Help! I really messed up and don't know what to do

1 I just started working Home Health prn and today was my first day alone. Last week I drove around with a couple of nurses. Since I am not quite organized yet and don't have my groove down, I wrote my vitals and scratch notes on a small tablet and carried it around with me. I think I left this notepad at my last patient's house because I cannot find it!! It had two other patient names on it, but no other info such as dob, etc, and the names were common... I can't believe I did this and am so worried now about the consequences... what do I do?? I can't sleep.. so worried about this
I would go back to that last patient's house and see.

just call or go back to that pts house and see if its there? i dont think you would get in much trouble, its a simple mistake.

First, try and find it without alot of attention ie telling everyone u work with. From this pt forward develop a code system along with only using intitials for names and other identifying information. To me Mark Johnson is WK. I invert the M and use the next letter in the alphabet for the Last Name. For social security numbers or telephone numbers I change 4 to 8 or 8 to 4, 05 to 10, 10 to 05, etc..... Just change 2 to 3 variables and be consistent and not too complicated. Remember KISS, Keep It Simple Silly! Welcome to the world of be Human. It happens to all of us. That's how I learned. Good Luck. Stay Safe.

I would just call the last patient and ask if you left your note book there, then go get it. I do home health too. They probably don't have any interest in what is in your note book. Don't worry. It was a simple mitake.

You should go back the Pt. or calling hem, and ask hem about your notepad, but be relax, its not a big deal, its simple...in god welling...

You need moments like this to learn to be careful. Don't let this get you down. Learn and move on!

Critical thinking 101! 1st thing you should have done was go back to the patient's house that you think you left the table at and check!

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate all of the responses and those from Facebook. When I realized my notepad was not in my bag, it was too late to call the patient or go back by the home. The next morning I did call and was able to retrieve my notepad without difficulty. Lesson learned and I won't be doing that ever again!! Thnx

You posted this question on facebook? EEk, I wouldn't do that my friend.

Allnurses.com are the ones who choose what to post on their Facebook page though.

I didn't post it on Facebook. Allnurses on Facebook chooses several posts (from allnurses.com) to post on their Facebook page. Mine was randomly chosen I guess... I had nothing to do with it.

Oh ok, I had no idea that they had a facebook! I am behind the times I guess.