[eccentricRN]

I made my first med error last NOC... I feel like the worst nurse ever. My NOC started out bad... not an excuse...but I had to catch up for the nurse on the previous shift, and did I mention I've only been a nurse for just about 2 months... and I'm still on orientation, sorta.
Ok, sorry, that sounds like an excuse... I'm just frazzled I had 7pts & 2 wouldn't behave, 1 had a K+ of 2.6 & needed riders that were not done on PMs... yada, yada.... So I ended up giving a pt a med intended for another. Totally my fault... then I have to call the MD, thankfully he was nice & didn't expect the pt to experience anything adverse other than drowsiness... but still.... my fellow staff nurses were like stuff happens & they were supportive, too.... but I fell like such a bad, bad nurse... I know I will not do what I did last night... the circumstances surrounding it again...but What IF I HAD Hurt the PT???? God I wish I could take it all back & I can't... sorry this is so long, but I feel like... I don't know...it's just totally weighing on my mind...
Thanks for listening.
I don't feel better, but I feel a little less heavy getting it off my chest.

[elkpark]

We all felt awful the first time we made a med error -- and we all survived. Don't be too hard on yourself -- you aren't the first, and you won't be the last. Everyone makes med errors, and not just as newbies -- I just recently made my first med error in a very long time (I only recently returned to direct client care), and I felt awful, too!

As long as human beings are giving meds, there will be med errors. We just try to be as careful as we can, and make as few errors as possible (and try to have the errors we do make not be serious ones! )

[earle58]

thankfully, when our med errors affect us so much, there are little to no repeats.

eventually, it happens to every single one of us.

regardless of how much we do, there are certain things that command our attention...such as meds.

it's good you feel badly.
but your pts weren't hurt, and you've learned...
even better.

time to move forward.
you'll be fine.

leslie

[JB2007]

I am going to tell you the same thing that another more experienced nurse told me when I made a med. error. Everybody makes med. errors. You were smart enough to catch it and to do something about it. Do not beat yourself up about it. Just learn from the error. I hope this helps.

[aeauooo]

IMHO, if a nurse tells you she/he has never made a medication error, watch out, you're either talking to a liar or worse, someone who isn't aware the she/he has made an error.

It happens, and we feel awful when it does, but I'll let you in on a little secret: contrary to what we are told in nursing school, in general, it's really hard to kill a patient - not that I've ever tried!

If stupid mistakes (which making a medication error is not) were always fatal, no one would walk out of a hospital alive.

[Agnus]

Originally Posted by eccentricRN

but What IF I HAD Hurt the PT???? .

You did not hurt this patient. What if, is a totally useless question. You will make more errors. It is part of being a nurse. It is part of being human.(hug)

[OklaLPN]

The thing is to ask yourself...what have I learned from this? My great nurse mentor taught this to me. I was so down on myself and sick to my stomach. But, I learned a very great lesson.

As the other posters have stated...you are definitely not alone. I know you are feeling down on yourself, but don't. It has happened to many of us while giving meds.

Hang in there!!!

OklaLPN

[luvschoolnursing]

You made the error, you reported it and did what you needed to make it OK. You sound pretty responsible to me.
Covering it up-now that's a problem...

[medsurgrnco]

You can avoid giving a med to the wrong patient by always checking a name band before giving a med. When I have very hectic shifts, like yours sounded, I slow down when giving meds as I know I am at more risk to make an error. Early in my nursing career, I almost gave a med to the wrong patient 2-3 times one morning but caught myself each time by checking name bands.

[keg901369]

I know exactly how you feel, I made my first med error the other night. I too, am a new nurse and I hung Jevity instead of Glucerna for a diabetic resident. I too, was busy and frazzled and flat hung the wrong thing. I felt and still feel just like crap over it !! I wanted to throw up myself !!! Like all the others have said, it happens !! That's what they told me too !! Learn from it and remember that passing meds is one the most important thing you do !!!! You did the right thing too by reporting and following up on it !!!!