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Are you a perfectionist? Does the idea of not doing well, making mistakes, or even failing cause you to immediately feel distressed? Excellent. Then this guide is written for you.
Now, if you’re a perfectionist then the following statement is for you:
“Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.”
There’s certainly nothing wrong with trying your hardest, but aiming for perfection can actually prevent you from doing your best work. If you’re always aiming for things to be perfect there’s a very good chance that not only will ‘perfect’ elude you, but the good will too.
It’s really important firstly, to recognise that you will make mistakes. How do I know that? Because you’re a new grad and you’re also human. A 2023 study found that 49.4% of nurses had made a clinical error.
Why do errors happen? Fatigue, stress and burnout are three major reasons for why errors happen.
So, this reminds us that as a nurse, you need to take good care of yourself for your own wellbeing and the wellbeing of your patients. In terms of avoiding burnout and taking care of yourself (cue shameless self-promotion here), read my article on Preventing Burnout and Compassion Fatigue.
Once you’re come to terms with the fact that you are going to make mistakes (which is okay) the next step is to think about what to do when you make a mistake. My suggestion would be to follow the four, “T’s.”
If you recognise you’ve made a mistake, talk to your supervisor, Acting Nurse Unit Manager (ANUM) or Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) as soon as you can. You’ll likely feel a little embarrassed, maybe even ashamed, but again, you’re a new grad and a human so making mistakes is very normal.
It is extremely important that you don’t try to hide it, doing that can lead to serious consequences. If you take responsibility it will hopefully earn you the respect of both your peers and those who you answer to.
It is very easy to be hard on yourself when you’ve made a mistake, and very understandable. But if you can, try and reflect on what happened and why. This is a great opportunity for you to grow and learn and develop strength of character and resilience.
This is very important if it was an avoidable mistake. There may have been a set of circumstances or processes in the workplace that led to this avoidable mistake. Talk to your Supervisor, ANUM or NUM about what changes may need to take place in the workplace to minimise the chances of this happening to another new grad, or any nurse for that matter.
Sometimes a mistake will have a significant impact on you emotionally or even professionally, so please don’t be a hero and think it’s a sign of weakness to talk about it or ask for help.
This could involve simply talking to your colleagues, or it might take a more formal shape; talking to your supervisor, ANUM or NUM, or calling the Employee Assistance Program. You might even do some journaling initially to help you understand how you feel about it before you talk to someone.
When all is said and done, you are a human being and you are new to your profession. Every single nurse, Supervisor, ANUM and NUM that you are going to work with will have made their own set of mistakes, it’s par for the course, so to speak.
Whilst being a nurse can be a difficult job that almost lends itself to making mistakes because of things like shift work, staff shortages and the emotional demand it has on you, it’s also the most wonderfully rewarding, fulfilling and diverse career that promises to bring your decades of enjoyment.
Grab the bull by the horns, embrace the fact that you will make mistakes, and join me on this amazing journey.
Who wrote this Guide?
Geoffrey is a Senior Mental Health Clinician working on the Emergency Mental Health Team in the Emergency Department at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Geoffrey begun his nursing career as an Emergency Nurse working in a large trauma hospital in Sydney, eventually moving into Emergency Mental Health. After five years he moved to outback New South Wales where he was able to hone his skills in a very different environment compared to working in the city.
A highlight of Geoffrey’s career was moving to Melbourne and spending six years working on the road with Victorian Police on a team called Police and Clinician Emergency Response (PACER). This involved attending mental health emergencies with police and assessing people in the community rather than in an Emergency Department.
Geoffrey is particularly fascinated by the impact that exercise, nutrition, community, meaning and purpose, and practices like yoga have on a person’s mental health and living a simple life of reflection, contentment, and wonderment.
Who wrote this Guide?
Geoffrey is a Senior Mental Health Clinician working on the Emergency Mental Health Team in the Emergency Department at Royal Melbourne Hospital. Geoffrey begun his nursing career as an Emergency Nurse working in a large trauma hospital in Sydney, eventually moving into Emergency Mental Health. After five years he moved to outback New South Wales where he was able to hone his skills in a very different environment compared to working in the city.
A highlight of Geoffrey’s career was moving to Melbourne and spending six years working on the road with Victorian Police on a team called Police and Clinician Emergency Response (PACER). This involved attending mental health emergencies with police and assessing people in the community rather than in an Emergency Department.
Geoffrey is particularly fascinated by the impact that exercise, nutrition, community, meaning and purpose, and practices like yoga have on a person’s mental health and living a simple life of reflection, contentment, and wonderment.
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