Accidently took home a patients' insulin!

[iliket0fuu]

So I'm a nursing student and today me and my preceptor gave insulin to two of her patients near change of shift. By the time we were done, the next nurses were already ready to receive report so my preceptor told me that we would put it back in the pyxis later. I don't have access to some meds in pyxis, so I need her to put it back. I put the insulins in my scrub pocket because we aren't supposed to leave medications on the COW. But later we apparently got busy and by the time I knew it, she sent me home telling me I did a good job that day. So you can imagine the disappointment in myself when I go home to empty my pockets and see those two meds /:

I texted her and she said to just bring it back tomorrow since we have a shift. I just feel so bad, like I already failed preceptorship. Has anyone done something similar to this?

[madwife2002, BSN, RN]

My advice would be in the future because there will be a time in the future you will do something like this-drive back to the hospital and return anything you accidentally took home.

I am all for covering my back and that would be my advice to anybody, yeah it sucks having to drive all the way back but it sucks more if you ever get into trouble for anything like that.

[Karou]

Lol I'm not that paranoid about it going on my permanent record. Just my evaluation.... when my school faculty comes for midterm evals. Lol. My preceptor might be like "she's irresponsible".

That's possible. And what will you respond with? By telling them that you understand the severity of your mistake and have came up with a plan to ensure it doesn't happen again. Mistakes happen, you can show you are responsible by owning the mistake, figuring out why it happened, and making changes so it doesn't happen in the future. It's a learning lesson.

[SleeepyRN]

I promise you will laugh about how bad you feel now in a few years.

I once accidently brought home a vial of vancomycin that I took from our emergency box. It turned out the patient had completed the ABT the day before, but someone had forgotten to put a stop date in the MAR, so I thought I was going to have to give it. Put it in my pants cargo pocket to return it after med pass...ended up at home with me. Whoops

Even in the very unlikely ridiculous scenario that you get a write up, no potential employee will know about it.

[DeeAngel]

Of course I have. I also once put a full syringe of Lorazepam in my pocket in an emergency with a combative patients and it somehow got squeezed out all over my uniform with the cap still on. Stuff happens, report it, take responsibility and move on. Keep in mind insulin is not a controlled substance so take your paranoia and use it to be sure you are always careful with handling narcotics. If you ever do the same with a narcotic, call the charge, report what you did and go from there. I have taken a waste home before and I just made sure I wasted it correctly the next day. Pharmacy isn't as concerned about one incident nearly so much as they are concerned about patterns of missing drugs, failure to waste etc.

[dawniepoo]

I had a coworker one time accidentally bring home 3 vials of blood that he meant to send to lab. Oops.

[NurseOnAMotorcycle, ASN, RN]

So what did you do, OP? Did you drive it back?

[Ndy-RN]

I too have gone home with narcotic keys and at that time I didn't drive. I took the bus or taxi to work and that was a very very stressful day. 😁

[ebrooks1013]

I had a coworker one time accidentally bring home 3 vials of blood that he meant to send to lab. Oops.

Guilty! I fussed about someone losing my labs and having to withdraw them, got home and in my lower leg pocket....smh. Guess it was a busy ED night.

[~PedsRN~, BSN, RN]

I work in pediatrics, so more times than not I am using just a portion of a vial that comes out of the pyxis for zofran, toradol, etc. I have taken home so many half full little vials of goodness that have been stuck in a scrub pocket. Of course, those aren't reusable so no one is missing them, but still.

I take home the work phone all the time. Or I walk all the way to the car and realize it's clipped to me somewhere and have to walk all the way back....

[FurBabyMom, MSN, RN]

I will say - MUCH better to be a vial of insulin than something that is controlled (or the PCA keys). I'd own up to it, as a student. I'd suggest that you make it a habit now to start checking your pockets thoroughly before leaving for the day. Make it a habit now so you don't have to learn it as a nurse. I accidentally took the PCA pump keys home with me once (made it halfway home on a 75 mile drive before realizing it).

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

It was insulin. The pharmacy can send a new vial if needed. At least it wasn't something like dilaudid. From now on, get in the habit of checking your pockets before leaving for the day.

[ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP]

I have done it and it wasn't a big deal.