During report yesterday I was told a pt who came in with N/V was ordered a KCL supplement the previous morning for a K of 2.8. Pt was apparently NPO for a procedure and day shift nurse "selected out" the med (we use computer charting) because pt was NPO. No meds were given when pt came back from procedure *idk if pt was maybe vomiting/refused to take meds after procedure.
Long story short, the error was found by the night shift nurse during chart check and pt was given the KCL supplement at 0400 yesterday morning.. As charge nurse yesterday I wrote up the incident as it is hospital protocol.
Today I get a txt message from the nurse who didnt give the KCL that was ordered. She asked "Why did you write me up?" I told her it was hospital policy and KCL abnormalities can cause cardiac issues. She said she didnt think me doing the incident report was "necessary".
I would've asked her about it before I wrote it up. She didn't forget it, she opted not to give it because the patient was NPO, and she noted it.
In my opinion though, a PRUDENT nurse would question not giving potassium to someone with a potassium of 2.8. I would have called the MD and got the route switched to IV. Seems like she was being lazy.
In my opinion though, a PRUDENT nurse would question not giving potassium to someone with a potassium of 2.8. I would have called the MD and got the route switched to IV. Seems like she was being lazy.
But we don't know that she was lazy. It SEEMS as if she was lazy.
I didnt speak with her prior to writing up the error because she was off the day the error was brought to my attention.
BTW, I oriented this nurse on her last day of orientation as a new LPN. She ended up flipping out over something and ended up leaving the unit (including clocking out) and went home... without letting me know or charge nurse know. I helped save her ass from being canned because the patient she had issues with was instigating and had probably psych d/s.
I would have talked with her first. I would have talked to the nurse that wrote the order and did not clarify it with MD, would have talked with MD. If this is a pattern with this nurse, maybe I would write it up. I dislike writing up fellow nurses, have not done it yet, have written myself up. Other professions do not "write each other up" MD's don't, attorneys don't, I am uncomfortable with management/corporate types having an excuse to go after nursing. In some ways, writing each other up continues the "fear and loathing" in nursing, another way to keep us quiet and well behaved robots. That being said, if pt safety is seriously compromised, there should be a non-punitive measure in place for educational purposes, not blame purposes.
NightNurseRN
116 Posts
In my opinion though, a PRUDENT nurse would question not giving potassium to someone with a potassium of 2.8. I would have called the MD and got the route switched to IV. Seems like she was being lazy.