Thinking for Yourself

I'm still in my preceptorship at work. I feel comfortable going to my preceptor for help when I'm not certain about an issue. But, I realize it is still my nursing practice and ultimately my license on the line when I make a decision. Yesterday is a prime example of this fact.

We were assigned to a post-op patient. Occasionally we do get over-flow post-op patients from the general floor if our census is low. The patient had a lot of orders and medications we don't usually deal with. We usually deal with OB patients and their babies. But, we had this one patient that was fairly critical and required a lot of our attention all day.

There was a medication ordered for routine administration at one point during the day. I asked my preceptor what she thought about giving it considering the patient's current condition. My preceptor thought about it a second, then said, "Yeah, let's give it."

I went into the medication room. I was uncomfortable as I put my pen to the MAR. This was MY name I was signing to this action. This is MY license. So, I put the vial down and opened the drug handbook. At the very end of the section about this medication there was a statement saying this medication was not indicated for patients showing a specific condition: the exact condition my patient was showing!!

I am thankful I honored my feelings. I knew I felt uncomfortable, but could have just ignored that feeling or pushed it aside and given the medication because my preceptor told me to. But, I didn't. I honored my feelings.

Everyone CAN and WILL make mistakes. But, make the mistake yourself. Don't take on other people's mistakes. You will have enough on your own to worry about.