[twintoo]

I always understood the policy at our school to be "you can only give IV push meds with a licensed person" UM I learned today that you can only give IV push with the instructor! I was helping an RN and she asked me to draw up this med. I drew it up and then she said, "you can give it." I said "me?" b/c it wasn't my client and then she said yes and then after you give it I will let you tell me why *I* wouldn't give it. So...dum-de-dumdum I give it! Then she asked me "so why wouldn't *I* give that med?" I said "b/c I drew it up". DING DING DING I was right! LOL She runs to the instructor to brag on how well I did...Uh oh! Here comes my instructor red faced and shaky and asks me about it. I really didn't think I did wrong but I did! BIG TIME!!! Now, I am thinking she is going to give me a ZERO for part of my grade!

SO, my last clinical of the semester and my first screw up since day one...I am glad that I didn't kill anyone but gosh, I feel like CRAPOLA!

**Susan, if you are reading this...yes this is me!! LOL**

[Kudra]

sounds to me like the RN you were working with was too caught up in trying to teach you something to care whether or not you were allowed to do a certain skill... i've learned over the last 4 years that sometimes the nurses who are most eager to teach you something are just doing so to stroke their own egos...

our school's policy is that a student cannot push a med in regular clinicals, period... same thing with starting IVs... we're taught the "theory", but not allowed to practice... but as soon as you start your final preceptorship, you're allowed to do them... it's a really big oversight when it comes to safety, IMHO, because HOW ELSE are you suppose to learn? not only that, but isn't the best time to learn such a skill is when you're being closely supervised? was the RN who was with you talk you through it?

it totally sucks that you're going to get a zero... is there any chance you can negotiate with the Instructor about your mark? ie: do an extra assignment on pushing meds or med administration safety...

do you need to pass all your clinicals in order to pass your course?

good luck with whatever happens...

beth

[BSNgrad2004]

at Univ of MD, we are not allowed to do IV push meds. it is written in big BOLD letters in our syllabus.

[RNKITTY04]

We are allowed to do IV pushes, pretty much any and all EXCEPT hang blood thats the one big no no.

[raynefall]

We are allowed to do IV pushes not with the RN and not by ourselves but WITH the instructor. I do not blame the instructor for being upset with you...

[twintoo]

Oh, I dont blame her for being upset...heck I am upset with myself. It is one of those things that I learned a LONG time ago and it has never been brought up with any of my clinical clients since. It is kind of like Spanish...if you don't use it, you lose it. I *know* that isn't an excuse, I KNOW it is serious business I didn't come here for anyone to reinterate that I was wrong because I already know that! The thing is I looked in my syllabus when I got home and it is NO WHERE in there. I finally found it in a skills checkoff list for IVs that you give to the teacher during mastery and they check off what you did/didn't do.

[christinemj]

Besides hang blood, we are allowed to do virtually anything with an RN. (Hospital policy is that 2 LICENSED persons must sign off on blood.) The instructor can't possibly be at the bedside for every injection, insertion, med push, fluid hang/adjustment, etc, ad infinitum, for all 8 students. We'd be doing a lot of standing around waiting for the instructor if that were the case.

At the beginning of each rotation, the instructor will individually check us off on some basic invasive skills (IE, accuchecks, insulin injections, dressing change) and then we are free to do them on our own. Of course, doses in the syringe must always be double-checked. Ideally by an RN, but when things are rocking, we can also verify with a classmate.

The instructor is ALWAYS on the unit, and available. They carry pagers and are available within a few (up to 10) minutes if we have questions or concerns. I guess we should just be thankful that the majority of the RNs working at our clinical sites are happy to "teach" us, too. 99% of them are GREAT!! In fast, MOST of the nurses "complain" if they don't have a student assigned to one of their patient...it takes a load off of them too!!!!

[Rapheal]

Tough break Twintoo. This is your first med error. I think it would be best to not let it get to you. You made a mistake and will learn from it. This is your last semester and I hope it goes smooth the rest of the way.

[twintoo]

Thanks Rapheal!!! I really appreciate it! I am still freaking out b/c of the what ifs and about my grade. I am just glad that it was a matter of me screwing up policy and not the wrong med for the patient. I guess *that* is my silver lining. <shrugs>

[Love-A-Nurse]

We are not allowed to hang blood of give chemo drugs. Depending on the medication/procedure, we can either be alone, with an staff RN, or of course, with the instructor.