Med Error

[marriednurses]

Hi, I have quick question. I have worked at a small facility for 4 years. Recently we have had several changes in administration and something unusual happened today to a co-worker of mine. A med error was made over 2 months ago and today there was disciplinary paper work issued for him to sign. Can the co-worker refuse to sign since the incident was over 2 months ago?

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Why are you worrying about a coworker?

[amoLucia]

Did the extended 2 months difference make the med error ANY LESS a med error?

[akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P]

My take on this is very simple... if the med error is an actual error, then the delay isn't truly a problem. On the other hand if the med error was something that was OK at the time and was retroactively deemed an error due to a change in medication administration policy, then I'd have an issue with that.

The only major problem with a true med error being acknowledged/enforced 2 months late is that certain details surrounding the error have been lost to time and therefore the "teaching" aspect of the error won't be as strong because the person who made the error may not recall all the circumstances and that could lead to those same circumstances again causing an error. Such late documentation also could take a "punitive" appearance if the documentation is ultimately used to discipline the "friend."

[marriednurses]

Yes, the person admitted to the error right when it happened, he was working several doubles for 4 nurses that quit. But something just recently happened "management" didn't like and this incident was left in he nurses office.

[marriednurses]

*the, not he