Absolute No-No's

[Drysolong]

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!!!

[P_RN, ADN, RN]

No fair!!!!! LPN vs RN vs LPN vs RN.

This is No-Nos and this is a BIG no no. No fighting, tussling, bonking on the head or such. Just Nursing no-nos please.

[Spacklehead, MSN, NP]

Thanks for catching that, EG, you're correct - I should have put an "and" there and not an "or."

[Blenda]

I have to disagree with your comment that LPN's learn the exact same thing in school as RNs. In the state that I work in, AA trained RN's have 2 years of college and BSN's have 4 years of college, while LPN's have 1 year of college.

[megananne7]

I have to disagree with your comment that LPN's learn the exact same thing in school as RNs. In the state that I work in, AA trained RN's have 2 years of college and BSN's have 4 years of college, while LPN's have 1 year of college.

That is the same here, but the "basics" are taught to LPNs... like.. Taking a BP before giving an HTN med ... or taking an apical before giving Dig is taught.

RN year is basically just more in depth. Like we learned ABGs and such my LPN year, and RN year we learned about ABGs but focused more on determing if they were compensated/uncompensated, etc.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

1. Never sign off on a narcotic waste that you did not see with your own eyes. Classic addicted nurse trick and then you get dragged into the problem. As a new grad, my refusal to sign off on a waste I had not seen led to the uncovering of a massive addicted nurse problem.

I am very very anal about this both in wasting and witnessing. I want someone to watch ME waste something so there's no question later, as well as watch the waster when the shoe's on the other foot. Covers both me and them.

[Nurse Lulu]

Never believe "the patient is always like that." or "that is normal for that pt." If it is abnormal you had better check and re-check and don't buy into what anyone else says about "normal"

Another one learned from a peer in nursing school. Brown syringes are for ORAL meds. She pushed oral nystatin IV and the pt died. CAT

[elizabells, BSN, RN]

I am very very anal about this both in wasting and witnessing. I want someone to watch ME waste something so there's no question later, as well as watch the waster when the shoe's on the other foot. Covers both me and them.

Yes, yes, YES. If a nurse witnesses me in the Pyxis and says "it's okay, I trust you" I will follow her back to her pod like a puppy if I have to, to get her to witness the actual waste. I've already been called into the NM's office for giving "too many" PRNs (uh, they were ordered, and the pt was on ECMO, so...) to screw around with my license.

[Marvie]

That one is ALWAYS a NEVER IN YOUR WILDEST DREAMS action.

Giving Potassum directly into an IV - instant cardiac arrest...not good!

[Drysolong]

Today was the first time I'd had a chance to read responses to my question. This information is SO VERY HELPFUL!!! Thanks to all of you.

[GenXnurse]

Swee2000- Aprilhere was simply saying do not assume. Nothing was said about LPN's not knowing their job. Quite frankly- If I was signing off on an LPN's medications- I would double check too.---> This has been the policy in a few of the facilities where I have worked.

[GenXnurse]

By the way-

Always give protamine very, very, very slowly- when trying to reverse heparin.

AND make sure your patient is on a monitor being watched. I thought I was giving it slowly enough once- then was horrified when my pt. went into an agonal rhythm- luckily she spontaneously regained her rhythm and conciousness. I still feel sick to my stomach thinking about that day. Yikes.

[all4schwa]

haldol doesnt mix with anything