Med error help

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Oi :/ made a dumb error and followed order for 1200 mg ibuprofen two hours after anthesia gave toradol! Didn't realize it until nurse I have report to told me but didn't process totally until I got home since I was in the middle of something with another patient . The proper people are aware but I am so sick about it... Can't find studies of people who have taken both but increased risks nonetheless... Help I'm the dumbest nurse ever

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

1200mg? I've never heard of such a high dosage. 800 is the most I've ever heard of.

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600mg with option for another 600 if pain is not well controlled

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What kind of help are you wanting? Other than reassurance that we've all made errors in some form or another, I'd like to encourage you to write an incident report or its equivalent for your facility. You say the proper people area aware, but it is in your best interest to follow the protocol for med mistakes. I'm not sure that there is anything they would do with the patient other than observe closely. This is not a HUGE mistake (relatively speaking) in the scheme of med errors, so for that at least, you can take a deep breath.

I also agree with Klone, it seems like an exceptionally large dose.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Recovery.

I thought the max for ibuprofen was 800 mg. at least it wasn't a cardiac med or BP med.

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I have been a nurse for 17 years and I have seen even the best nurses make errors. You have done exactly what you should have by reporting the error. Usually errors are caused by processes not individual people. Don't beat yourself up too much.

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

If it makes you feel any better I gave an 80-something yr old patient in with bad foot cellulitis 1600mg Motrin one night. Way back before scanned meds and e-MARs, I mistook the second Motrin for something else. NSAIDs are hard on kidneys, but if my 80+ pt's kidneys could handle 1600 of Motrin, your younger patient's (I'm assuming) healthy kidneys will probably be ok too.

I almost crapped my pants when I figured out what I'd done several hours later. On the flipside, when the pt woke up the next morning, he said that that was the best night's sleep he'd gotten in a long time, the visible inflammation was almost gone from his foot, and he felt like a new person. Go figure.

Now, I haven't gone and done that again, but my pt was fine and I bet yours will be too. Don't beat yourself up too much. That is far from the stupidest thing I have seen a nurse (or doctor) do.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

One time I sleepily followed a (half asleep) provider's order to give my prodroming patient 10mg of stadol (5 IM, 5 IV). She MEANT to say nubain.

No harm was done, but clearly I felt terrible and learned from my mistake- the provider is responsible for giving an accurate and appropriate order, but the RN is responsible for verifying before administering.

We all make mistakes-plural. Learn from it, take responsibility, and use the experience to become better at your job.

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