Not sure whether to continue my nursing career... Input?

Nurses LPN/LVN

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Background: CNA for 5+ years, graduated August 2011, first LPN job started September 2012 in LTC, day shift. Fired before November due to med error which I cannot get over and bothers me so much to think about. Pt was on hospice and I later found out was transfered to hospital and expired. Investigation followed, went in for questioning one month ago. Now I'm thinking after being in this field for my entire adult career, I should probably just quit and find something else to do. I feel so inadequate, like I wasted my time, energy, and college credits with nursing school. So far, when I check my license online, it is clear. Does it take a long time for actions to happen against a licensure? I'm confused, depressed, and need a job. Where to go from here?

Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.
This is so true. My very first night shift to work I made an insulin mistake. I was absolutely devastated, still not completely over it - that was the end of August. I was blessed with amazing coworkers who understood the anxieties of being a new nurse, thank God the resident wasn't harmed. You just have to pick yourself up & keep going. One of the things my coworkers told me was I'd never make that mistake again & I believe they're right - I always triple check insulin amounts before I give it. Despite our heroic efforts, at the end of the day nurses are still simply humans doing the best we can.
I had an insulin med error too on my first day on the floor working alone. I immediately reported it to the unit manager since she was still there; she gave me instructions on what to do including calling the doctor for orders. I did just that, monitored her blood sugar as the doctor ordered, notified the family, and apologized to the patient who was VERY ALERT. The situation was written up as a med error but, I was never ridiculed by middle or upper nursing management. It definitely was a learning experience. It did make me a little nervous about giving insulin but, it forced me to look directly at the mar at the same time I have my insulin and syringe out, draw it up, and CHECK IT AGAIN before administration. So with that said, dust yourself off and get back to nursing IF its really what you want to do!
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That's pretty much exactly how it happened with me. We get thrown to the wolves, sink or swim!

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Im so touched with your situation, i truely would fast and pray for 3 things, 1. God to show you his favor over this case. 2. God to show you what he want you to do. 3. God to guide and protect you and your license from every evil eyes. And let him make your decisions. Remain strong.

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OP, just look for another job. Everyone makes mistakes and you WILL learn from this.

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Thank you all for your replies, they really help boost my morale. I realize that most nurses make med errors, but I feel mine was major. Although I haven't heard from the BON yet, I have been interviewed by an investigator and my story followed up by a lady at the Department of Health. So I'm thinking some kind of action will be taken against my license? Doesn't that sound likely for an individual in my case? And I still feel terrible for what happened, terrible that I could have such a lapse in judgement, makes me not want to be a nurse anymore, I don't want anybody's life in my hands. @1pinknurse thank you, volunteering isn't something that I thought of, I suppose I could just call up an organization and ask if they accept volunteers? @ agldragonRN well here goes. I was working day shift in LTC, my first job as an LPN. Busy day as I'm sure you know, it was going pretty well since I kind of knew some of the residents (I was a floater and usually had a different group each day/every couple days). This resident was one of my last for the noon pass, it was a new medication that had been ordered recently, liquid morphine. In my haste to finish and start charting I totally fudged up on the dose. Thinking back, I had a tiny inkling that something wasn't quite right but I continued doing what I was doing anyway. Gave the wrong dose (I really am ashamed to admit) and went back to my cart. Picked up the narcotic book to make sure everything had been signed and accounted for. Realized my mistake and informed the DON, then the hospice, then the family. Was fired as soon as my shift was over. I think the hardest part for me is the fact that the pt ended up expiring. I noticed the error about an hour and a half before my shift was over, was monitoring the patient nonstop and he was okay. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if it's just my state, but employers require that we fill out a complete work history, and have to sign at the bottom that it is complete and accurate to the best of our knowledge, blah blah blah. So I've been putting that yes, I did work there, but I would like the prospective employer not to contact them. One thing is, it is pretty difficult to find a job in my area without experience, especially a job outside of LTC, and without much experience. I really don't want a job in LTC, if I can help it, the ratio was horrible and I felt inadequate, especially being on day shift. Sorry if it sounds as if I'm making excuses. Thank you all for your stories, it means a lot that you are willing to share your errors with this internet stranger :)

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Okay -- I was stuck on the fact that the pt was in Hospice but yet still receiving meds (that potentially sent them to the hospital??) until I got to your last post... How can they determine your dose contributed to anything at that late stage??

Also, why wouldn't your facility require a double sign-off for this? Some places require double signature for insulin but not morphine??? And if you were new, why would you continuously have new pt's and be a 'floater'? There's other things that aren't sitting right w/me about this and I can't help but think you were put in a dangerous situation to begin with and think a great deal of onus needs to be placed on your facility! Well of course, I'm just saying from what I see here... Any decent facility would have protocols in place when it comes to morphine...all mine have.

So sorry dear...sorry you feel this way!

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I'm pretty sure it was the dose that contributed to the pt's condition, but as of yet I have no proof. Double sign-offs? The only place I've seen double sign-offs is in the hospital, for insulin, blood, chemo, but not at all at the LTC. The place I was previously employed at has a reputation for high turnover, for years I've heard unfavorable stories from coworkers who had worked there previously. But I really needed a job and this place was the only facility willing to give me a chance to start my career, but of course it was on their terms. I would start out as per diem, work every weekend and any other days that they needed me for (which is not bad, I'm not complaining about that at all), but I would be a floater since only full time positions had a regular group. I was given 5 days of orientation (and absolutely no additional days, as they were not budgeted for that) which consisted of me following a floor nurse who hurriedly tried to familiarize me with the (new to me, and horribly buggy/slow) computer/charting system, give me some experience passing out meds, etc all while trying to make sure that she finished on time (which meant I did a lot of watching while she passed meds and did her job). Suffice it to say, as a brand new nurse and one that hadn't worked in this capacity in over a year (preceptorship), I felt quite overwhelmed. And thank you for your reply :)

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I have to say I agree that it seems like the facility hung u out to dry. When I made my insulin error, every one of my supervisors backed me up bc they knew I was new & had a lot going on. They also praised me for being honest about what happened. I've always been under the impression that morphine was for hospice residents to help them pass in peace with no pain, that sounds like what happened with this resident. It's really sad you're being punished this way, I know no one can be as hard on you as you are on yourself but their punishment only makes it worse.

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We do not have a license to practice medicine Hospice LPN... a license for nursing care big difference...but your message was meaningful.. I encourage her NOT to beat herself up and try to move on...be proactive..find out if it was reported to the BON...then contact the BON...but find an attorney to help you navigagte these waters...I dont have any personal experience with one that helps nurses but I have heard of one if you want to PM me...

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I agree with Mrs Mig...and they could have given NARCAN if they thought it was going to harm the patient.....

The facillity is a LOT more liable than you are in my opinion...they should NEVER have fired you...thanks for sharing...have courage...you will never make that mistake again. We all make them,,if we havent we very well may.

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I have been a hospice LVN (Ca) for 6 years- a big part of the a patients initial admission to hospice is reinforcing that hospice is for comfort and part of that is remaining at home ( or SNF, ALF, etc) and not going to the hospital! We always-at every visit- remind our patients and caregivers not to call 9-1-1, call hospice first so we can make an emergency visit! Is it ok to ask what the actual dosage was and was it PRN or a routine dose? And how often had the patient gotten it? Just curious-morphine is really misunderstood! Lots of families are scared to give it because it "kills people" it does slow respiration for sure, but if a patients been on this for awhile- very highly unlikely to have been the morphine that did it! I wouldn't stress on it too much-don't think the board would even make a big deal about this-sounds like that facility could use some hospice I services though! Keep your head up-soon med passes will be a second nature!?

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Thoughts and prayers to you OP, and I agree with the above poster--hospice care is something completely different--and if you made that much of an error on Morphine, I would question the safety of the dispensing dose--which is the facility's issue. Not to mention that if she went to the hospital, expired some time later--quite a lapse in time, and if she was at the end of her life, who is to say that it was the morphine that did it? Or specifically your dose? I would contact the BON for specifics, and an attorney if your license is at stake. If you were a union employee, your steward.

I would look around at doctor's offices, schools, maybe camps for the summer, even some trade schools or community colleges in your area to teach CNA classes.

Good luck and let us know how it goes.

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