Was told to consider not being a nurse?

[rainbow09]

I'm a nursing student in my first semester and I'm at a LTC facility for clinical. About two weeks ago I was following a nurse by myself and I offered to help her as much as I possibly could. Later that day she let me do accuchecks and one patient needed insulin. We were told that we would have to be checked off by our instructor first and then we could give insulin with a nurse observing. This was my second time giving insulin. What happened was that I accidentally pricked myself with the needle when I was getting ready to inject it while I pinched the skin with my other hand. Before, I gave insulin in the back of the arm and I was told not to pinch the skin but this time I was giving it in the abdomen. I froze when it happened - I honestly didn't know what to do in that moment because I was so in shock. The nurse must not have been observant because she urged me to give it when I hesitated and in that moment I did. To only freak out right after. I immediately told the nurse what happened but I had already given it and I felt so stupid and was so mad at myself. Then my finger started bleeding a bit too which it didn't before right when I must have pricked it. I was devastated but the nurse told me to not tell anyone because she didn't want to file an incident report and she said the patient would be just fine. I immediately told my clinical instructor what happened and she was very sweet and said mistakes happen and we're just human but that she would have to tell my nursing instructor too (of my first semester of nursing school).

My instructor asked me what happened a few days later and I explained everything and told her that I was really sorry and felt incredibly stupid. She was extremely disappointed and said that they teach us to think critically for a reason and if I'm not confident and able enough to make decisions for myself and think critically then I should consider dropping out of nursing school. I have cried so many times after this happened and I really do feel incredibly stupid because it's common sense and I shouldn't have panicked and still given the injection but I never found myself in a situation like this before. I really thought my patient would die but he will be just fine. After what my instructor said to me though and the tone in which she said it makes me believe that I will never be a good nurse and now I'm at a point where I am doubting myself even more. I don't know what to do because I really want to help people but I don't want to endanger their lives.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

Never berate yourself/or your nursing abilities in front of a professor/clinical instructor/manager/other nurse etc. It will come back to haunt you. Tell your professor what happened but do not attach emotion to your statement. Just give the facts.

Also, you got stuck with a needle but this was before the needle touched the patient's skin. If that was me, I would rinse off my finger and move on. Sure I would tell my clinical instructor but wouldn't even think about an incident report unless of course it was some harmful med that I got stuck with.

Nobody has any right to tell you as a first semester nursing student that you should drop out of school because you don't have critical thinking skills. Critical thinking starts in school with knowledge building and experience communicating with patients but nobody expects even a new grad to have well developed critical thinking skills.

((HUGS))

In reference to your second paragraph, one key point that perhaps you overlooked is that after the OP stuck herself, she purposely injected the patient with the same, now-contaminated needle. The incident report at that point is no longer just about her...it is now about the patient. Mind you, the patient, as a nursing home resident, is a member of a vulnerable population. The OP definitely does not want to be part of any cover up, no matter how small, regarding this population (or any other individual). Failure to report a self-injury is one thing. When the injury involves someone else, there is no choice in the matter.

[REAHB]

First, BREATHE! You are still in school, learning, and mistakes happen. I have been a nurse for twenty years and am here to tell you that it is OKAY. Anyone can make a mistake, it is truly how you handle it and what you learn from it that matters.

1. I have learned that my first instinct is usually right. When you poked yourself- I am assuming- your first instinct was to stop and not administer the shot. Anytime your instinct says stop- really pay attention. Think it through before you go forward. It would have been good to stop and pull the trainer aside and tell her as well.

2. After administering the shot, when your finger started bleeding- you realized there was a big mistake. Looking back, how do you think that should have been handled? .... Always, Always step up to the line and tell someone when you have made a mistake. The person at risk in this situation is the patient- there are steps that need to be taken to ensure there are no potential medical complications for the patient. Chances are, since you weren't bleeding right away that there is little to no risk. BUT- the patient's safety is first line.

The nurse telling you not to report it was WRONG!!! I can't say that strongly enough. Always own up to your mistakes, as soon as they happen. They will happen, and you will beat yourself up for them. I know I have. But, it is not about us, it's about the patient. You are lucky that you have learned this lesson early on. I completely disagree with your instructor who said you aren't cut out to be a nurse. The fact that you realize there was a problem, that you reported yourself to them, that you are taking ownership- all of that says to me you will make a GREAT nurse. That is one of the number one things about being a nurse- You are the Responsible One.

You have to look at this as a learning experience. The next time, you won't hesitate and a patient will benefit. You will make a wonderful nurse. Stop beating yourself about this.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

WOW...so much is wrong in this scenerio.

As a student, giving your first injection, I would expect you to be nervous. You pricked yourself. Also, not uncommon and no big deal. BUT....you need to listen to yourself. If something feels wrong....giving the injection after poking yourself.....STOP. Don't continue until you have a clear idea of what is expected.

I think on some level you did that and the preceptor misguided you. NOT YOUR FAULT! She should have corrected your procedure and did not. Next time it happens, and it will, it's ok to question procedure if it is not following protocol. At the end of the day, when you are nurse, it is YOUR license on the line when mistakes happen. YOU have to be the one confident in what you are doing.

That preceptor should have been disciplined.

As for you, accidents happen. It's all part of the process. Even seasoned nurses make mistakes. Learn from the experience and move on.

The preceptor may not have been aware that the OP stuck herself, thus contaminating the needle. I'm am uncomfortable with the statement that the OP is not at fault. The OP IS at fault -- even the newest nursing student should know that injecting a patient with a contaminated needle is a BAD thing.

Mistakes do happen, and what matters most is what is done AFTER making the mistake. Admit it, report it and set about mitigating the harm to the patient. The OP did that right.

[urfuturenurse1]

I'm still beating bushes to get in the RN program. However, I witnessed a nurse student making a mistake when she was flushing an IV. I was an NA student so I didn't say any word. Thankfully, it wasn't a medicine but water. Later on, I regret for not speaking up. Mind you, I was trained at my different job not to say anything which becomes my habit.

Don't be hard on yourself.