U.N.P.R.G. SEGUNDA ESPECIALIDAD CUIDADOS INTENSIVOS . CURSO DE INGLES

1. A MISTAKE
1
In the first few days of my Oncology
placement I watched nurses doing
drug calculations and administering
chemotherapy . They were helpful to
me an talked me through what they
were doing . I found out that though
drugs are checked by the pharmacy, the ward nurses always check them again. If
a patient is on a combination of drugs , then the calculations nurses do can be
quite complicated ,especially if the drugs are administered via pump .Later in my
placement I started to do drug calculations myself and my confidence grew.
2
Then came the time when I was on night shift. The ward was extremely busy and I
assisted the charge nurse as he gave out medication . I asked If I could give out
some medication myself and, when he agreed ,I picked up the medicine pot for
my first patient , and gave him the tablets . Almost immediately, I realized that I
had given him the wrong ones. Because chemo medication is cytotoxic. And
potentially fatal .I knew that the consequences of my mistake could be disastrous.
3
I went into a panic and started to sweat and shake .I rushed to the charge nurse
and told him what I had done . He called the doctor who came within minutes.
That gave me a chance to compose myself –after all .panic ,would not help the
situation at all. In the end it was OK . The doctor said that the patient would not
suffer any ill effects from this particular medication .
4
What did I learn from this? I learned how important it is to be alert and careful
and about the kind of stress .I will have to deal with when I am fully qualified
.Perhaps my mistake would never have been noticed ,but I know that I did the
right thing by telling the charge nurse what I had done . If I had said nothing. I
would never have learned how important it is to follow the correct procedure and
check and check again
I.-Reflective writing:
1 Mg.Lupe Rivera Gonzales -Docente

2. Read the student’s nurse reflections on an experience and say which title a-d is
the best one for each paragraph 1 -4
a.- The lesson________
b.- The observation_______
c.- The error __________
d.-Reassurance ________(reaffirmation )
II.- Decide which of the following is the most accurate summary of the student
nurse’s experience :
a.When I was on placement, I observed a mistake being made . A patient was
given the wrong medicine and nearly died. But it was OK in the end .The
Doctor saved his life and I learned how important it is to be careful when
administering drugs and how easy it is to make a mistake .
b.One Oncology placement did taught me a very important lesson. I made the
wrong calculation and gave the wrong quantity of medicine to a patient .I
stayed calm and kept quiet and because of this everything turned out all
right in the end .I learned never to panic in a crisis and always to double –
check drug calculations.
c.Honesty is the best policy when you make a mistake. I learned that from the
time on the Oncology ward when I gave the wrong medicine to a patient .
My mistake taught me about the importance of accuracy in administering
drugs and how to keep calm in difficult situations.
III.-Respond the following questions
1. The drugs are checked by the pharmacy and the ward nurses always check
and check again?( )
2. The calculations nurses do can be quite complicated ,especially if the drugs
are administered via pump ( )
3. The consequences of my mistake could not be disastrous.( )
4. The nurse called the doctor who came within minutes.( )
5. I learned how important it is to be alert and careful and about the kind of
stress( )
6. If I had said nothing. I would never have learned how important it is to follow
the correct procedure and check and check again ( )
2 Mg.Lupe Rivera Gonzales -Docente