First medication error- I am quitting nursing

Nurses New Nurse

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I had a horrible week at work. I had a prisoner who tried to hit and kick me everytime I tried to touch him to do am assessment. He refused all his care and he called me allsprts of wonderful names for 3 days. Crazy thing about this whole situation is that I was told by risk management that we could not send patient back to jail because he was confused because he didn't know where he was and that if I did anything invasive I could be charged with assault yet he assaulted me for 3 days. And then I made a medication error the week prior that was not caught for 3 days the week before on a patient with PE who did not get his lovenox because pharmacy said they never got the order even though I scanned the order well 3 nurses missed it. But it's my fault because the order was first seen by me and I should have checked more thoroughly. Anyways I'm quitting. I am going back to school to be a vet because I think animals are more civilized and decent than humans.

1. If the prisoner is in that mental state, then he should be in restraint. If he refuses care, then what can you do? Prisoners still have rights. If you know he is physically abusive, then don't touch him anymore. Verbally abusive? Who cares.

2. Pt with PE not getting lovenox is not a medication error. You never even gave the med, how could it be an error?

tolerantgirl, this was not your error alone. It was a SYSTEM error.

Hang. In. There. DO NOT QUIT in a moment of disheartenment.

You are a new nurse and a good person. Don't let your being made the scapegoat on this sway you from nursing.

Specializes in ER, TRAUMA, MED-SURG.

My thought wxactly!! Sue - you and I think a lot alike on so many things, you are so much better at putting them out there for the reader.

Anne, RNC

Specializes in Telemetry Med/Surg.

you are going to make med errors; i gave a guy 1000 carafate when it should have only been 500. You make a med error everytime you reschedule a med beacuse you know it's going to be late. I mean, it happens keep trucking

Specializes in Med-Surg, LTC, Rehab.

Please don't give up nursing with the emotional state you're in. Like others have suggested maybe you should look into another area of nursing or another facility.

I am considering leaving where I work as well for similar reasons that you have stated. There is so much disorganization where I work that it's an error waiting to happen. There are too many particulars to get into, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

I also just had a patient who was mentally unstable, agitated, large and basically let us know that without something to calm him down he might hurt someone. He had also gotten combative with a nurse from the previous shift.

We had tried everything--restraints (which he wiggled out of twice with a 1:1 in the room with him), family in the room, and meds (which wasn't enough for a man his size but the docs were afraid to increase it).

So, basically by the time I handed him off to another nurse he was calm but it is more like the calm before the storm. I'm really afraid for the staff who have to deal with him when he finally decides to go off.

When I go back to work next week I pray that I don't hear that he hurt someone or himself.

Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

Anyone who has been in nursing any length of time and has not made a med error or come close to it is likely a liar or not paying enough attention to notice.

If I had a dollar for every time in my first year I though of quitting, I could have retired at a very young age. But, having come from another career, I can assure you that there are days you will want to quit any job. Take time off to regroup if you need to, or consider another area of nursing if you continue to not enjoy yours. But at least try a few different strategies before you decide it isn't for you. This is challenging and maddening at times, but so many times it is rewarding and worth it.

Their is another important point in protecting yourself legally that has not been mentioned yet. Reporting a medication error yourself, and not trying to cover-up or hide your medication error is of uppermost importance. This not only shows you are dedicated to the best interest of your patient, but it also shows you are accountable-which both would be looked at if the medication error was called into question at a risk management level.

Also, if anyone ever does make a medication error do a CEU in that area. Even though you might already know about this medication, you can never know too much. You can review and advance your knowledge to better insure that you have the best possible chance of not making that same mistake again. This too would also be looked at in a risk management scenario.

Specializes in ER/Trauma.
I had a horrible week at work. I had a prisoner who tried to hit and kick me everytime I tried to touch him to do am assessment. He refused all his care and he called me allsprts of wonderful names for 3 days. Crazy thing about this whole situation is that I was told by risk management that we could not send patient back to jail because he was confused because he didn't know where he was and that if I did anything invasive I could be charged with assault yet he assaulted me for 3 days.
(emphasis mine)

Allow me to call the "BS" card on this one.

What exactly are you going to do that is "invasive" that the patient didn't require? Intubate and sedate?

Since he was confused, how are you going to get him to co-operate and/or sign consent?

Given his aggressive/violent behavior towards staff - demented, delirious or otherwise - restraints would be perfectly in order (chemical or physical). And if the medical situation warranted it (e.g. sepsis/uti), restraining someone to get a cath urine sample is acceptable, per MD orders (for example).

But all "medical" reasons aside, my primary outrage was that risk management decided it was more appropriate to lecture you on "assault through invasive procedure" versus the actual assault you were putting up with! :madface:

Me thinks it's time to look for a different job - economy be damned!

cheers,

Specializes in Med/Surg/Pedi/Tele.

I think your giving up WAY too soon... Nursing is not glamorous by any means. Yes there are more patients that try to abuse you on a daily basis... but the ones who you help make better far outweigh the nut jobs! Don't give up.....:)

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