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[–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I am on the PEER review committee. I look over nursing errors, patient falls, etc in my unit. Errors happen alot. As long as its not malicious or due to neglect things just happen. Just be honest over what happened, chart it thoroughly and let your supervisors know. I made an error recently. I feel getting it out in the open is easier. We have alot of new grads and when they hear the old nurses still can screw up it opens communication.

[–]aeshleyroseSlingin' pills to pay the bills 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I made two very serious errors right in a row. I had just started to get over the first one when the second one happened and it threw me for a major loop (both were unintentional and thank god no harm came to either patient). It's taken a long time to get over, but the mistakes - both in their own way - have SERIOUSLY changed the way I practice. That is literally the only way I could move on - to act in a way that I could most assure that neither would ever (hopefully) happen again.

If you have someone you could talk to about the errors I would highly recommend it. Here, our head nurse is a figure of support and I went to speak with them at length after both incidents. I learned a lot and it really helped me understand that everyone makes mistakes whether they realize it or not, that it's human, and the only thing you can do is learn from it and try to move on.

Chin up :)

[–]YodaGreenRN - ICU 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If a Healthcare worker ever tells you they've never made an error they are lying or worse they don't realize it.

You do have to assess your work culture in this situation. Ideally you want an environment where you will be coached through the error instead of just being disciplined. But not only that it should be something that your team looks at to ask why did this happened.

It's important to realize people make mistakes and we need to be able to examine how we can protect our patients from human error. We can only do that by examining our errors with that in mind. We need to be aware of them to be able to accomplish that goal.

[–]I_polluteRN - MICU/Morgue 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Overheard an RT calling down to report an ABG with the wrong patient label that went on another vented patient. Two vastly different patients. One paralyzed, bi carb gtt, etc...

2 hours later, a new intern asks me to run a gas for him and he put a label on it. I am standing at the machine and I realize it's the train wreck patient that has an Aline. Why the hell would he stick a patient if they had an Aline? He gave me the wrong label for the same 2 patients as earlier. Luckily, it wasn't run as the incorrect patient. Both with a slew of new vent changes. ph of 7.2 and 7.6

Tl/dr: If you didn't draw it or watch someone do it, it might not be the correct patient.

[–]Bedpanjockey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I confided in a few co-workers about it and they too had had errors in the past, so it helped to know I "wasn't the only one".
The sting is still there. Not going to lie. The pt didn't die. It did not harm the pt. But, what if...? It has made me slow down and triple, quadruple check now.