Your biggest mistake was.......

KellieNurse06 · Jun 23, 2007

yes! When I first started school,I had a problem being organized with supplies needed for a specific thing like a dressing change, or bed bath.....it took me a while to get it....... so think what you will need and gather it all up........and for dressing changes...I always now bring 1-2 more than what I would need of each item "just in case"..nothing will make a patient lose faith in you faster than to "appear" like you don't know what the heck you're doing...even if you don't , you can "fake it" so to speak......the old saying "never let them see you sweat"..lol.

Also, with patient care....always talk to the patient..even if they are out of it or non verbal, or what have you. I am saying this from what I have observed, and from my own personal experiences.....

If you get a patient who is developmentally delayed or who can't communicate...never ever assume they have no idea of what's going on....think about it....if you were sitting or lying there with your eyes covered and something stuffed in your ears....and someone came over without so much as a hello, and just started poking and prodding you.....wouldn't that be upsetting or scary to you? I can't tell you how many times I have seen docs, nurses, xray techs, phlebs do this.......always remember to say whatever you are doing or are going to do..after a while it just becomes so that you do it without even realizing you are doing it......and it helps the patient.......you'll be fine! Good Luck!

EmmaG, RN · Jun 23, 2007

I have learned alot from my mistakes. To trust my own instincts and training and to always do whatever I can for what I feel is right for my patients, regardless of what others might say.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2007

Check out these 35 pages. :)

https://allnurses.com/forums/f8/your-worst-mistake-62596.html

prmenrs, RN · Jun 23, 2007

Really, really consider whether you want to put your "true confession" on the internet for every ambulance chaser to see, and possibly identify you and the situation.

The internet is NOT as anonymous as we'd like it to be!

Medic/Nurse, BSN, RN · Jun 23, 2007

Not settling to just be a "trophy wife"!

Getting "bit" by the EMS bug! Probably terminal, I'm afraid.

LIMITS! Failing to recognize that ANY p*&%^$^ contest that I think I can compete in - well, lets just say - I've lost my share ONLY due to lack of reach!

Confusing being competent with "as important" as being a silicone enhanced, bleached blonde "clean kill" stinky bimbo. But, I have plenty of assets - but, it is a different look.

ALL of my mistakes I can 100% attribute to communication issues, lack of sleep (on my part) or failing to trust my gut.

Yeah, I've made my share. But, THANKFULLY most of my biggest mistakes have never involved any patient and I'm certain that there has NEVER been a bad outcome for any patient based on any mistake I have made. But, I DO remain aware - that nursing is a serious business. I am responsible for human life, I take that (and safety) 100% seriously 100% of the time.

The MAIN thing to remain aware of with nursing mistakes---

YOU will make a MISTAKE.

SOMETIMES they are BAD.

AVOID mistakes by being deliberate, informed and unafraid of asking first for any clarification necessary.

IF it doesn't SEEM RIGHT - STOP. Trust your gut. Recheck!

ADMIT it at once, get all necessary help.

REMEMBER that you have to CARE for the patient first.

It is what IT is - you can't change 5 seconds ago - just keep going forward.

Practice SAFE!

EmmaG, RN · Jun 23, 2007

One of the biggest mistakes to impact me directly was not on the job, nor one I made...

My 5 year old daughter developed an ear infection, and I called our ped who then phoned in a prescription for amoxicillin caps. (daughter preferred caps to liquid med)

I always worked my 12 hour nights in a row and my mother would watch my kids while I worked. She didn't drive, so the pharmacy delivered the antibiotic. I woke up to get ready for my next night at work, and asked Mom if the med had been delivered. She got this weird look on her face, got all upset and said she'd forgotten to give my daughter her med. So she'd missed two doses. I told her it was no big deal, called my daughter in and opened up the bottle to give her her first dose.

It wasn't amoxicillin. The bottle was labelled as amoxicillin caps with instructions to give one four times a day--- but the pills inside were 0.25mg digoxin tabs. The ONLY reason I knew that was because as a nurse, I recognized the tablets, and that they were not amox caps. My mom would never have known the difference.

I still get chills when I think of what could have happened had my mom not been forgetful on that day...

MelodyRNurse · Jun 24, 2007

prmenrs-Whats an ambulance chaser??

hikernurse · Jun 24, 2007

One of the biggest mistakes to impact me directly was not on the job, nor one I made...
My 5 year old daughter developed an ear infection, and I called our ped who then phoned in a prescription for amoxicillin caps. (daughter preferred caps to liquid med)
I always worked my 12 hour nights in a row and my mother would watch my kids while I worked. She didn't drive, so the pharmacy delivered the antibiotic. I woke up to get ready for my next night at work, and asked Mom if the med had been delivered. She got this weird look on her face, got all upset and said she'd forgotten to give my daughter her med. So she'd missed two doses. I told her it was no big deal, called my daughter in and opened up the bottle to give her her first dose.
It wasn't amoxicillin. The bottle was labelled as amoxicillin caps with instructions to give one four times a day--- but the pills inside were 0.25mg digoxin tabs. The ONLY reason I knew that was because as a nurse, I recognized the tablets, and that they were not amox caps. My mom would never have known the difference.
I still get chills when I think of what could have happened had my mom not been forgetful on that day...

You were blessed indeed.

nursenpnk, RN · Jun 24, 2007

An ambulance chaser is a personal injury lawyer to keep it professional. They seek out individuals that have been in a car accident, affected by "poor" medical care and other similar situations to represent them in court

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Jun 24, 2007

The bottle was labelled as amoxicillin caps with instructions to give one four times a day--- but the pills inside were 0.25mg digoxin tabs. The ONLY reason I knew that was because as a nurse, I recognized the tablets, and that they were not amox caps. My mom would never have known the difference.

I get really nervous just reading your post. What happened when you told the pharmacy?????

EmmaG, RN · Jun 24, 2007

I get really nervous just reading your post. What happened when you told the pharmacy?????

I called them immediately, and told them of the mistake; that I was a nurse, and knew for a fact what was contained within the bottle. They didn't believe me. I drove to the pharmacy, showed them the bottle and pills, and the pharmacist confirmed they were 0.25mg digoxin. I waited while they checked records, and apparently there was a dig script filled for another patient at the same time my daughter's antibiotics were being filled. They put the wrong pills in the bottle and well...

I was too shaken to be angry. When he realized what was in the bottle, and that it was for a five-year old with instructions to give one four times a day, the pharmacist went white and clammy and I thought for sure he was going to faint.

The store closed down not long after d/t a merger with CVS. I don't know what happened with the report of this incident.

My scripts are with Walgreens now. On the side of the bottles are detailed descriptions of the meds contained within, along with the markings on both sides of the tabs.

And believe me... I DO check the meds against those labels EVERY TIME.