[nedanurse]

Thank you for sharing your story. There is nothing I can say that will help you feel better about this. Only time will make you comfortable with what has happend. It is a good wake up call for all in the medical field, because we only human we will continue to make human mistakes. I dont think I would ever feel OK with the situation and I dont know that it should be that way. However, it happened and you have to give yourself time to digest it and come to terms with it. Know this we are cut from the same cloth and we hurt right along with you because even if some cant remember we started out for the smae reasons to help others and know you need our help. Please keep writing and let us know how you are doing you bother and sister nurse care about you and your well being. YOU ARE A GOOD NURSE, you are also human.

Love and healing to you

[limabean]

I dont even know what words to say after reading your post. I am devastated for you. I think you are so courageous for coming on this site and posting your experience. You never know what other nurse in a similar situation may be helped by your post....knowing that he/she is not alone. I pray that you are getting the support you need from your family and coworkers. Your words are one of my greatest fears come true. The very scary part is that it is sooooo easy for something like this to happen. How often we nurses are all in a hurry, or tired, or just being human beings -- we can make a mistake. I am so sorry this has happened to you - I'm praying for you. God bless you.

[SmilingBluEyes]

oh boy I feel for you. This could easily happen to any of us. Thank you for sharing your story and my heart and thoughts go out to you, and that patient's family. I feel for you all.....and am thinking of you.

[maryshome8]

What blows my mind is that PHYSICIANS who have many more years of training, are casually overlooked for errors while nurses seem to be held to a higher standard.

I am not a nurse (working on pre-req's) but my mother was a MSN and had 43 years of experience in nursing before her retirement.

When my mother was in the hospital a year before her death, she had a major fear of errors...because she had seen them all the time. Even in her sometimes drug induced state, she would not allow them to medicate her without knowing exactly what they were giving her and how much they were giving.

I don't remember all of the details, but I remember her telling of a night where a physician, that was not long out of residency, had actually called for a near-fatal dose of a medication for a child brought into the ER. I don't remember what it was, but I do remember her saying it would have been the correct dosage for an adult.

She told the physician this, the physician balked at her, and ordered the administration (they were in the same room), she stepped out, filled the syringe, came back into the room and handed it to the physican and said, "if anyone is going to kill this patient it's going to be you...not me."

Imagine this: The physican just looked at her and he KNEW that she was 100% certain of her convictions. He went with her recommendation instead.

I have lost count of how many stories very similar that she has told us over the years.

[emllpn2006]

I am so sorry that you are having to go through something like this I will pray for you and the patients family.

[casi]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. I can't even begin to understand the state you are in now. I hope you are able to find the support you need and are able to work through this.

[earle58]

one med error in 15 yrs is commendable.
i've made errors over the yrs, one near-serious.
my confidence was shattered for a long time, and had other nurses check my meds and dosages for a long time.
even though i had the support of my don, risk mgmt and all involved, i was petrified of another repeat.
once you can put everything in proper perspective, you'll be gentler on yourself.
sending you warm hugs and well wishes.

leslie

[wickedrn]

Dear Julie, You have gotten some wonderful words of wisdom here. I hope that this error does not stop you from continuing to be a nurse. You are obviously a compassionate person that truly feels deeply sorry for what has happened. This being said you need to continue you with your compassion and care for others. You did not do this to intentionally harm the patient it was an error that any one of us are capeable of. I pray for you to find peace within yourself and the courage to continue your career.

[rosieseattle]

Julie,
A mistake was made, there is not need for continued shame and guilt. Everything is going to work out with time. Be kind to yourself, forgive yourself and with each day that goes by, find something to be thankful for. Things could have been worse...that's the first thing to be thankful for today.
Prayers your way--------

[ryanfocker]

I can not imagine the heart ache you must feel Julie. You have been a nurse for 15 years, and have had 15 years to touch peoples lives, improve the quality of their lives, and extend the years they can spend with their loved ones. And certainly this has been your intention for 15 years, and was your intention when you went to work that day.

I believe we are ultimately judged by our intentions and our actions rather than our mistakes, or our unintended actions. Your 15 years of service has done more in many senses then 5 minutes of one singular mistake.

No single mistake can negate all the positive you have done. Godspeed in finding the comfort and support you need at this moment. There will be more moments, and more moments for you to touch and improve upon the lives and the health of others. Your life and your career are not over.