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fellow nurse, small error...what to do?



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Jan 24, 2009 04:15 AM

fellow nurse, small error...what to do?

by BigMar

Today at work, i was assessing a pt's skin and noticed an approx 3-4cm bruise with raised, palpable hematoma at her deltoid. I asked, "what happened here?" and she said, "the other nurse gave me that really painful shot for my diarrhea right there." This pt is on SQ, SUBQ!!! sandostatitin for a high-output fistula q8h. From what I inferred, the "other nurse" had given this med IM. It is very clearly, and has always been, ordered as a subq medication (and is never given IM, as far as I know). If I assume correctly, and I recognize that assuming is a bad thing, this is a med error--WRONG ROUTE.

My dilemma is this: Should I address this with my fellow RN directly, or write up a med error report that will involve the DON and powers-that-be and become part of the pt's medical record? I am sure this caused minimal harm to the pt and hopefully the hematoma will resolve without complication. The pt also, technically, received this medication, although the absorption may be different... arghhh. The nurse is very sweet and I don't doubt her safety, in general. I also don't want to bring it up to other nurses on the floor for fear of being gossippy or undermining...
Any suggestions would be appreciated.


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27 Comments
No. 1
from sunidol
Old Jan 24, 2009, 04:37 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
Unless you %100 *know * she gave it IM I don't think you should do anything other than possibly ask her... Ask her if she gave it IM or mention to her that it is admin subq-

Teri
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No. 2
from BigMar
Old Jan 24, 2009, 04:44 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
yeah, i guess asking her what happened would be the next step. i just don't want to seem like a know it all and i don't want to step on her toes. she has many, many years more experience that i.
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No. 3
from judeamaria
Old Jan 24, 2009, 07:04 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
I think it's better if you inform your unit manager and she'll take over from there.
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No. 4
from Pepperlady
Old Jan 24, 2009, 08:04 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
Originally Posted by BigMar View Post
yeah, i guess asking her what happened would be the next step. i just don't want to seem like a know it all and i don't want to step on her toes. she has many, many years more experience that i.
Goodness, you don't even know what happened but you want to take it to the nurse manager?? I say ask her about it and then mention that it is a subcutaneous injection and not IM.

I don't understand the mentality of reporting every little thing to the nurse manager and writing fellow nurses up. I do understand the mentality of pulling a fellow nurse aside and in a non-threatening manner telling her.
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No. 5
from Tweety
Old Jan 24, 2009, 08:15 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
Good question.

When these kinds of things come up, I alway think of the worst case scnerio. What if the bruise turned a little necroctic, an abcess formed and things deteriorated from there. He's going to remember a nurse gave him the injection in his arm and perhaps remember telling you.

Any kind of abnormallity or change in condition must be reported somehow. I know you want to be the "nice nurse" and not "rock the boat" or be a tattle tale, but you also want to cover your butt.

I know this sounds rather like I'm being a drama queen and paranoid. But 17 years of nursing a few lawsuits and a few depositions later have taught me one thing, and it's mantra of nurses everywhere "cover your butt".
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No. 6
from Whispera
Old Jan 24, 2009, 08:15 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
I think you should mention it to your fellow nurse. It's a patient comfort thing and also a med error if true. You're being patient advocate if you mention it.
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No. 7
from CathyLew
Old Jan 24, 2009, 08:30 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
I wouldnt' go to the nurse manager. A SQ injection can leave a bruise as well. Its not 100% indication that the shot was given IM. You don't know what size needle she used. You could always print off the drug instructions and leave them with the MAR.
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No. 8
from Whispera
Old Jan 24, 2009, 08:42 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
Deltoid isn't the usual site for a SQ injection. I think the med WAS probably given IM. If you suspect this, you have to do something, but speaking with the other nurse is going to the source rather than hitting her with a sledgehammer (which reporting to the manager would be). If you were absolutely certain, you'd need to do an incident report and or med error report (whichever your agency uses). Just because you do one of those doesn't mean the other nurse is confronted or yelled at or fired. It just informs the boss and leaves it in his or her hands to followup. Not reporting an error you're certain of doesn't keep the patients safe. If someone does some things once, he or she might do them again. Maybe the nurse in question doens't understand SQ or realize the med in question is SQ?
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No. 9
from MS._Jen_RN
Old Jan 24, 2009, 09:20 AM

Default Re: fellow nurse, small error...what to do?
I've seen more than one truly subcut injection leave a hematoma/ecchymosis. The only thing that would lead me to thnk it might have been IM is the location. I'd ask the other nurse about it. You can give subcut in the back of the arm as well.
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