Ethical question...what would you do?

ksrnstudent · Aug 1, 2004

earle58,

The RN on second shift signed the narcotic sheet and so did the pharmacy tech who brought the meds in. I didn't, nor did another RN because we were the only two nurses working that shift.

I know it's a huge medication error, but what is going to happen to me? Is this going to jeapordize my career? Do I need to obtain legal counsel? What should I do? I feel so bad! I was trying to do my best and obviously I didn't.

leslie :-D · Aug 2, 2004

earle58,
The RN on second shift signed the narcotic sheet and so did the pharmacy tech who brought the meds in. I didn't, nor did another RN because we were the only two nurses working that shift.
I know it's a huge medication error, but what is going to happen to me? Is this going to jeapordize my career? Do I need to obtain legal counsel? What should I do? I feel so bad! I was trying to do my best and obviously I didn't.

i'm trying to find out your supervisor was.....was it the rn?

i am not saying that the rn was automatically your supervisor by virtue of license...but were you doing meds under her delegation/supervision?

jaimealmostRN · Aug 2, 2004

So you made a mistake, the other LPN (tylenol person) made a mistake....don't be so hard on others (I agree with buying her a bottle and offering it to her) esp when you are new and don't know as much as you think (and yes I am a student).

leslie :-D · Aug 2, 2004

So you made a mistake, the other LPN (tylenol person) made a mistake....don't be so hard on others (I agree with buying her a bottle and offering it to her) esp when you are new and don't know as much as you think (and yes I am a student).

are you referencing the missing lortab situation?

if so, your response is a bit casual and inappropriate.

this is a serious situation but this poster should not be the only one held accountable.

leslie

jaimealmostRN · Aug 2, 2004

are you referencing the missing lortab situation?
if so, your response is a bit casual and inappropriate.
this is a serious situation but this poster should not be the only one held accountable.
leslie

My point is that I am sick of inexpirenced GNs or nursing students (I am a nursing student) bash expirenced RNs/LPNs. Let me give you an example of what I have heard from fellow students in the past week: "OMG, that nurse is such an idiot (adult MICU RN) she doesn't even know that a pediatric pt is blah blah blah" and so on. If one is new they do not know it all, so bashing someone with expirence for a questionable practice (taking the tylenol) may backfire one you. Obviously tylenol LPN was probably wrong but maybe she's been there for 20yrs and knows something this student does not. We have a lot to learn from our preceptors and more expirenced coworkers. Lets not go reporting them left and right b/c it's not what we were taught in nursing school! I don't not want to personally attack the OP, so I"m not going to say anymore. I am just not understanding this student "holyer (sp) than thou" attitude.....please lets have some faith in those that have been there long before us! (ps. diverting meds is obviously wrong but having a simple one to one with the LPN may have cleared things up quickly-maybe the floor stock was out, maybe her only other choice was to leave the OP alone for the night unless she got some relief). I have never seen this in any other profession and it really upsets me. :uhoh3:

RN92 · Aug 2, 2004

This is why nurses are said to "eat their young". You are obviously getting poor orientation. The state is not hardly going to take your license for one drug error. We all make mistakes at some point or another (we're not perfect). The important thing now, is to own up to your mistake. Write an incident report and talk with your supervisor about why it happened and what could be done to make sure it doesnt happen again. Every error we make - we should learn from. This will make you a better nurse. I bet, from now on, you will always look at the drug name on packages. FYI: whoever signs for the medicines (especially narcotics), should be the one to put them in the cart. These things you will learn along the way. I would be more worried about you if you "DIDNT CARE"..Cheer up, dont be so hard on yourself.

Merlyn · Aug 2, 2004

OK, Kid. You made a mistake but no one died. Next time don't rush. No one is going to strike you dead if you are a little late puting the medications away.

The first duty is to your patients. Oh the RN can yell, jump up and down,wiggle her toes but they can't fire you for not putting meds away stat.

They can get you if the meds aren't given to the patients on time. The Rn freaked because she knew she did the wrong thing by dumping the narcs with the rest of the meds on your cart.

About med errors in general, you are going to make them. Everybody on this board has made one or two. God knows how many I have made during the 34 years that I have been in this crazy business. The thing is to try and minimize the chances of making them. Remember the 5 Rights, there is a sixth R: Relax

Rx

ksrnstudent · Aug 2, 2004

ERslave,

"FYI: whoever signs for the medicines (especially narcotics), should be the one to put them in the cart." What you just said made a light go off for me. When I informed the RN that the narcotic was off, she freaked out about it as much as I did. She angrily stated that she should have done it herself instead of letting me do it. I thought she was just angry...I had no idea that the one who signs should be responsible in putting them up. Wow, does this mean she could get into trouble? I hope not, she's a very nice nurse.

ksrnstudent · Aug 2, 2004

jaimealmostRN,

Your quote: "Obviously tylenol LPN was probably wrong but maybe she's been there for 20yrs and knows something this student does not. We have a lot to learn from our preceptors and more expirenced coworkers." So as inexperienced nurses we should overlook anything the experienced nurse does because they know more? I think not! What about the nurses who intentionally take narcotics for their own drug habits? What about the "Angel of Death" nurse who killed all of those innocent patients? Now, most nurses would NEVER do those things, but there are exceptions to the rule and one never knows who is honest and who is not just by looking at them.

And to correct you, this LPN has been there a little over 2 years, not 20. I haven't been bashing experienced nurses at all. In fact, I know quite a few nurses that have over 30 years of experience that are awesome and I tell them such! The opening question I had is what would other experienced nurses out there do. And to follow with that was a more serious question about a medication error and my license.

Your quote: "ps. diverting meds is obviously wrong but having a simple one to one with the LPN may have cleared things up quickly-maybe the floor stock was out, maybe her only other choice was to leave the OP alone for the night unless she got some relief)." Obviously you didn't read what I said about confronting the LPN nor did you read that stocked Tylenol was not out and she had the choice not once but twice to do the right thing. The stocked tylenol was only two drawers down from the patient's drawer. I considered this an ethical question. I guess I feel a little defensive when someone attacks me and calles me "holier than thou" when all I simply needed was some advice.

The issue at hand isn't about attacking others and name calling, the issue now is about my medication error. Yes I made a mistake, but it won't happen again! It was a huge learning experience for myself. Maybe something said on this board can be a learning experience for you, too!

jaimealmostRN · Aug 2, 2004

"Yes, I made a mistake and it won't happen again" So did that nurse....you both made an error....which one was worse? My point was that you asked if you should report her....should someone report you?

ksrnstudent · Aug 2, 2004

Merlyn,

Thanks! You answered my question I feared most; my license. It's a relief to hear what others have been saying. I like your Sixth Right: Relax. I will remember that!

ksrnstudent · Aug 2, 2004

You are a little thick! She has done it MORE THAN ONCE! My error was a mistake; the other LPN did it intentionally. You don't simply make an error by putting your hand into a patient's drawer, taking out a medication, and popping it into you mouth and do this twice in one week, for God's sake!

My "mistake" has already been reported. An incident report was completed. I really question your safe practices as a nurse!

Just to help you out here, here's the definitions for error and intentional from http://www.dictionary.com:

intentional - Done deliberately; intended

error - An act, assertion, or belief that unintentionally deviates from what is correct, right, or true; The condition of having incorrect or false knowledge;

The act or an instance of deviating from an accepted code of behavior;

A mistake.

I think you're just trolling this site to get into an arguement this evening because you have nothing better to do. With that said, I have nothing more to say to you.