upset about teacher's clinical evaluation for last semester

CuriousMe · Apr 19, 2011

Documenting a wrong temperature and HR isn't a small mistake.

If you couldn't hear the HR, how did you get a number at all? If you weren't sure how to use the thermometer, why didn't you ask?

pptnurse · Apr 19, 2011

I think i mixed up the HR with RR, so I came up with a wrong #, the baby had heart problem it's hard to differentiate. The thermometer shows a 97.5, but when the nurse did rectal temp 10min later, it was 105, I'm not sure what i did wrong there, maybe not as tight under baby's arm as she moves. still not sure why the number is so different.

ps. I didn't not document, just hand in my number to the nurse

CuriousMe · Apr 19, 2011

I think i mixed up the HR with RR, so I came up with a wrong #, the baby had heart problem it's hard to differentiate. The thermometer shows a 97.5, but when the nurse did rectal temp 10min later, it was 105, I'm not sure what i did wrong there, maybe not as tight under baby's arm as she moves. still not sure why the number is so different.
ps. I didn't not document, just hand in my number to the nurse

My point though, is that those are big clinical differences....not small mistakes. I'd spend time trying to figure out what I did and then figure out how I'd make sure it didn't happen again.

Best of luck to you as you continue!

kgh31386, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

Like they said, how can you get a HR if you didn't really hear one? And mixing up RR and HR, hmmm

chicagoing, ADN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

I was pretty upset today when the teacher showed me my LPN 3rd semester clinical evaluation. she commented that I need to be monitored on my following clinical rotation because a nurse told her that I got the baby's temperature and HR wrong. I did get the wrong # that day coz I was not too familiar with the thermometer, and I can't really hear the baby's HR, but this is like a one time occurrence ever.
What upsets me more is that she secretly deemed me incompetent coz of this incidence and refuse to give me an interesting pt while other ppl are getting trachea pt each time. I made special request to her but i still got nothing satisfying.
I'm upset coz I think a teacher should be fair and non judgmental, do ppl always write u off for a small mistake u made?

Hm...your teacher commented that you need to be monitored because you got the baby's temperature and HR wrong...and then you proceed to admit that you did get the wrong # and you couldn't really hear the baby's HR.

What I am missing here?

If someone can't take the temperature and HR correctly (or ask for help), I would hope the instructor would show some hesitation when assigning said person a trach pt.

dudette10, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2011

I think i mixed up the HR with RR, so I came up with a wrong #, the baby had heart problem it's hard to differentiate. The thermometer shows a 97.5, but when the nurse did rectal temp 10min later, it was 105, I'm not sure what i did wrong there, maybe not as tight under baby's arm as she moves. still not sure why the number is so different.
ps. I didn't not document, just hand in my number to the nurse

Instead of thinking the teacher is being judgmental, you need to learn to take constructive criticism and reflect on why your numbers were wrong and what you can do to improve. Know what you don't know, and ask in order to correct it. It's the only way any of us learn in a clinical setting.

You are just a few weeks from practicing as an LPN on your own if this is your last semester, and taking accurate vitals is something you need to get down pat to be an effective nurse. Use your time as a student to do that!

BTW, the difference between 97.5 axillary and 105 rectal is a possible infection in a baby with a heart problem. That's some serious **** right there, and if you were the nurse, you would have missed it.

CBsMommy · Apr 20, 2011

Not to mention that if this baby did have a heart problem, as you alluded to in your last post, getting the HR correct is ESSENTIAL to the well-being of the patient.

I think if I were your CI, I would have failed you. I think you got off a little light on this one. I know that's not what you want to hear but when we make a mistake, we have to take accountability for our actions. End of story.

pptnurse · Apr 20, 2011

i think i learned my lesson, i'll be careful next time. I should thank everyone here.

one thing I want to say is one mistake in one task does not indicate incompetency in another task. and btw, i did seek an opportunity myself to do trachea and the nurse said i did a good job. A task is a task, repetition makes perfect.

CuriousMe · Apr 20, 2011

i think i learned my lesson, i'll be careful next time. I should thank everyone here.
one thing I want to say is one mistake in one task does not indicate incompetency in another task. and btw, i did seek an opportunity myself to do trachea and the nurse said i did a good job. A task is a task, repetition makes perfect.

I don't think your instructor was concerned about you performing tasks though....if you didn't know how to do the task of using that thermometer and asked instead of giving a wrong temp....likely there wouldn't have been a problem.

The problem your instructor may see is one of judgement....and that bleeds over to many different tasks.

Cessna172 · Apr 20, 2011

Good, learn from your mistake and move on to other things. Get help when not sure too.