LPN Reprimand listed on National Provider Data Bank

Nurses Professionalism

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Hello,

I have been an LPN for 6 years. I will be graduating from the LPN-RN program in December! in 2014 I inadvertently made a med error by giving a kid Menactra instead of Daptacel. I did not know until a coworker told me when I came in at 0900 the next day. I immediately began to freak out. The person who informed me had worked there for 3 years and I considered her a friend. Well, I considered all of them in the office a friend! I was wrong! This person was responsible for the vaccine count on the previous day and she miscounted. So that is why it was not caught until the next morning. She instructed me to erase the wrong administration and put the correct one to make the right. So, I did. As this is going on the boss is walking around the nurses station demanding answers about the count being off. I was terrified! There was so many people at the nurses station. I surely didn't want to tell her what happened at the nurses station. About 10 minutes later I realized that I would have to tell my boss about the med error. But before I could get to her, she was already heading for me! Long story short....my boss turned me in to the BON and I now have a reprimand on my LPN license. I will soon (hopefully) have an RN license! I have gotten hired at 4 other places since this incident. I was completely honest about the event in my interviews. I got the jobs with no issues. My concern is being listed in the National Provider Data Bank. Does anyone know if that will affect me be able to work in the hospital setting as an RN? I know the hospital setting has more strenuous hiring process. I know that it will be two different licenses but the reprimand will still show in the NPDB. Help....any suggestions?

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Hard to say. Most data bases will give a list of the licenses that one holds/held and any disciplinary action.

You could contact an HR person at a local hospital to ask if there is a policy that they do not hire nurses who have actions on their licenses, or is it a case by case basis?

And it would also depend on what it actually says details wise.

But I would think it could be difficult. I would think about getting an attorney's opinion--I have not a clue the legal ramifications, (and can't per AN TOS) but your more senior nurse asked you to do this...there's lots of what ifs.

I am assuming that no harm came to the child.

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Contacting HR at a local hospital would be a great idea! No harm to the child. He just ended up with an extra dose of the vaccine. I think it would be difficult as well, in a hospital setting. However, if I'm honest maybe they will give me a shot?

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What I find concerning is that you seemed to have thought that editing and falsifying the patient's record was a viable option.

When you applied to these four other jobs did you fully explain this? If not, you really need to think about how tou are going to address the issue in future applications.

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What I find concerning is that you seemed to have thought that editing and falsifying the patient's record was a viable option.

When you applied to these four other jobs did you fully explain this? If not, you really need to think about how tou are going to address the issue in future applications.

The board of nursing has all documents of the events listed. Anyone is able to read them. So, what happened is not a secret. I didn't falsify documents. He did not get the vaccine that I entered (which is why the count was off). So I deleted the wrong entry that I had inadvertently entered the day before. I've addressed this in interviews before. You stated your opinion but failed to answer the question.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

When you make an error in a written document, you do NOT erase the error (nor do you use Wite-Out). You should draw a line through your notation, or if it's initials, draw a circle around your initials, then make a notation that the medication was not given. That's what I've always done when I work with paper documents. You should have followed your facility's policy for documentation.

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And this is why I'm not sure about continuing in the nursing profession. I'm asking for guidance and support. Not criticism and ridicule. Thanks but no thanks! I've been through enough related to this situation. Anyone else with thoughts and opinions that are convicting can keep them to themselves! I will be deleting this. Bad idea!

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When you make an error in a written document, you do NOT erase the error (nor do you use Wite-Out). You should draw a line through your notation, or if it's initials, draw a circle around your initials, then make a notation that the medication was not given. That's what I've always done when I work with paper documents. You should have followed your facility's policy for documentation.

I am completely aware of the med error process. I'm not sure you all understand what I was stating. The immunization registry count has to be correct. In order for me to do that I had to delete what he actually did not get and enter what he actually got...which was the vaccine given in error.

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I understand exactly what you're saying. I think ppl are under the impression that you falsified the PT's med record. I think calling the HR dept of a few hospitals will be a good indicator. I also think the amount of time that will have passed between when the incident occurred and when you'll be applying as a nurse will play significant role. Another important factor will be the amount of time you'd worked as an LPN at the time of the incident. It would look better if it happened when you were just starting out. Good luck!

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I understand exactly what you're saying. I think ppl are under the impression that you falsified the PT's med record. I think calling the HR dept of a few hospitals will be a good indicator. I also think the amount of time that will have passed between when the incident occurred and when you'll be applying as a nurse will play significant role. Another important factor will be the amount of time you'd worked as an LPN at the time of the incident. It would look better if it happened when you were just starting out. Good luck!

You've got the point! Thanks! It will be about 2 years between the incident when I become an RN. I had been an LPN for 4 years when it happened. So, idk if that would look too great. I'm definitely going to reach out to the HR reps! Thanks again!

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

You were not being critiqued...

you do not erase or alter prior docummentation

and make it right...

you draw a single line thru previous documentation. Initial an note not given, error......

? Did you give the wrong vaccine...?

that is a bigger..but I probably thinking reporting to BON, a bit excessive

but...geese I only have 43 years experience as a RN....

when end you do not hear, exactly what you want to hear from experienced nurses, they are not being over critical...rather sharing there tenure of best practice experience...

its probably going to be ok.

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Maybe I missed something....is it standard practice these days to be reported to the BON for every med error? :cyclops:

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