Would you classify this as a med error? I think it is.

Nurses General Nursing

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Went for kidney scan yesterday. They put a IV in me and handed me contrast to drink. I drank it dutifully. When I walked into the cat scan room the tech was like "OH OH". I was supposed to have injected dye. So they gave me two options. Stay there and drink water in attempt to flush it out of my system. Or reschedule at later date. I rescheduled. I have seen to many situations as a med/surg nurse where that contrast just would not flush. I did not want to spend 3 or 4 hours only to find that they could not get scan anyway. I am glad I did not say I am a nurse. I would have looked dumb for not knowing mistake being made. :(

Thank you very much to all the persons who agreed with me that it was a medication error. That was actually my question. As for what I did afterwards I am perfectly comfortable with the steps I took. Don't need anyone to say I should have done this or that. The tech wanted to hustle me out of there without addressing it. Seemed to think it was not a real drug error. I begged to differ and insisted on asking a few questions and getting a few answers. Need to make sure steps taken to make sure it did not happen again. Not interested in make big fuss like calling lawyer or anything. Not necessary, no harm permanant harm done. Inconvience yes, if they had to inconvience someone let it be me cause I actually have the time to come in and do it over.

Specializes in correctional, psych, ICU, CCU, ER.

Why should you feel embarrassed? They screwed up. What were we taught in nursing school?? (This is where everybody jumps in)

right patient

right medication

right dose

right route

right time

right charting

They didn't follow the things beginning student nurses are taught about medication administration. Yes, it's a med error.

Oramar,

Unfortunately, you'll probably get your very own incident report for that visit in the mail. It's called a bill!

Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

Howdy yall

from deep in the heat of texas

YEPPERS

doo wah ditty

Went back for repeat test, everything went well. Before they do it a nurse does assesment. She recoginized me and asked why I was back so soon. Told her a mistake was made last week. She was so disturbed. Knew darn well it was a drug error. She was so nurse like, I felt like hugging her. We are special bunch.

Specializes in NICU.

It was a med error, but as the test was cancelled, should you even get a bill for that visit? They could charge you for the IV supplies, but that is about all!

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