I just graduated this past May and I have been working at a small hospital on the med/surg floor for about 2 months. I barely got an orientation and I was put by myself way too soon. The nurse/pt ration is way too high, it can be as much as 10 to 1. Yesterday, against my better judgement, I got left in charge for a few hours because the charge nurse had to leave a few hours early. It was just me (I'm an RN), and an LPN. We had 8 pts a piece, and we were both really busy. She had 2 pts that had vancomycin due at the same time. Well, we all know that vanc is supposed to be hung on time. So she asked me if I would hang one for her. We were both running around like crazy, and she just reached into her cart and handed me the bag. I only looked at the pts name, not the drug. I know that was a huge mistake, and I always look at the drug any other time. We were just really busy, no excuse I know. Anyway, I went and hung the antibiotic. A few minutes later, the pt called to the desk and said his IV site was buring. So I went in and slowed the rate down. A few minutes later, he said he was burning and itching. So I went back in, and when I looked at the bag, I realized it was zithromax and not vanc. I immediately stopped the IV and flushed the line. I told the LPN what had happened and she called the doctor. The pt ended up being fine, just had a mild reaction, but I feel so stupid. I know I should have looked at the drug, and I am really kicking myself for it. I had to fill out an incident report on it, and I know I am going to get it bad from the DON. To make it worse, the LPN doesn't really seem to like me, and she put all the blame on me. She didn't even take any responsibilty for giving me the wrong bag. I know she is going to throw me under the bus. I even have to wonder if she did it on purpose. I just feel so stupid and embarrassed.
