What to do when you've made a clinical mistake....

[gson07]

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Hey guys,

So I've been perusing this forum for the past year or two and decided to create a username to finally make a post. Real quick, I work as a medic and am applying to medical school this June. This post is mainly geared to those already working in the hospitals. I'm really just looking for advice/guidance on the thought process/working through the emotions after having made a clinical mistake. Last night I made a mistake that could have cost the life of a young patient. Thankfully, it didn't and things worked out just fine. I'll leave it at that. However, my ass was chewed out by my captain and I am distraught and disappointed in myself. It is my job to be knowledgeable in this area and I didn't execute correctly. i thought I knew it, but I didn't. The thought of how I would be feeling if things went wrong is killing me. Need some feedback and don't really want to talk to anyone I know who is in health care and knows of my pursuit of medical school. I'm lacking confidence in my skills and abilities to work as a clinician. Knowing mistakes are inevitable, I'm having trouble working through the emotional process of all this. Any advice would be helpful. Sincerely.

 

[Cynic]

Similar background as yourself, only a little further down the road.

Sounds like you had quite a shake up. Thing is, it happens. I've had a similar incident in the past, only the patient died. I will never forget it. It shook my confidence and it will stick with me for the rest of my career. However, I am a stronger person and a better clinician because of that one incident than from hundreds of other snag-free, altogether forgettable cases.

Will you be responsible for someone's death sometime during your career? The answer's yeah. As emergency healthcare providers, we're put in extraordinary situations with limited information and asked to do our best. I have no doubt you did the best you could for your patient. You had a miss that could have turned out ugly. Thankfully, it didn't. The point of the matter is that you take something like this and learn from it. Again and again and again. You let it make you stronger and then you let it go. You're not defined by your failures any more than your uneventful successes.

This is succinctly put, a lesson from an older doc who trained me: Own it, learn from it, and let it go.

This is the kind of job that as soon as you think you've got it all figured out, you get knocked back down to size. It's one of the most humbling professions you can go into. There's no other place I'd rather be.

 

[RustedFox]

Happens to us all, brother (sister?).

If you're in this game for long enough, something is gonna bite you. I've been bitten, too. Good advice in the previous post.

 

[Birdstrike]

.

 

[zinjanthropus]

It happens. It gets burned in your brain, and you never let it happen again. It's part of playing in the big leagues. You shake it off, and get back out there.

yep

 

[Stitch]

As mentioned in Bull Durham, "You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."

Your experience has happened to everyone, and will happen again. It's normal and appropriate to be shaken up. Use it as a learning experience and really examine your decision making process.

 

[docB]

Take a good hard look at your mistake and learn from it. Don't let it happen again.

BUT...

In my experience reviewing EMS QC (which is a lot of experience) these situations are rarely due to one person's error and are usually a culmination of errors and system problems. When the initial reviewer is another EMS person (i.e. your Capt.) they are EMS administrators and are reluctant to admit their systems aren't perfect.

Staffing levels, interagency issues, equipment issues, language barriers, response time, scene time and back in service mandates and so on all play into this. When you take that good hard look consider if any of these were factors. If not then continue as above. If they were then take that into account and don't beat yourself up too badly. Learn from it and remember that any system has weaknesses. Try to compensate for them going forward.

 

[docB]

As mentioned in Bull Durham, "You gotta play this game with fear and arrogance."

You're dating yourself.😛

 

[kabab]

Every one make mistakes at some point, just make sure you don't get sued.

 

[Stitch]

In my experience reviewing EMS QC (which is a lot of experience) these situations are rarely due to one person's error and are usually a culmination of errors and system problems. When the initial reviewer is another EMS person (i.e. your Capt.) they are EMS administrators and are reluctant to admit their systems aren't perfect.

Staffing levels, interagency issues, equipment issues, language barriers, response time, scene time and back in service mandates and so on all play into this. When you take that good hard look consider if any of these were factors. If not then continue as above. If they were then take that into account and don't beat yourself up too badly. Learn from it and remember that any system has weaknesses. Try to compensate for them going forward.

So true. 👍

You're dating yourself.😛

😛

 

[docB]

Every one make mistakes at some point, just make sure you don't get sued.

That's not really a realistic goal. Everyone gets sued sooner or later. Usually not deserved. That's contemporary America.

 

[Birdstrike]

.

 

[gutonc]

That's not really a realistic goal. Everyone gets sued sooner or later. Usually not deserved. That's contemporary America.

Get sued all they want...there's really nothing you can do about that.

Just don't set yourself up to lose.

 

[gson07]

Right on. Thanks guys and gals for all your advice. I've taken it to heart, owned it, definitely learned from it and just learning to let it go. It's been a heavy past couple days, but I think I'll be just fine : )

Appreciate all the support. Seriously

gson