipped the pilot keeping the balloon inflated that keeps the patient ventilated and oxygenated. (smacking forehead) I called the MD and insisted he yell at me before I told him what I had done, just to get it out of his system so that he didn't kill me (figuratively speaking of course) I figured how to rig it until someone could get there and replace the ETT tube (that it took several attempts to place). It happens.

It's what you do about it that counts.

Don't worry about the text speech. It is a part of the terms of service and can be difficult to discern if you don't use it.......and so now that you know better you can do better. :hug:

Defecation occurs of Fomite happens (inside joke here). ;)

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