This shouldn't have happened...

Something happened during my shift. I cried at the station because I felt humiliated and pressured at the same time. Here's the explanation letter that our senior nurse asked me to write.

February 10, 2011

To whom it may concern:

I am writing this letter to explain my side of the story of what happened this morning at N5 station.

At around 3 to 4 am, Kuya Hector delivered the medicines that I charged from the pharmacy to our station. While dispensing the medicines, I discovered that I charged the medicines of patient N505 to patient N504. So I immediately filled out the return slip and checked the “Incorrect entry of patient’s name” assuming that that option is for incidents when a nurse has tagged a medicine or any item to a wrong patient. Under the remarks, I indicated to change the charging of items from N504 to N505. As a new staff, I didn’t know that I was doing the wrong thing. I admit that I am still learning new tasks that I have not performed during my volunteer nurse days.

When Kuya Hector arrived, he asked me to put a reason on the slip. I explained to him that I have already written it under the remarks. I elaborated that I have tagged the medicines to the wrong patient. I thought he clearly understood what I have said.

At around 6 to 7 am, our station got a call from Ma’am Helen from the nursing supervisor’s office. It was Ma’am Lorraine who answered the phone. She asked me if I returned any items to the pharmacy. I already had an idea that it was the return slip for N504 that she was talking about. I explained to Ma’am Lorraine about what I did. She then explained to me the process of returning items when tagged to a wrong patient so I filled out a new return slip again to correct the wrong thing I have done. She asked Ma’am Helen why they did the call instead of the pharmacist. She was informed that Kuya Hector headed to the supervisor’s office to ask or tell about what I did. Ma’am Lorraine informed Sir Kenji about what happened because he was already at the station when the supervisor called. What occurred to us is that why did Kuya Hector go to the supervisor’s office first before going back to our station to clarify things.

After the call, Kuya Hector appeared in our station and Sir Kenji confronted him about what happened. He told Kuya Hector to talk to me so I explained to him that he should have approached me first before going to the supervisor’s office. All of a sudden, during the endorsement of night shift to AM shift, Kuya Hector fell on the floor and had a seizure-like attack. I was worried because I did not intend this to happen. I admit that I was shocked and scared of what happened to Kuya Hector.

I know I have done nothing wrong except for filling out the return slip wrongly. I actually feel sorry for what happened to Kuya Hector. I did not want that to happen to him. On the other hand, I also felt upset because I really think that this shouldn’t have reached the nursing supervisor’s office because I believe that we can settle this in a proper manner.

Today, I have learned a lesson from a very simple mistake I have done. As a new staff nurse, I admit that I am still learning and in case I commit mistakes, I correct it immediately. I started working here with a goal of doing my job effectively. What happened earlier was beyond my expectation. If I have unintentionally disappointed anyone, I truly apologize for that matter. But again, I want to clarify and firmly justify that I have no intentions of doing harm nor cause any misunderstanding with people I am working with.

Thank you.



Sincerely,



Xyla De Vera

Like what my letter says, I don't intend to hurt anyone. I was filled with mixed emotions this morning: disappointment, anger, humiliation, sadness, etc.

Sigh. I never thought that my shift would end like this. :(

P.S.

Kuya Hector was diagnosed with MALINGERING. In short, umarte-arte lang. Sir Kenji told me that he did that a lot of times to different staff nurses to put the blame on them. Sigh. Why me...