Good Mistakes

Andrew is a wonderful husband. Recently he has been asking me when I come home from work if I made any good mistakes during my shift. You see, I used to feel bad when people would point out to me little things I didn't do right, or forgot to do, or didn't know I was supposed to do. And I would feel like I hadn't been a good nurse that shift. Andrew pointed out to me that the small mistakes I make like not charting someone's orange juice that they drank, or calling the pharmacy instead of sending them a message, or forgetting to check a box on the admission screening tool, these things, especially when pointed out to me by someone else, they cement in my mind that certain thing. And I am far less likely to forget it again. These are mistakes where I am working hard, doing the best job that I can, and really there is not a negative outcome to be seen. So now, when someone has to tell me to do something, or points out what I missed, I think of it as a good mistake to learn from, and ultimately both myself and my patients benefit. And, I get to practice humility all the while. Sweet.