I am a wreck, and feeling pretty wretched. I'm in my last week of a job in an outpatient clinic, administering injectable meds (doing other things too, but this is what I screwed up on.) My first error, two patients of the same name, gave one a shot she didn't need (but luckily didn't hurt her.) Second error, gave an allergy patient the wrong mix- someone else's- and luckily no harm was done. I am so thankful neither error had a negative impact on the patient's health, or I would be beating my head against the wall right now. I offered my manager to cancel my remaining 2-3 shifts, but she declined and said I need to learn from the experience. I'm glad she has faith in me.
My upcoming job does NOT involve administering meds, it's mostly patient education with a little phone triage. This is somewhat of a relief- but I do have a few shifts left at the old job.
Is my license at risk? I have terrible visions of being sanctioned, or losing my license altogether. I looked up the WA state nursing sanction guidelines... you can be sanctioned for even one med error. I so love nursing, I have no clue what I would do.
I have put a plan into place for my next shift, with the help of nurse and QA friends, to make sure I am religiously sticking to the "5 rights", am arranging to have another RN check my allergy shot setup before I give them, and I also am taking 3 CEUs in safe medication administration before my next shift. I don't know what else to do. I'm so worried and upset and feeling like an awful nurse, I've been crying for days.
Does anyone have any thoughts? Please be constructive, you don't need to tell me how terrible this could have been, or how terrible I have been, I've been telling myself for days.
I think this is the first time I've read where the manager was supportive. I am glad that she is making you work the final shifts. She wants you to work through this and not get scared off. She is a good manager. You will learn from this in a positive way. Calm down.
I am a wreck, and feeling pretty wretched. I'm in my last week of a job in an outpatient clinic, administering injectable meds (doing other things too, but this is what I screwed up on.) My first error, two patients of the same name, gave one a shot she didn't need (but luckily didn't hurt her.) Second error, gave an allergy patient the wrong mix- someone else's- and luckily no harm was done. I am so thankful neither error had a negative impact on the patient's health, or I would be beating my head against the wall right now. I offered my manager to cancel my remaining 2-3 shifts, but she declined and said I need to learn from the experience. I'm glad she has faith in me.
My upcoming job does NOT involve administering meds, it's mostly patient education with a little phone triage. This is somewhat of a relief- but I do have a few shifts left at the old job.
Is my license at risk? I have terrible visions of being sanctioned, or losing my license altogether. I looked up the WA state nursing sanction guidelines... you can be sanctioned for even one med error. I so love nursing, I have no clue what I would do.
I have put a plan into place for my next shift, with the help of nurse and QA friends, to make sure I am religiously sticking to the "5 rights", am arranging to have another RN check my allergy shot setup before I give them, and I also am taking 3 CEUs in safe medication administration before my next shift. I don't know what else to do. I'm so worried and upset and feeling like an awful nurse, I've been crying for days.
Does anyone have any thoughts? Please be constructive, you don't need to tell me how terrible this could have been, or how terrible I have been, I've been telling myself for days.
caliotter3
38,333 Posts
I think this is the first time I've read where the manager was supportive. I am glad that she is making you work the final shifts. She wants you to work through this and not get scared off. She is a good manager. You will learn from this in a positive way. Calm down.