made a med error

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Mar 30, 2008

i wouldn't worry about giving a protonix... don't beat yourself up over nothing...protonix takes 3 weeks to start working and giving him 1 pill does nothing.. give yourself a hug and move on ... no sweat...

jelorde37 · Mar 30, 2008

thanks for the caring words... im just confused ethically. i reported myself to the charged nurse and she didnt do anything. oh well, well see how it goes.

Calgon-take.me.away · Mar 30, 2008

:redpinkhe No one ever said that just because we are nurses that we are perfect. Move on and count it up to experience.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Mar 30, 2008

thanks for the caring words... im just confused ethically. i reported myself to the charged nurse and she didnt do anything. oh well, well see how it goes.

ethically giving a single dose of protonix is like giving the guy a drink of water... if you feel better writing up a incident report, calling a dr then do it. i am a RN and have been a nurse for 22 years and i can say i have never seen anyone die from one dose of protonix . i would of told you the same thing your charge RN did ... it sure couldn't hurt him... with his history maybe you should call the doc and get and order for protonix for him... he should be on something.. it was probably a blessing in disguise...

you are just fine and chalk it up to a learning expirence... don't beat yourself up over this..

pagandeva2000, LPN · Mar 30, 2008

We all make mistakes somewhere in our careers, even with the best of intentions. If your RN is cool with it, and you were honest (as you already did), move on. A caring nurse usually learns from their mistakes. And, actually, mistakes and near misses actually make us more conscious of the fact that things can and do happen.

Brownms46 · Mar 31, 2008

i mad a med error last night. i gave a patient protonix who wasnt supposed to recieve it:banghead: i told my charged nurses and she just told me not to worry about it... i was gonna write myself up but she just said to forget it and that the patient needed it due to a history of ulcers/gerd... man i feel stupid... the patient wasnt harmed in any way, but i feel confused, depressed, and incompetent. i told the other RNs and they just laughed:chuckle i really learned my lesson and im glad that the medication was a protonix and not a narcotic or insulin. sorry guys, just had to vent.
:zzzzz

I had a Nursing Instructor who once said that, any nurse who says she never made a mistake, is someone who has never worked as a nurse! Nurses are people, and people make mistakes. Yes you try very hard to perform all care as accurately as possible all the time, but you and no one else is perfect. We just try to do our very best to not do any harm, and giving protonix, you are pretty safe from doing harm.

Thankfully your charge nurse has caring nature, and common sense. Learn from the mistake and as already stated, more on and continued to be the caring person your obviously are!

MentalRn · Mar 31, 2008

I think your honesty is refreshing. As a charge nurse I trust nurses like yourself because I know you will come to me when you have made a mistake, and we all make them. Lord knows I have made my fair share! :yeah:

bluegeegoo2, LPN · Mar 31, 2008

Don't feel bad. I gave Roxanol to a woman who has a morphine allergy this morning. Fortunately, she's just fine. I asked her what happens, and she said "I get itchy". Whew! I called the Dr. and he didn't have a problem with it, but ordered Benadryl anyway, just in case. It was my first known med error. I have been licensed for 4 months now. It does shake my confidence (cockiness?) though. I bet I watch for allergies more dilligently from now on. Still, I thought I'd have to call a code on myself when I realized it. Live and learn, (and hopefully retain my license) I suppose.

jelorde37 · Apr 2, 2008

anyways, my patient is okay. we ended up getting him on prilosec cause of his history of ulcers and he complains of GERD. i know its not protonix but i guess prilosec is just as good and way cheaper. thanks for the support guys. for awhile i was feeling incompetent but im taking this as learning experience and im just glad that the patient is okay.

again, thanks for the support.

LVNightingale · Apr 2, 2008

Every nurse has made errors. You did exactly the right thing. I see my mistakes as little reminders that I'm human. The up-side of your error is that now you will double and triple check every med you give!

As a student nurse I gave a patient Tylenol with codeine when the order was for ASA with codeine. However, on her chart it said she was allergic to ASA, and obviously it ended up being better for her than if I had given her the ASA. However, I'll never forget my terror in the situation! My charge nurse really reamed me for it too. You bet I never forgot that and always make sure I gave the right med afterward!

JeanineLPN1984 · Apr 2, 2008

We've all done it, for one reason or another. Early in my career ( I can't even remember the exact incident) I told the charge nurse and she said dont worry. The patient wasn't harmed. I felt so bad- I wrote myself up!

I called the doctor to report it and he said " Why are you calling me?", I still remember that part because I was embarrassed and upset about the mistake. It happens- I had a nurse who was upset because she gave a multivitamin with iron, instead of one with minerals. I assured her our medical director would be okay with it. But I knew how she felt.