I apologize in advance if this is long. There were a lot of details that played into the whole event.
Hi, I graduated from a LPN school in Dec 08. Took my boards, was all ready to get a job and get going with my new career. I have worked in the medical field, only my patients were the kind that walk on 4 legs and generally have fur, hair, feathers, or scales. However, the general medical/nursing practices are still the same. It bleeds, you bandage, its broken, it hurts! I was very highly skilled in my field after having been in for 16 years, but 2 young kids, the increase in costs, caused me to change direction a couple of years ago. So after getting my LNA, EMT, and then LPN. I figured I would at least know something.
And then I did the dumbest medication error in the world. Four different licenses, all 4 had the same rule. the 5 rights, and I missed them all, wrong patient, wrong medication etc. The medication I was supposed to give was to the person in Room A, not Room B. And of course that is what I did, only 1 1/2 hours into the shift. I immediately realized it when the woman said " I don't get this kind of medication" After checking into WHO it was, I could have smacked myself in the head! How could I not follow what was taught? what I knew? what I preach in my other field to new vet techs. NEVER give medications to any pet unless you know what it is and who/why it is for! So why would I do it for Ms Smith? Anyway, my agency "boss" screamed at me over the phone as I called for suggestions. She wasnt having any immediate reaction to the medication, no adverse reactions, nothing on her chart (allergies, other meds etc) would cause her to have a problem with the med/dose I gave (which is not what I determined on my own- I called her primary care Dr.--He determined that for me) The Dr said "Dont worry about, why are you calling me?" -I thought" Well, lets see, I just gave 90 year old ms. smith miss jane's Morphine SubL and she does have an allergy to codeine, my boss said I am out of the nursing field I might as well tear up my license and find a new career because I am done here! The Dr. told me there was no co-relation to the 2 drugs and basically "to get over it and stop bothering him". The resident had no adverse effects, VS remained normal throughout the entire night THANK GOD. Of course the rest of my first (and only? ) shift as a LPN was horrendous. The following 6AM had me racing around to try and medicate 22 out of 30 of the residents in my care, and that did not include any of the vitals, dressing, misc. things that needed to be done with them. I did have 2 very good LNAs who were regular staff and I had to have them ID all the patients for me the rest of the night. There was no ID on the resident (no wrist braclets etc) no door tags, most people had pictures, but that was about it.
So besides not following basic Nursing 101, I dont know what else I could have done at the time. There was no one else for me to ask general questions. The nurse who I changed shifts with was an agency nurse and the one coming in at 7am was too. Even the aides didnt know who to call. I was working for the agency I was hired for. There is nothing "sneaky or tricky" in resume. I am very open and honest with my past experiences, and my lack of new experience. I figured when they called and offered me a shift in a 30 bed "assisted living" (I didnt know assisted living took hospice, and those who needed skilled nursing-- I thought most of assisted living were up and about- and just needed 'assistance') A LOT TO LEARN I figured working for an agency would get me great experience (I did agency work as a LNA and loved it) and the hours would be varied. I guess what I didn't realize was that once you get there, you are on you OWN. I thought at least the nurse who would have been there would have been a regular, and gave me a brief introduction, orientate around-even if for only 15 minutes. Maybe I should have taken the hint when my boss slipped in "btw, you might not want to mention you are brand new). However, I think the nurse picked up the hint when she said "Lets do count" and I said "ok, how do we do it?" she said I was pretty calm for someone new as this particular place has had her and many others in tears. And just how long have you been a nurse? She had 15 years, at that point I was going on 15 minutes. OK another red flag.
Anyway, any suggestions. My boss was all nicey-nicey after he found out later that I hadnt done any serious harm to the woman and by the AM she had no complaints, if anything she was more then understanding, (at least I had that on my side), he just says "have a nice weekend, come in monday with a write up of what happened and why"
My question after this long winded essay is do many nurses lose their licenses over a med error involving a narcotic? I told him I would come in for a urine test, I have nothing to hide. do I have to report it to the board. any insight on this or suggestions for a better start at a 2nd attempt if I can still find a job after all this. I dont know if you get an offical write up by the board. any advise ANY at all, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi, I graduated from a LPN school in Dec 08. Took my boards, was all ready to get a job and get going with my new career. I have worked in the medical field, only my patients were the kind that walk on 4 legs and generally have fur, hair, feathers, or scales. However, the general medical/nursing practices are still the same. It bleeds, you bandage, its broken, it hurts! I was very highly skilled in my field after having been in for 16 years, but 2 young kids, the increase in costs, caused me to change direction a couple of years ago. So after getting my LNA, EMT, and then LPN. I figured I would at least know something.