Do med errors = bad nurse ?

[Hibbzem17]

Ok let me start by saying that I am NOT an Lpn or rn. I am a cna working in assisted living as a med rp or "medication aide" as I think most people know them.

It was brought To my attention that I had made a couple med errors. Nothing horrible, just failed to pop the colace or something. I try to always count my meds and cards to avoid mistakes. I know everyone makes mistakes and we are human but I feel awful!! I feel inadequate and irresponsible.

I was was just accepted to nursing school at one of the 4 colleges I applied to. So in feeling like I with make a good nurse if I can't even get the meds right.

[llg, PhD, RN]

As you said, everyone makes mistakes. Unless it is a repeated pattern with you and/or you make significantly more errors than most people, I wouldn't let it stand in the way of your career plans. Identify why you have made the errors and learn from these early mistakes so that they don't keep happening.

[loriangel14, RN]

Well if that was the case then we would ALL be bad nurses. Everyone makes mistakes. if you meet a nurse that tells you they have never made a med error they are lying.

[Hibbzem17]

I think there is a lot of pressure. At my work there is no nurse on duty, and the administrator is rarely there on second shift. So I'm the one who has to deal with medical issues, med delivery, etc. even making someone a sandwich if they ask. What I'm trying to say is there's so much to do in so little time. There are always people knocking on the med room door and distracting me. I'm not trying to make excuses, just tryig to figure out if this is what nursing is going to e like. I love the residents and giving care, I dislike feeling rushed all the time and the paperwork though.

[loriangel14, RN]

Yes that is what nursing is like only many days it will be worse.The set up at your job sounds very unsafe considering your lack of training.

[Hibbzem17]

Guess I'm doomed then! Lol

[SleeepyRN]

Please please read the recent article on mistakes. You're having doubts because of Colace? Holy Moly, I wouldn't give that more than 2 soconds of thought. A quick "oops, gotta be more careful, moving on."

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

I think there is a lot of pressure. At my work there is no nurse on duty, and the administrator is rarely there on second shift. So I'm the one who has to deal with medical issues, med delivery, etc. even making someone a sandwich if they ask. What I'm trying to say is there's so much to do in so little time. There are always people knocking on the med room door and distracting me. I'm not trying to make excuses, just tryig to figure out if this is what nursing is going to e like. I love the residents and giving care, I dislike feeling rushed all the time and the paperwork though.

You have no nurse in the building?

[Mn nurse 22]

Assisted living facilities usually have a nurse on call for after hours.

To the OP, can you post a sign on your med room door stating something like, DO NOT DISTURB during medication pass? Even if residents interrupt, try to set boundaries and politely ask them to let you concentrate on the med pass. I would think most residents would understand.

Before starting your med pass try to anticipate some of your resident's needs and get them out of the way before you even get started on the medications. That way you might be able to get most of your meds passed without interruptions.

I wouldn't worry about a couple of missed meds, but use this as an opportunity to make some changes in your med pass so you can reduce interruptions and focus on the task at hand.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. As long as you aren't making the same mistakes over and over or trying to cover them up, you're good.

[Hibbzem17]

And just to be clear, we NEVER ever have a nurse on duty in the building. Just a nurse on call.

The "Medical Manager" isn't a nurse, but she is in nursing school. She works 9-5 Mon-Fri and I guess is considered the person in charge. She was the one who presented the errors to me. She admitted herself that she had made med errors and everyone has done it. She even went as far as saying that nothing in our building can kill a person if they skip a dose or have a double dose. That did make me feel a little better. She said, "Big deal, they missed their Colace so they won't take a sh*t." LOL

She went on to just remind me to be careful and that I wasn't being reprimanded and that it doesn't go in my "file"

I guess I was just looking for a little feedback. Thank you to all that responded. And I did just read the article on misktakes and it made me feel a lot better

[Hibbzem17]

My med room door has a sign "Do not disturb, med pass in progress" To a senile resident, that doesn't always make a difference. Not to mention other CNAs that need to tell me Mr. Smith needs two band-aids please.