Error and Attitude

I committed this medication error during my first month of training in the hospital. I was assigned in the medical/surgical/pediatric floor of the hospital. We have 38 patients at that time and we're only 4 nurses on duty, dengue hemorrhagic fever was on its peak...so in short, it was a toxic duty. I was assigned at that time to do vital signs and another nurse was assigned to do the medication.

Error and Attitude

There was a new doctor's order for one of our patient which was to incorporate BNC or benutrex c. I was not able to read the doctor's order and was not assigned to do the medication. The nurse assigned to it, prepared the medication and asked me to give it to the patient without any instruction, she just said give it to the patient. I was looking for the medication card and she said there's none for such order. So without hesitation, I gave the medication but I gave it via IV push. The patient reacted when the medication hit her vein because she said it hurt a little so when I returned to the nurse station, I told my head nurse, "The patient got hurt a little when I gave the meds" so she asked why. I said "I IV pushed the meds" and it all started there.

My headnurse called up the Supervisor to report the incident. hen I was so nervous that something bad might happen to the patient since I gave it incorrectly. So what I did was to monitor her every 15 minutes to make sure nothing bad happened to the patient and even checked if she's developing allergies although it was given after negative skin test reading. I got so worried during the entire shift and I asked myself, why did I do that...I promised myself to never ever give medication that I did not prepare. I took accountability for that mistake and even volunteered that I will make an incident report.

The hospital that I work with is a small tertiary hospital with only a few employees, so rumor spreaded so fast that this new nurse made an error. I was not aware that there was a young nurse who's working in the hospital longer than me, who were irritated the way I speak...in short, she dislikes me because I'm too feminine and she even quoted me as their "favorite" in their unit, in a sarcastic way. I was thinking, what made her to dislike me since I was not able to work with her during shifts. She was in night shift and I was in the morning shift. She does not know how I do my work and on how I treat other people..She does not know me so well for them to judge me. She said negative things about me, she even gave me a name "BNC". She even told new nurses about my error with my name in the story then they made fun of it, making me an like a stupid nurse. I've been hearing those things, it hurts, it lowered my self-esteem and even felt so demoralized but I let things roll off my back.

Just a few weeks ago (I've been working in the hospital for almost a year now) I heard negative things from her again, she wanted to hit me in the face because she got irritated the way I look at her. I said to myself, I don't do anything bad to her, she does not even know me and i don't deserve what she's doing to me, I have to stand up for myself. I've been keeping my patience for months and this time she went overboard. I went to their nurse station and confronted her, I can say I made a scene out there. It was not my intention, but this nurse told me that I was rude so the conversation ended up with loud voices.

After the incident, this nurse that I confronted talked to our Supervisor about it, I voluntarily made my incident report to explain my side about it, why I got mad. We ended up having a resolution with our Nursing Service Director. I told her everything, the nurse I confronted had the guts to deny it, she even told the director that she does not know why I was angry at her. But when I voiced out what's inside me, she was caught because she told the Director that she was not the only one laughing but everybody. The director told her that medication error is not a laughing matter but a delicate issue because it can be fatal. In front of the Director, we reconciled but I know outside the director's office I know, hatred was in her heart. Confronting that nurse is something that I am not proud of but I really have to stand up for myself. I may be tagged that I have temper but if I did nothing it will haunt me. I should have done that in a professional manner.

Lesson learned: If someone committed an error, it does not mean that for the rest of her life she will make mistake. It's the way of learning. Do not judge the person based on first impression. You don't have to like the person personally for you to be able to get along with at work. There is an overwhelming evidence that the higher the level of self-esteem, the more likely one will be to treat others with respect,

kindness, and generosity.

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iluvicu

About iluvicu

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Nice article :) It reminds me of my clinical instructor. She always tells us to never accept orders to give medications that you did not prepare.

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Specializes in GERIATRICS, MEDICAL SURGICAL,ICU.

thanks for sharing.. it remind me of my co worker....and im happy what i told her after the incident..

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Specializes in Surgical, orthopedics, skilled care.

I am sorry that you have had to deal, not only with the stress of learning a new job, but with an unsupportive and critical staff as well. Several years ago, I had an experience with a nurse, who, although we worked opposite days, began to say hateful things about me to other staff members. Since I didn't even know her, this was very upsetting. She even got to the point where she stated to the other nurses that she wanted to hit me in the face.

Looking back, I would say that legally I was the victim of harrassment. No person should have to hear of threats to their physical self at the work place. Did anyone else (besides you) hear this demoralizing nurse speak of thoughts of physical violence towards you?

I think I would consider filing a grievance against that nurse with human resources, and also investigate more fully if her behavior, would indeed, legally be considered harrassment. (I would investigate this on my own- not asking your place of employment if it was harrassment... they may try to minimize it if you are unsure yourself).

I hope everything works out for you. We have all made mistakes. They are humbling, but you took the right steps when you realized what you had done, and you learned from it. That's a lot of what makes a good nurse in the long run.

I hope things soon become less stressful for you at work. It adds a lot of pressure when the people you work with are so critical.

Blessings,

White Shoes

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Yes, one of my co-nurses heard that she really wanted to hit me in the face. It seems that my aura kinda irritates her so well. For now, since, we already had the meeting with our Nursing Director, I will let things roll off my back. I am hoping that I will not hear anything negative from that person again. I just put that person in her place. I am happy with the unit I am assigned and my colleagues are nice and kind. Thank you so much for your replies. It kinda felt good to know your feedback. God bless everyone!:wink2:

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I am sorry you had to go through that. We all made at least one mistake at the start of our career. It is scary. To have someone bring it up a year later, and talk about you behind your back to others, is what some have termed horizontal violence. It's bullying, and our profession is rife with it. You did the right thing. You confronted her. Bullies typically only respond to a show of strength. Hang in there! As you've seen already, not all your co-workers will be bullies. Many of them will be supportive to a green nurse. :wink2:

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This is a good example of.."nurses eat their young?" I'm sorry that you had to go through all this BUT think about what this experience has done for you positively. By confronting the situation others now know that you are not going tolerate this type of tx. Personally speaking, I look back at times when I was treated badly by other nurses and I can say that it has made me stronger and more experienced when the next time comes around. Not only do we advocate for our patients but also ourselves. It is OK to stand up for yourself (away from nsg station with supervisor present). And if any more occurances I would document it.

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Specializes in GERIATRICS.

Medical errors are something all of us have to be concerned with and this is why it's a required CEU and must be taken q 2 yrs for new info. This person that calls herself a nurse is lacking in many respects and I'm sorry that you had to be the brunt of what is most likely her own miserable personality. See, I too am a new nurse and during my student clinical days I was rudely awakened to the many nurses who are on ego trips. Nursing does not have room for egos like this. We are there to serve the public who need us to do our jobs and not behave like fifth grade girls who are trying to find a place among their peers. When we are adults who have worked hard to get through nursing school you would think we have learned compassion and empathy for others before getting down to the business of studying and taking responsibility once we become a nurse. I have discovered that many adults have never grown up past that fifth grade level and with that being said....this nurse has no business being a nurse with her attitude and childish behavior. Ignore her because she is not worth your valuable time worrying about her rude and ingorant behavior nor are the nurses who are in her little arena with her. I would bet she too has made at least one error and as well as each and every one those who were encouraging her bullying....they are afraid to stand up to her but you did and I say good for you. She may become worse before she gets any better so if I were you....I would give the supervisor or director of nursing a heads up to be ready for anything this poor excuse for a nurse has up her sleeve in the future. That way, she will be ready for her and hopefully she is a professional who will let her know that this nonsense is grounds for firing her. You just continue to do your job and do it well. From what it sounds like to me....she is trying to interfere with your work .... don't let her. Stick with the professional nurses who encourage you...they are the ones you want to model yourself after to become the best that you can be. The bully is someone who will only try to impede that. She needs a good talking to by the DON in my opinion...someone besides yourself to step in just like they would with a fifth grade child. Otherwise, she will continue to do what she does and it's the administration's place to stop her in her tracks. If they do not do this.....I have to agree with the suggestion another person made that you may need to pursue this further legally and outside of the establishment. Good luck to you and believe in yourself.....you care about your work and your patients.

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See, I too am a new nurse and during my student clinical days I was rudely awakened to the many nurses who are on ego trips. Nursing does not have room for egos like this. We are there to serve the public who need us to do our jobs and not behave like fifth grade girls who are trying to find a place among their peers. I have discovered that many adults have never grown up past that fifth grade level ....Ignore her because she is not worth your valuable time.

:yeah: :bow:

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Specializes in M/S, ER, ICU, Acute Rehab,.

At least something was done about it. At the place I work, if you go to the DON about anything, they go to the person that you complained about and tell that person, using your name, what you said and exactly what they should do about it..... Usually something in retalliation. Then when you complain to the Administraor, they just say "See the DON about your nursing issues, that isn't my problem." In this area, nursing jobs are difficult to come by lately with the economy and such..... I so wish there was some support at our facilty.....:banghead:

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Specializes in geriatrics, telemetry, ICU, admin.

The quality of nursing care is directly related to job satisfaction, which, in large part, is dependent on relationships with coworkers. If administration really cared about the quality of nursing care they provide, they would have several avenues for reconciliation and proactively building relationships.

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I loved your story, i made an error as well, now I feel judged by everyone on my floor. your attitude and how you confronted that nurse spoke volumes to me, thank you for your story

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