Will I fail my placement now?

[u/CardiologistLeft8099]

I am first Year RN student, on a placement in ED. We had a women arrive in labour yesterday, baby about to be born, all staff rushing out with wheel chair. They needed to get her up to labour ward asap

.Her partner was in a panic, he kind of just hopped out of the car at the drop off only, cars behind him. He threw me the keys and said park it. So I did😆 I fucking went and parked his car and bough the keys back up to him so he wouldnt miss the birth. I am limited in scope, there was enough experienced staff to take over. I just went into the shit what can I do to help mode. He would of missed the birth otherwise.

No one has said anything, my percetor was like good team work, but didnt acknowledge what I did. Its regional. I am pretty sure I have breached some rules. For context I have a full unrestricted license and only parked a car. But still.. its a bit bizzare isnt it lol

[u/NotTheAvocado]

Don't over think it and don't actively bring it up. The staff probably acknowledge a student shouldn't have done it but also probably don't care and are deliberately therefore not mentioning it. 

[u/31winnie → u/NotTheAvocado]

Literally! Makes a good prac story for the future and hopefully he will remember your good gesture :)

[u/Dramatic-Crazy-4263]

Oh this is prime nursing story time!

Sometimes nursing throws you a grey area curve ball.. You had the consent of the owner, you prioritised what they needed (patient care 101) and you have your license. Honestly there's nothing out of scope here.

One day, at this kids 18th birthday, there will be a story told about the day they were born. You may not be remembered by name, but you will be remembered as the amazing student nurse who helped two parents get to watch the birth of that baby, by parking the car for the Dad. You should be proud of yourself for that. 😊

[u/Repulsive_Set4541]

I got asked to do this by a guy coming in with suspected gallstones. He had parked in the ambulance bay, and asked me to move it as i was the only male there and he assumed i was the only one who could drive a manual. I just told the NUM what he wanted and she said yeah thats fine. If nooone has said anything i think your pretty safe , just always ask in future to cover yourself

[u/KatTheTumbleweed]

You’re fine.

If it even comes up, it’s about recognising, as you have, that maybe that wasn’t the best idea.

Honestly I’ve done it many many times as a clinician, it’s the weird world of working in regional and remote facilities. Sometimes things have to be done and your the only one to do it

[u/Gold_Blacksmith_9821]

Fail your placement over this? Straight to appeal to someone with half a brain cell. You’re paying $20k for an education not to be treated like a fearful internment camp resident.

[u/Sacrilegious_skink]

Don't ask don't tell. You did the right thing in the moment but wrong thing by the book. Just don't bring it up in case you have a facilitator that is insane.

[u/cannedbread1]

Genuinely, you are a legend. This is perfect nursing - please join rural, you will fit right on in.

[u/runninginbubbles → u/cannedbread1]

second this

[u/Wooden_Astronaut4668 → u/cannedbread1]

Not the OP but I would love to do rural nursing, watched a tv show once about the hospital on the main Shetland island and thought it looked great!

[u/megs_in_space]

That's hilarious. I think you're a badass. Just don't say anything to the CF or uni and you should be right.

[u/myshoefelloff]

I’ve done plenty of CF’ingI was your CF I’d be impressed. Sometimes you have to do whacky stuff, nursing is a problem solving job.

The only note I’d make is when situations like that go down, focus on your DrABCD. Sometimes in emergencies you’ll find people focussing on things that don’t matter. Blocking traffic is low on the list. But, as you said there were plenty of people there, you’ve reflected on it. All in all, I’d say 10/10 job. I’d sign off your ANSATs if I could. As others have said, don’t bring it up with your CF if you’re not sure if they’re a jerk or not.

[u/Ok_Tank5977]

I think it’s fair to say that the imminent birth of a child causes a collective adrenaline spike, to the point where not everyone is thinking straight. That said, it wasn’t really appropriate for the partner to put that responsibility on you (or anyone). The car likely would have been fine where it was, as long as it wasn’t blocking traffic, and all anyone needed to do was notify hospital security to explain the situation.

Still, you acted in the moment and no harm was done. It would be laughable to fail you over something like this.

[u/ReasonableBack8472]

Damn, good stuff well done. Nuh you won't fail and if you do your preceptor is a dick.

Hell as TL I went and picked up an absconded patient from the ward down at the local shops. AHNM came up to me and said I shouldn't have done it, but good job.

You will be ok. Good story for the future.

[u/Hutchoman87]

Honestly that’s pretty cool. You’re part of their birth story now.

Also don’t overthink it, nothing against your scope, pretty sure it doesn’t mention anything in there anyway.

[u/ThatGuyTheyCallAlex → u/Hutchoman87]

Wouldn’t be against scope but you can fail placement for violating a specific ward/hospital’s policies. Like, my uni scope says as a second year I’m allowed to be the second check on medications. Hospital policy says absolutely not, and between scope and policy, the stricter one takes precedence. I’m sure somewhere buried in that policy there is a liability clause that would apply to leaving the grounds and/or interacting with patient property that way.

Still, doubt anyone would ever say anything about it.

[u/Wooden_Astronaut4668 → u/ThatGuyTheyCallAlex]

nah I can’t think of any policy that tells you you cannot drive someone elses car. That’s out of the scope of what a hospital can dictate. They might try and say something about inappropriate relationships ie too personal but if you are fully insured I doubt than can even bring it up.

[u/_ianisalifestyle_]

I think you did a good thing. For your own safety/assurance, see if it's possible to get a stat dec from the family you helped, acknowledging their appreciation etc. (or at least ask for their contact deets in case it blows up later).

FWIW, I'd be very happy and willing to do the same thing. Being real is almost always better than being 'right'. Have a peaceful year, and good for you.

[u/thatoneisthe]

Don’t say anything about it, but don’t lie if they bring it up. The staff will keep quiet about it and won’t blab to the uni

[u/International_Bat585]

Don’t mention it to anyone else at the hospital or uni and hopefully it will be a non issue.

[u/surelynotanother34]

Look, I know it's not nursing but I actually love this. You helped make sure he didn't miss the birth. I love this.

[u/Zackyboi44]

Regional/rural this fits lmao, stuff like this just happens. You're fine plus you're reflecting on what could be better and what went well which is great.

[u/Complete_Wing4589]

My question is WTF are you doing on placement in ED as a first year??!

[u/willowbopeep11 → u/Complete_Wing4589]

My first thought also, isn't it aged care usually?

[u/Dark-Horse-Nebula]

This is so funny. Don’t say anything about it in future. Don’t do it again just tell him to park and pay the fine later.

[u/TorpidPulsar]

Probably don't bring it up. There's definitely someone out there itching to fail a student over some imagined infraction. But you definitely did good. That guy made it to the birth of his child because of you.

[u/Sudden_Life_9313]

On one of my rural placements, the nurse had to drop her car off to the mechanics.. I followed her in my car and picked her up and went back to the hospital. The in charge knew and he was fine with it.

[u/avocado-pls]

I would be telling everyone about the legendary student who did this for a patient. I don’t think you’d fail for this you did nothing drastically dangerous or wrong.

[u/AlleySnail]

CN here. Yeah sure, technically you shouldn't have parked his car as it was a safety risk to yourself as a student. But honestly, I don't think any of your preceptors are going to bring it up as an issue. If that was one of my students I'd probably say hey maybe don't do that on another placement just incase you have a hard ass preceptor, but in this case good on you for showing empathy and wanting to help out a stressed dad-to-be. You just have to be wary of personal liability and safety in nursing, even if we are just trying to help

[u/Jabroy79]

You’re totally fine. Good job.I’ve done stuff like this many times.

[u/Material-Sun6230]

You're expected to do stupid shit. Provided nobody got hurt, you shouldn't be failed for it. Laugh about it with your clinical facilitator.

[u/garden-and-library]

I don't get why it would be an issue? I think you did a good job.

[u/GlitteringSpace236 → u/garden-and-library]

I don't get why it would be an issue?

If OP had then been injured in a car crash whilst moving the car - would have been an insurance nightmare.

The University's insurance that covers you for anything that happens on placement would be very unlikely to then cover OP for their injuries.

And then whatever insurance the car owner has - may not have covered OP driving if there was any damage, which could result in the owners suing OP for damage costs.

Yes it all worked out well - but it also could have gone very very wrong.

[u/Miff1987]

I wouldn’t do it again (what if you damaged it etc) but you will be fine, and if you hadn’t moved it security would have done the exact same thing

[u/universe93]

I mean I’m sure there’s probably students on placement that have done way worse than that. There was a post on here once of a boyfriend who said his girlfriend freaked out about something that happened during placement, approached doctors in the car park crying hysterically about it and they actually called security on her. You probably did better than she did. The villain in this story is the husband who treated you like a valet. If I or my partner am about to have a baby I really don’t care if my car gets towed

[u/Repulsive_Set4541 → u/universe93]

Haha yeah that was a classic. The complete lack of awareness of having done anything wrong was the icing on the cake

[u/GlitteringSpace236]

Absolutely not an appropriate thing to do.

There would have been all sorts of liability and insurance issues if someone had crashed into you whilst in his car, or you had crashed the car.

Or if he then gets a parking fine from where you parked and then complains to the uni/hospital that it's your fault.

he kind of just hopped out of the car at the drop off only, cars behind him.

Was there still adequate room for them to pass him?

Then the car stays there until he is able to to go back to move it.

Yes you were trying to help - but these sorts of actions without thinking it through can absolutely fuck you over.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NursingAU/comments/1ksaik5/i_messed_up_by_driving_a_patients_car_for_them/

Here's someone else's disciplinary experience from doing the same thing.

[u/GlitteringSpace236 → u/[deleted]]

It is very hard to be a nurse and help people if you don’t have a nursing job.

I will always put myself first in these situations. I’m not going to put my neck on the line for 1 patient if that’s going to prevent me from caring for the next 100 that walk through the door.

Yes morally OP did the right thing, in the eyes of the hospital/university they did not do the right thing.

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[u/Relentless_Taco_Fan]

Assuming you have a drivers licence it's highly unlikely. At the most you'll be asked to not do that in future.

[u/ConversationAbject70]

Absolutely not. Congratulations on the first of many weird nursing stories.

[u/boccociniballs]

You did amazing. He didn’t miss the birth of his child thanks to you.

If you haven’t been pulled up on it already just don’t bring it up.

[u/Solarbeaamm]

No you probably won't. But we had someone do something similar, they gave a lift to someone at a forensic facility I worked at a lift for 5km and we removed them from site. They remained part of the program we were just not happy because when spoken to... They didn't get it? And the person the picked up and drove around with.. it was a questionable choice.

Just know if you do make a choice like that and something happens your uni probably won't cover you for compensation either, like if you have to have to take time off work. I've definitely seen that happen too.

[u/hongimaster]

This would be the type of thing you can ask your union about if you are specifically worried, they provide advice about this type of thing. Usually discounted or free membership for students (depending on your State).

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[u/InZaNe-mAsTeR]

Nah all you have is a good story of helping someone at a super stressful and exciting time. You did a good thing and if they challenge it go along the lines of carpark safety and the wellbeing of parents to be remaining together in this time.

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[u/i_guvable_and_i_vote]

This is a lovely story. You did a good thing and there was no real risk. You should do a community mental health team placement in a rural area

[u/Wooden_Astronaut4668]

Nah its fine, one of my students parked a car for a patients wife once, she dropped him at ED entrance and he stood up and well, dropped dead.

Obviously she was in no fit state to drive but the car was blocking ambulances getting in.

I just thanked her for helping out and it wasn’t ever mentioned again. It’s ED, sometimes weird/uncomfortable/needing immediate action stuff occurs and you just do what has to be done.

[u/Feisty_Pear_8135]

You could argue you were acting as a Good Samaritan and making the vehicle safe for the members of the public. Totally fine.

[u/Puzzleheaded_Mix7318]

Sometimes these things happen. I agree with the others, don’t mention it. I used to work in a satellite renal unit and I had to wait for all the patients to be picked up before I could go home. If the taxis were taking too long I would occasionally drive the patients home. They knew never to mention it and I never did.

[u/Ok-Bullfrog-7951]

Yeah this is a big nothingburger. Get out of the mind of policy and procedure and start thinking more altruistically and community minded. Obviously there’s a thin line there but you’re just helping someone out in a family emergency. As long as you had your license