Stupid med error

EastCoast · Nov 10, 2003

I feel bad. It seems you are just trying to do your job. I remember a nurse once gave tube feed into the PD cathether and another that gave Pavulon to the wrong patient. Both were near devastated and didn't know how she could do such a thing. But things do happen. I would not worry about losing your license but i think you need to personally develop an action plan to make sure it doesn't happen again. (and you know that it won't because we tend to be super paranoid once we make a mistake like this). Lastly, I would advise that some sort of incidence report be filed with your version of what happens. It may be the only record (except for the heresay) if this comes back to haunt you. Even if the charge nurse was rather cavalier about it doesn't mean that it shouldn't be officially written up. Good luck.

RN~in~CT · Nov 10, 2003

:kiss {{{{hugs}}}}

Please remember that we are all human, and errors do happen ~ despite how careful we may be. Try to use this as a learning experience, forgive yourself, and then move on.

Again, lots of hugs your way!

:kiss

LauraLou · Nov 10, 2003

As a Christian, you know that none of us are perfect. God forgives our mistakes, our sins, our imperfections. If God can forgive you, surely you can do no less than to forgive yourself.

Do not let this mistake be in vain. Use it to see what changes you need to make. Perhaps being firmer in refusing to work at hospitals with unsafe staffing levels or double checking medications, especially when you are rushed. Become a better nurse because of this mistake.

Best Wishes.

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 10, 2003

What a poignant and meaningful post. Clearly illustrates one of the great frustrations and plagues of nursing....too much work, too little time, too few staff to help out.

I am so sorry about this. You made an honest mistake and feel awful about it. You are NOT a loser or a bad person; you have owned up to your error and no doubt learned from it. PLEASE do not let this define you as a nurse and human being. If you are concerned about matters of licensure, you are best off taking up those issues with your State Board of Nursing.

Meantime, please forgive (not forget) yourself this error. Learn from it and move on. You sound like a compassionate, honest and decent person and nurse to me. I would be fortunate to have you in charge of the care of me or my family members; you CARE and have INTEGRITY. Good for you!

BarbPick · Nov 10, 2003

You will not like my answer. First of all, what does being a Christian have to do with being judgementally impaired?

In Ireland, it is federal law that Nurses are only allowed to work thirty seven and one half hours a week because their federal studies have proven errors are made when Nurses are tired.

Lose the guilt, prepare yourself properly to only work if you are well rested and move on.

I am sure Islamic, Jewish, and Pagan Nurses make mistakes when they are tired as well. Now that the problem is identified,

sleep deprived nurses are judgementally impaired, don't do it again

Brownms46 · Nov 10, 2003

)(((((((((Nurse4God)))))))), I understand exactly how you're feeling, and I felt your pain come pouring out in your post! You made a mistake, and I know is it hard for you to deal with this, but you must, as you have a purpose in caring. So please don't let this get you so down, that you can't continue to care for others.

But you know lately I have been turning down agency work in hospitals. It used to be a joy, and a breeze for me to walk into any unit and work well. But I no longer feel safe doing this anymore, as the work load, and the workload just continues to grow! Too many pts, and too little time, not to mention unrealistic customer service requirements!

Take care of yourself, and go treat yourself to something special, as you need to give yourself a break today:)!

RNanne · Nov 10, 2003

This is just the enemy poking darts at you. We have all fallen short of perfection, you know. I have made a few med errors myself when overwhelmed and tired. Use this as a tool to grow. Forgive yourself as we are forgiven. This will pass, turn it over to Him and move on. You are really going to be okay and I can tell that you are a good, honest, and thoughtful nurse. Do as some others have advised and forgive yourself. Don't be so hard on yourself. Keep the faith and keep on keeping on.

Nursie30 · Nov 10, 2003

I told the nurse I was working with what I did, and she told me not to worry about it and nothing else was said.

I think most nurses have made med errors...but the biggest error, is not reporting it to the physician...even if its the smallest detail, you should report what happened...even if you think no one will know, the problem is, you know, and you would have felt better when you told the physician, and he would have told you it was probably not a big deal and to just observe the patient....and to go ahead and give the ear gtts to the patient, in the right route...

We all learn from our mistakes........I've never worked agency and can imagine that it would be very confusing to just take over, I know just changing units in the same nursing home you have been at for a long time can be confusing.......hang in there...

(Nothing like inserting a foley, reporting no output from the resident, and having the oncoming nurse tell you it was in her lady parts all noc)

longtermcarern · Nov 10, 2003

This very same med error happened at work tonight with the nurse I was working with. We called poisen control and the pharmacist on call, both of which assured us that while it was an irritant, it would cause no lasting damages. Different ph is all. One thing the pharmacist stated was this is such a common error that the formulary for ear drops has changed so that it contains nothing that will harm the eyes. My co worker filled out a med error report and turned it in to the DON. someone once told me years ago when I first started nursing that a nurse who says she/he has never made a med error is either a liar or to new to know better.

shavsha · Nov 10, 2003

(((hugs)))

I once made a potentially FATAL med error regarding route. I gave a med IV instead of SQ!! (Lovenox) The reason was hurrying. I was so very busy that shift and already running behind when I got called away to a code and when I came back I grabbed the syringes I had prepared before the code. I millisecond I gave it I realized my error, stopped the IV, changed the tubing and then nearly fainted. I knew in this case there would probably be no adverse effects of consequence, which the doctor confirmed when I called him. (Also, my managers were very understanding as well given the circumbstances.) NEVERTHELESS I am haunted to think of what could have happened if it had been another medication! There was however a very good thing that has come out of it. Now, when I am running late, or something strange or unusual is happening I force myself to to slow down, keep my wits about me and NEVER NEVER NEVER give medication without doing the three med checks. When I start to feel guilty because in a given shift the workload is causing me to get behind I say to myself "This med may be a little late but I am acting as a prudent nurse would" Better a late med than a catastrophe. Please do not beat yourself up about this. Continue to give the compassionate care you give. As a Christian you know that God will use this unpleasant experience to produce something good in your life. Our mistakes, when we can learn from them, make us better nurses in the long run. Hang in there! :kiss

btrfly76 · Nov 10, 2003

I can sympathize with you. And like most of the postings said, it is done, consider it as a learning experience and move on. Also try saying "No" to working so many hours in a row. And you should not have to give any reason for saying so. If you have trouble saying "No", try what Oprah says..." I'll have to pray about that".