Boy, did I mess up :(

Nurses HIPAA

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soon_2Bnurse

20 Posts

I just wanted to say something. How I wish I knew you folks better and had the priviledge to work with people like you. It's the one thing I feel I am missing. It's a new job, so the adjustment is there, but working nights..is lonely too (I am the only medical person there from 2100 to 0700.

Well..no official word..but i recieved the schedule for March and I AM ON IT! "Good sign" I hope! God Bless you all for helping me.

Patchouli

159 Posts

Specializes in Tele/PCU/ICU/Stepdown/HH Case Management.

This is not as big a deal as you are making it, lol. You are going to be fine. Like you said, slow down, and make sure you have everything together before you make calls. Good luck!

FurBabyMom, MSN, RN

1 Article; 814 Posts

I think it's probably going to be fine. I agree you probably won't be reported to the BON over this. It is, as others have said, a mistake. And nobody was hurt.

I would agree with the others who say risk management wants a statement for the sake of having a statement. We've had some "adverse events" or "near misses" that our risk management dept where I work forms a committee including risk management, department management, department educators, and staff involved and those committees are usually where policy change comes from.

I think the honesty you displayed was the absolute best way to handle it. I have to follow my "gut" about situations. If it doesn't feel right it isn't. Sometimes in life you can fix it, others the only 'fix' there is is to apologize and work hard not to make the same mistake again. I've learned more as a nurse in things I did that weren't 100% correct or the best/easiest way to handle XYZ than I did by doing it right the first time.

Vishwamitr

156 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatry.

Dear soon-2beNurse,

I think you are overly concerned. First of all, no harm was done to anyone. As such, that cannot affect your license. I am not sure how Risk-management got involved unless they have nothing better to do. You were honest enough to let your DON know about the inadvertent boo-boo that you made and she should have just let it go at that. She is the one who contacted Risk-management. If I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

electricblack

74 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Isn't the idea of reporting mainly to "reduce" this sort of incidence from happening in the future rather than threaten our jobs and license?

Specializes in med-tele/ER.

Nurses make med errors and don't lose their jobs. If you lost your job over this then the hospital must have a high turnover rate.

nikkimodl

14 Posts

you did the right thing by telling the DON. We are not perfect. It was a true mistake; in the future just take your time to make sure you are addressing the right patient but kudos to being honest. A lot of nurses would have kept it quiet! Unfortunately, sometimes, that is how we learn.

KitkatPRN

127 Posts

Specializes in LTC, Rehab.
you did the right thing by telling the DON. We are not perfect. It was a true mistake; in the future just take your time to make sure you are addressing the right patient but kudos to being honest. A lot of nurses would have kept it quiet! Unfortunately, sometimes, that is how we learn.

So true !! I think you did the absolute best thing by informing your DON !! I for one think that it was just an honest mistake and no harm was done, so really? It's not a big deal !! You may feel embarrassed but NO ONE was hurt (WheW) ... and happy dance to that !! We are only human & mistakes happen !! When we give a med, we are more careful for sure, but when we dial a telephone # ... maybe not so much ... give yourself a break, you owned up to it and no one was hurt, which in my book equals a GreaT day/shift !!!!!!!!

cav5

68 Posts

Specializes in School Nurse; ICU.

yep, did the same thing and still not quite sure how I did it but am paranoid now about getting the right student with the right phone number

I called a five year old's father to pick up their sick child. The father came in to the health office, looked around, and asked where their chid was-yep, wrong name!! What is worse, when I called the right parent the child told them to not to worry-the nurse was sending him home with a different man. Luckily, the father who had to leave work was wonderful and took it very well and considered it a short break. Also, lucky for me I got to explain (very sheepishly) before the "real" mother truly believed I was sending her little one off with a complete stranger.

Every day since then it is "what is your mom's name"?, "what is your dad's name?"" what are your brother's and sister's names?" If I could do social security number that would be on the list too!! From here on out I do everything to verify that that won't ever happen again!!

My guess is that they will take your statement, maybe give you a slap on the wrist, and the person who is going to be beating you up the most is YOU. Welcome to the ranks of PTSD, paranoid, "after mistake" nurse club!

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