I Made an Absolute 'No-No" Mistake :(

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi Everyone... I have been a nurse with an exceptional record for three years. I was in the process of being hired on as a unit manager in the next few days......and then....I lost my brain in the middle of an absolute hellish shift. One of my patients exhausted all of her available meds that I could give her and I listened to her beg for hours after all trying all available nursing interventions. I had the brilliant idea to give her Benadryl without calling the doctor. I know better than this. I don't even know how to explain or even justify what I could possibly have been thinking. I have never been afraid to fight for orders before. I have no one to blame but myself. I have been surfing the web all day trying to see if there was hope at the end of this tunnel......I lost my job today and I waiting to hear from the board in a month or so. My DON says that I wont lose my license but will have a letter of admonition on my record forever for this mistake. They say that life is all about learning lessons but...... I don't want to do LTC nursing ever again. It is horribly stressful. Im going to pick myself and be dang sure I NEVER make this mistake again. any ideas???

Hi Everyone... I have been a nurse with an exceptional record for three years. I was in the process of being hired on as a unit manager in the next few days......and then....I lost my brain in the middle of an absolute hellish shift. One of my patients exhausted all of her available meds that I could give her and I listened to her beg for hours after all trying all available nursing interventions. I had the brilliant idea to give her Benadryl without calling the doctor. I know better than this. I don't even know how to explain or even justify what I could possibly have been thinking. I have never been afraid to fight for orders before. I have no one to blame but myself. I have been surfing the web all day trying to see if there was hope at the end of this tunnel......I lost my job today and I waiting to hear from the board in a month or so. My DON says that I wont lose my license but will have a letter of admonition on my record forever for this mistake. They say that life is all about learning lessons but...... I don't want to do LTC nursing ever again. It is horribly stressful. Im going to pick myself and be dang sure I NEVER make this mistake again. any ideas???

I have a few questions:

What was the Benadryl given for?

Did the pt experience an adverse/allergic response from the medication?

Did you override the medication or had "leftover" in a vial from another pt?

Don't get me wrong, you definitely were beyond our scope of practice but I am curious as to why you did what you did? (Sorry if that sounds abrupt, I'm a male nurse, its what we do lol.)

Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

It is a tough lesson to learn and, as much as people like to say how "caring" and "compassionate" nurses are, your top priorities should be safety and protecting your license. In the future, don't give into the patient's whining or begging. You've worked hard for your license, don't let a patient's over the top behavior jeopardize your livelihood.

There are times where I have literally had to walk away because some people just don't get that this isn't the Hilton and they can't get everything they want no matter how much they ask.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I have a few questions:

What was the Benadryl given for?

Did the pt experience an adverse/allergic response from the medication?

Did you override the medication or had "leftover" in a vial from another pt?

Don't get me wrong, you definitely were beyond our scope of practice but I am curious as to why you did what you did? (Sorry if that sounds abrupt, I'm a male nurse, its what we do lol.)

It was probably given for the sedative effect it has on some patients. Some people take it to sleep. I had a sickle cell patient that asked for it to help with pain control as an adjust to other meds. If you Google "Benadryl for pain" or something similar there is a bit of information out there.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's a painful lesson to learn and I ache for you.

With patient's like that you have to call the doctor. It's our duty to inform them their ordered pain management isn't managing their pain or they are having anxiety because of it. Doesn't matter if they are addicts or drug seeking, or that they are out smoking or whatever. It has to be on record that the MD is aware.

It was probably given for the sedative effect it has on some patients. Some people take it to sleep. I had a sickle cell patient that asked for it to help with pain control as an adjust to other meds. If you Google "Benadryl for pain" or something similar there is a bit of information out there.
I know the many uses of Benadryl IV. I was just curious as to the reason why the OP gave the medication?

Wow. After three years I would be shocked if this RN didn't know the things being posted. I would be more concerned with their state of mind. What were you thinking exactly?

If this is a result of stress, maybe a different environment would be better (you said hellish shift). If so was it this shift or a build up of stressors (work, home, etc)?

Sorry you did this. Sounds like you are on the right track (accountable, no excuses in your post). Best of luck to you!

I deserve the ridicule. She wasn't in pain or else I could have given her tramadol as ordered. It was a LTC facility OTC benadryl. From the bottom of my heart I can't tell my brain went. I gave into her whining and constant call light. I know better. I have called doctors for less. There are no Thankfully no longer term adverse effects for my resident. I have no excuses to make. I cut a corner that cost me my job. My DON told me that I won't lose my license but will likely get a letter of admonition my license. :( I will find a new job and will never thar mistake again.

Specializes in CMICU.

Sorry that happened but props to you for taking responsibility for it. Good luck in the future.

Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
I deserve the ridicule. She wasn't in pain or else I could have given her tramadol as ordered. It was a LTC facility OTC benadryl. From the bottom of my heart I can't tell my brain went. I gave into her whining and constant call light. I know better. I have called doctors for less. There are no Thankfully no longer term adverse effects for my resident. I have no excuses to make. I cut a corner that cost me my job. My DON told me that I won't lose my license but will likely get a letter of admonition my license. :( I will find a new job and will never thar mistake again.

There isn't any one of us who hasn't made a mistake at one time or another. You are owning up to yours, accepting responsibility and dealing with the consequences. Kudos. There are threads and threads on this forum from posters who have made very similar mistakes and spend pages defending their choices and attacking anyone who disagrees with them. Yours is the more honorable, classy and correct approach.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
There isn't any one of us who hasn't made a mistake at one time or another. You are owning up to yours, accepting responsibility and dealing with the consequences. Kudos. There are threads and threads on this forum from posters who have made very similar mistakes and spend pages defending their choices and attacking anyone who disagrees with them. Yours is the more honorable, classy and correct approach.

Agree.

Dust yourself off, pound the pavement and get another job.

Also expect from the BON to undergo a course, if necessary.

Best wishes.

Agree.

Dust yourself off, pound the pavement and get another job.

Also expect from the BON to undergo a course, if necessary.

Best wishes.

Thank you everyone for your support. I'm enjoying the day with my daughter and tomorrow I start pounding

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