My first med error

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:angrybird3::cry: Disappointed with my self as I made a medication error today my first week as a medication assistant. I have associates of applied science and also my c.n.a and I'm a nursing student.... I gave the wrong med to the wrong patient I openly admitted it shortly after I found out.... I was very upset It took a lot to compose my self! My nurse did the med error procedure step by step and explain to me med error has happened to everyone but that i need to be more careful!!!

Patient is ok but still very down on my self.... Did I mention it's my first week and they just thrown me on the floor and expect me to learn that way???

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

It's my opinion that everyone has made a med-error at some point.

The big issue is that 1) the pt wasn't harmed and 2) you learn from the error.

Adhering to the 5 rights and triple checks are super helpful in preventing med errors.

Sometimes, I'm being rushed in giving meds. When I find this happening, I slow myself down and perform my checks.

Please don't feel so bad. Learn from your experience and move on!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing, Pediatrics.

You can tell them you feel like you need more training..if they aren't willing to orient you to your liking, you have the right to find employment elsewhere.

Sorry this happened, it's a terrible feeling to make a med error but at least the patient isn't harmed!

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First and foremost, mistakes happen. The good thing about this is that the patient has not been harmed however as previous posters have stated, adhering to the 5 rights is extremely important as well as other factors such as avoiding distractions, no rushing and doing the triple checks prior to administration. Also it is good that you learned this now as a student so you will be more cautious when working in the field as a nurse. We all make mistakes and the wise one learns from his to avoid in the future. Pick yourself up and look at the lessons learned in this situation!

Good luck:)

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Did you figure out what you did wrong? Then you have learned something valuable without having to make a devastating error. True, we all have made mistakes and could make another one at any time but we really do try to get it right every time. Learn and move on.

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatry.

Relax and don't be so hard on yourself. Anyone who passes meds on a regular basis who hasn't made a med error is either new or lying. It happens. It doesn't excuse it, but the good thing is that the patient wasn't adversely effected and that you owned up to it. My advice is to learn from it and move on. I guarantee you won't let it happen again. You're new and still learning so give yourself some credit and don't let this shake you. You got this!

FYI: If you feel that you haven't been trained adequately speak up and ask for more.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

You're not the only med tech or nurse to have made a med error. As others are saying, if the patient wasn't harmed, that's a big thing. Secondly, the fact that you feel bad about it is good in the sense that you do want to do it right - I think 99% of us do. All you can do is focus (don't let anyone distract you when you're preparing meds to give to someone), and if you ever have any doubt, check and re-check. I've tossed at least half a dozen syringes with insulin into my sharps because someone distracted me, or I was just momentarily distracted, and I wasn't 100% sure that I'd drawn up the right one.

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Thanks for the encouragement!!!:yeah:

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You can tell them you feel like you need more training..if they aren't willing to orient you to your liking, you have the right to find employment elsewhere.

Sorry this happened, it's a terrible feeling to make a med error but at least the patient isn't harmed!

thing is my trainer is very pushy when it comes to me being slow and she doesn't like it when I'm in control...she seems to be a perfectionist and a control freak... She gives up on me very quickly and I have a time or two walked in on her talking bad about me not only that openly putting me down by saying "I don't know what I'm doing wrong you would think you would get this down in 5 days...." I kinda want to just give up nursing all together I feel too dumb... Maybe I should know by now

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Specializes in ICU, Postpartum, Onc, PACU.
thing is my trainer is very pushy when it comes to me being slow and she doesn't like it when I'm in control...she seems to be a perfectionist and a control freak... She gives up on me very quickly and I have a time or two walked in on her talking bad about me not only that openly putting me down by saying "I don't know what I'm doing wrong you would think you would get this down in 5 days...." I kinda want to just give up nursing all together I feel too dumb... Maybe I should know by now

Sounds like they shouldn't have her orienting new people....

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UPDATE; I had my first day by myself!!!! And I did great!!!! My residents are so proud of me!:)

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