Absolute No-No's

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Hi: I hope to get a lot of input from this question. As experienced nurses, what are some things especially related to medication administration, but anything else, that you would classify in red for a nurse to never, ever do? Also, what have been the consequences of nurses doing these things? Thanks, in advance!!!

Specializes in Cath Lab/Critical Care.
This is not always possible in unit dose situations, where only exactly enough pills for a certain time period have been provided by the pharmacist and there is no pharmacist on duty and no way to get a replacement except to borrow from another patient, which is illegal, I think, or call the pharmacist in from home, which could take quite a while. I agree, it would be nice to be able to get a clean pill but I have see too many times where this is just not feasible. I hate unit dose and long for the days when we had stock bottles available for most meds.

Are you kidding? What a horrible situation! Ewwwwwwwwwwww

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Specializes in Med/surg,orthopedics,emergency room,.

You know, I used to start IVs without gloves,(old school) and although I don't do it anymore, I hit them the majority of the time. Of course, we wouldn't dream of doing that today!!!

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Specializes in CCRN, ICU, ER, MS, WCC, PICC RN.

Yeah and no mixing Digoxin with any other meds, either. Dilute with at least 5ml NS and push slowwwly over 5 whole minutes. This means you sit down on the edge of the bed and get to know one another.

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Specializes in CCRN, ICU, ER, MS, WCC, PICC RN.

:monkeydance:

haldol doesnt mix with anything

Yeah and no mixing Digoxin with any other meds, either. Dilute with at least 5ml NS and push slowwwly over 5 whole minutes. This means you sit down on the edge of the bed and get to know one another.

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Specializes in CCRN, ICU, ER, MS, WCC, PICC RN.

My scrubs are my party clothes. I tell my crew, "Hey, I came here wearing my party clothes, so let's get in that patient's room and party!" Making the team environment more fun is a great way to stay positive while getting stuff done. The patients enjoy this too.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infection Control.
Giving Potassum directly into an IV - instant cardiac arrest...not good!

A fellow NURSE did this to me one time - I was too out of it to be worried about the cardiac arrest part - the agonizing pain when the K hit my vein had me pulling the iv pole over to me and turning it off!!! I guess I really should have reported her - but I had to work with her. Believe me undiluted K hurts (fortunately she was putting it into the bag and not giving it push - eventhough I had to STOP her from doing that one time when I was a RN app - even then I knew more about ER nursing than she did and she had worked there a looooong time. Now I wouldn't keep my mouth shut - I'd report her in an instance - chalk it up to being young the first time and a very sick patient the second time, but if I had reported her instead of just pulling her aside and telling her that's NOT how it's done, maybe she would have done the second (that I knew of) time!

So GREAT TIP!

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Specializes in Cardiac x3 years, PACU x1 year.

never mistake nitropaste for hand lotion.

oh god... nursing school! worst headache ever. made me wish i had forgotten my corgard that day. woooo how do people even stand up with that crap on? :idea:

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Specializes in CVICU, CCU, MICU, SICU, Transplant.

Two unusual no-no's that I remember:

New nurse at a place I worked gave Zantac through a lumbar drain. Was so odd, we didnt even know what to expect from that. Doctor didnt know either. Pharmacy didnt know- contacted the drug company that makes it, and they didnt know!! Fortunately nothing happened to the pt.

Also (same hospital) a nurse was using cleaner that we have to wipe down IV poles/counters/equipment as a douche for female pt's with yeast infections!!!! Can you say.... OUCH ? Needless to say, once the right ppl found out about that, he no longer worked with us

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Believe me undiluted K hurts (fortunately she was putting it into the bag and not giving it push
You're damn lucky. If she was injecting KCl to a hanging IV, it would have been IVP. Back when we used to mix our own IVs, that was drilled into our heads never to inject anything into an IV hanging on a patient; you mix a new bag and discard the old.
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quote=Emmanuel Goldstein;2532606]There are many things you should and shouldn't do when administering medications. But the two most important IMO is to know what you're giving--- not just blindly follow an order, and never ever attempt to cover up an error.

:idea:Always assess your patients before giving meds. Know what is going on with your patient. Think first! Do not be afraid to ask questions. Remember, first do no harm.

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Just like when wasting meds, don't let another nurse cosign for you if s/he is not really paying attention. And do the same when you are cosigning for them.

Before we administer insulin in our department, we have a policy of verifying with another RN who co-signs that you are giving the proper amount by the proper route, etc. Well, as a new nurse I once used a different type of syringe and drew up 10 times the amount of insulin than what was ordered. I showed it to my (more experienced) co-worker, she glanced over and said "okay" but she obviously wasn't paying attention! Luckily, a few seconds later my brain kicked in to gear and I realized what I had done before I administered the insulin. It was regular insulin ordered IVP, so I would have had a big problem on my hands!

Sometimes like with double-checking blood products we just go through the motions without thinking, especially when we are busy and have our own patients to worry about. :bugeyes:

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Specializes in IM/Critical Care/Cardiology.
Hey All! Here are my contributions...

Always assess your patient, not the monitor.

Follow lines and tubing from the pt to the equipment.

Never give something you arent familiar with.

Never feel like you cant ask for help or that your questions are bothersome. ~They very well might keep you from making a fatal mistake.

When doing a procedure for the first time, dont forget your policy and take the most experienced nurse with you.

Never Ignore your gut instinct.

If you make an error, fess up right away so the patient can be treated if necessary.

Cheers, ~Ivanna

Great post. Had an MA ask me to recheck a BP on a pregnant woman. I walked into the room and she was bent over obviously in distress. Listened to heart sounds and heard the biggest rub in my life, BP,P you get the picture. Told the MA I'd get your doctor in here right now, she didn't think she could interupt him. Transported out within 5 mn. Don't be afraid to follow your gut and your patients symptoms or of the doctor!

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