Was this ok?

You asked him if he needed help, he said he was okay. Don't worry about it, at least you offered to help :) I think one of the most difficult things we learn and have to accept as nurses is that we can't be everywhere at once, I'm still trying to accept that lol. You're doing great don't sweat it!

You're kidding,right?

I don't know. I guess I felt bad even asking, like maybe its an unwritten rule- you stay and help clean the mess if you even start dealing with it in the first place. I felt bad leaving halfway thru the task, I guess.

I really do worry about little things sometimes. :imbar

Safety first always. A little pee on the floor is nothing compared to a broken hip.

frankly, you did more than you should have......'the one you have your hands on" is the one you are responsible for first.....if your patient across the hall had been injured, or the tech it would have been you backside on the line.....glad it didnt come to that....as soon as the other nurse showed up you needed to be OUT THE DOOR, don t even ask about helping...not your problem at that point....

No one seemed offended

There's your answer.

You sound a lot like I used to... but I learned quickly that you can't worry about everything You did what you had to do to care for your patient and even stepped out to ensure the safety of another. What could you have possibly done wrong? I bet that other nurse hasn't even thought twice about the situation...

I think I just have to learn that I'm only one person, and that my assigned patients are my primary responsibility. I remembered after I posted that the person who brings the trays up and hands them out (don't know what her technical title is-- dietary I guess) came in to the room we (the tech and I) were in asking if someone could turn his bed alarm off because he was just wanting to sit up to eat. That was why I originally went in there. I was thinking it would be a quick turn off the button, and my pt was still sitting in the chair (though we'd taken his restraints off). When I got in the room with the bed alarm going off the situation I posted was what I found. Should I just have not gone in there and finished with my patient first? What if the guy in that room had fallen? I didn't think the tech would try to get my patient into bed herself, but next thing I know she was doing it while I was in the other room.

I suppose these are the things I will learn how to handle along the way....

once i removed the restraints, i would have either stayed with the patient until he was in bed or given the tech instructions to wait until i got back to help move the patient. of course it's always easier to be an armchair quarterback.

the reality of nursing is that you are frequently going to feel pulled in many different directions at once. it won't be easy, because sometimes everything seems urgent, but you will learn to prioritize and delegate as you gain experience. if you are a conscientious nurse, and it sounds like you are, your coworkers will recognize that. so just do the best you can, help others when you can, don't worry too much about what your coworkers will think, and you'll do fine.

I would say that if you aren't the only one hearing the bed alarm, etc....someone will come get it. You are responsible for your patient. Once you make sure the guy you're with is ok and safe, and the patient's primary nurse doesn't need help cleaning him/the room up, ok...go take care of yours. that being said, once your patient is ok, I would go back and check to see if the other nurse needs a hand....it's always appriecated. But, it sounds like the patient's primary nurse knew how his patient was, so that's it.

It's better to offer when you can, but if you can't make sure to check back in. At least you were helpful!