First med error

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jun 21, 2011

I assume you can refuse certain assignments. You need to ask your employer. As for the med error, please know that it happens to all of us at some time. We did a study last year in our hospital regarding errors in a 12 month period and compared the number of errors to the number of agency working. Turns out our own staff caused most of the errors, due to fatigue. Made a nice case for hiring.

LPN9816aj · Jun 21, 2011

I am trying to not let it bother me but it just sickens me. Thanks for responding.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

Everyone makes med errors. Try not to be so hard on yourself! Try to make it a learning experience instead of a self-bashing. You're still the same good nurse you were before you made the error.

Med errors, by the way, are often (I'd say usually, actually) a result of a system error, such as too many meds/not enough time... When a nurse makes an error, it helps the facility figure out what needs to be done differently to get rid of those system errors. Sometimes they can't do a thing, but if the same error keeps popping up, eventually they'll work on it.

Again, please don't be so hard on yourself. We've all been there and empathize with you. The important thing is...was the patient harmed? I bet the patient is A-Ok. This too shall pass.

Sending hugs to you...

nurse mojoe · Jun 21, 2011

Don't beat yourself down. The patient was not harmed and I'm sure you learned something from this. You're not the "only nurse" that has made a med error. So keep your end gate up and move forward.

hannahmaepunk · Jun 21, 2011

I, for one, tend to do medical errors sometimes. I gave an extra dose of amlodipine 5mg after she had been given by last shift's amlodipine. I checked the drug study and max dose is 10mg/day, but still, having given the drug made me feel fear. Lapses happen because of overfatigue or failure to recheck the order, among other things. These happen to everyone, whether to new or experienced nurses. It's just up to us on how to handle the situation.

cnnconstance · Jun 21, 2011

I work in LTC and had my first med error this week also. My charge was flushing the pick line of the resident and I went to the next one. I never went back to give the med. I was working a 12 hour shift and was on a med pass I was not familiar with. It took me almost 3 hours. By the time I was done I completely forgot. My charge was wonderful , she explained the procedure and assure me the resident was fine and we called the physician and the DON. Mistakes happen and the best thing that could have happened to me is to learn from my mistake.

NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

My first med error had me so scared for my patient and myself that I kept waking up all night feeling squirmy that I might do it again, hurt someone by it, proved to the other nurses that I suck as a nurse, etc.

You don't, and you're ok! But I definitely remembered to triple check my meds afterwards, and you will too.

Florence NightinFAIL, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

It won't be your last med mistake. The most important thing is to never hide it, always monitor your pt closely, and learn something from it so that you don't make the same mistake twice.

Hopefully, they didn't give you a hard time.

AngelicDarkness · Jun 21, 2011

My teachers always prepared me that I would make one, and I did. Gave 1 capsule of an antibiotic instead of 2 capsules. Sad part is the patient noticed, didn't feel like telling me, and reported me the next day. Bleh. lol The DOC was great and supportive. Med errors are common b/c of the system like someone above said. When you have approx 90 patients to one nurse like in retirement/LTC, I'm more shocked not to see more errors.

HDHRN · Jun 21, 2011

I remember when I made my first med error. I have been an LPN for 2 years and worked at my facility for well over a year. We had this lady who had Fentanyl patches. Well her son had brought some in and asked if we could use them. We took them and my dumb butt didn't check the dose and it was higher than the dose she was ordered. I felt soooo bad when my boss talked to me about it. She wasn't upset, but said it happens to all of us. I had to do a report of course. She did pass away, not from the error, but she had chocked on something and had a lot of internal bleeding as a result. She was actually out with her family when it happened. I was so upset when I found out, I loved that woman to death. I hope she is having a wonderful time in Heaven, they are lucky to have her :heartbeat:nurse:

tyvin, BSN, RN · Jun 21, 2011

As a charge I've seen my fair share and done my fair share but I've also heard through the coconut wireless too many times so and so did this and that. I try to follow up but the nurses I worked with at this particular facility were as thick as thieves and protected each other. You tell me how in a facility of 98 residents with 3 nurses passing heavy meds that not one med error occurred in 6 months.

That's what my boss wanted to know. Well I try to educate them that reporting med errors is not going to get you in trouble but alas that is the one job I gave notice and now pray for the current charge. My boss started an investigation after a resident told the social worker they never received their morning meds ... I can believe it. I couldn't see myself interrogating everyone everyday; seriously. Also I had multiple residents tell me that certain meds weren't given and when I asked the nurses the usual reply was that the resident is senile and forgetful etc... who are you going to believe on and on. I checked this one nurses MAR toward the end of their pass and not one med was marked off as given. They told me they mark off at the end to save time; I still wrote them up.

As the charge I would have to cover a med cart pass if the nurse called in sick and we couldn't cover the shift. It took me about 4 hours to do the am meds. Then I would look up and it was time to pass the noon meds. What a nightmare! I won't even talk about the treatments. The best I could do was make sure all the diabetics got their shots on time and then hope for the best.

If you hide it you're doing yourself a disservice. If you hide it nothing is learned the behaviour will continue. So you stop beating yourself up right now. It's part of the learning process; it happens to all nurses ... all. And look at the situation you were in. OMG that's gotta be a nightmare to pass a heavy med pass in an unfamiliar place.

Tell your boss the truth. Have you ever wondered why you are put there? It's probably because the others have complained and said they won't go there. I would almost say it's suicide to go into a LTC facility to do a heavy med pass as an agency nurse. I give you big kudos for being able to do that. You've cried enough for this one. Pau