freaking out

[pinkrose01]

Help!!!

I am a newly graduated RN who's been working for two weeks. Today, I had my first medication error. I administered Tigan (anti-emetic) IV and it should have been administered IM. I reported it to my unit manager and director and also filled out a incident report. Everybody in the floor was very supportive and understanding. However, I feel horrible!! The patient didn't seem to have any effects other than some drowsiness. I am so scared because I don't know how harmful this could be to the pt. I did some research on this topic and there is not a lot of information on IV administration of this medication. I would really appreciate any information about my dilemma.

:imbar:imbar:imbar:sniff::sniff:

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

I would really appreciate any information about my dilemma.

:imbar:imbar:imbar:sniff::sniff:

The patient is fine so first forgive yourself (((((((pinkrose))))))) Use this opportunity to learn an important lesson. What led to the mistake? Did you not read the MAR carefully? Whatever caused the error use that information to learn so you won't ever repeat that mistake again

[medsurgrnco, BSN, RN]

Chalk this up to a learning experience... IM meds seem to be pretty rare. When I have IM meds, I mark the route in red to make it stand out.

[rn-jane]

First of all forgive yourself. The patient is fine and learn as to why you made the mistake and go on.

[emnicams]

Sweetie, if it makes you feel any better, I made this error once as well (only with Geodon, IV instead of IM as ordered). My pt was was fine as well. I too was devastated. It was a learning experience though.. i ALWAYS check route carefully now and I'm very anal about it.

[sissiesmama, ASN, RN]

Pinkrose - Yes, you made a med error, but just think about the things you did right.

You admitted the error, instead of covering it up

You reported it to the proper personnel

You filled out the incident report

You made sure that your pt wasn't injured or have any ill effects

I have made the same type of error, different med, but wrong route. IM vs. IVP. One conference I went to not long after I finished RN school had a speaker that said ask any nurse if they have made a med error, if they say no, they are lying. (I know that's a little exaggerated, that not every nurse makes one, but you get the point.)

My dear, don't feel too bad. You did the most important thing and made sure your patient was OK. That's what counts in my book! You are not long out of school, and we aren't perfect.

Anne, RNC

[becembrie]

Med errors are my biggest fear. I know how awful you feel, but as others have said, you did the right thing by reporting it. You will no doubt never make such an error again. I think as long as I continue to be fearful about making errors, I will remain anal as well. I must check things 5 times before I do anything.

Don't beat yourself up about it. You have learned much and your employer and co-workers sound very supportive.

[Babs0512]

I agree with everyone else, forgive yourself, you are human, you will make mistakes, as we all do.

No harm was done, I know EXACTLY how you feel, but you really need to stop beating yourself up and learn from this error. I bet you won't make this type of error again!

I have made med errors, 7 that I'm aware of in my 16 years as a nurse. All seven were different, I never made the same mistake twice :wink2:

It's not the end of the world, learn and move on.

Pat yourself on the back for being honest and admitting the mistake, following through with the proper reporting, and making sure the patient had no ill effects. BRAVO!!

[snazzy-jazzy, BSN, RN]

Good on you for reporting it and worrying more about your patient than your own butt (for lack of a better word).

[StrwbryblndRN]

MY med error was a little different. It is my only so far. I'm a little over a year of of orientation.

I had a heparin drip pt and completely forgot the ptt draw till the next morning. It never crossed my mind. It couldhave been a horrible outcome but it wan't.

I had a heparin drip last night and I think I checked protocol 3 times to make sure it was right.

Like everyone said, the pt is ok and that is what matters.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I have found that some mistakes I've made.....I'm glad I've made them, because it makes me a better nurse. Better to let this happen with no ill effects and learn a lesson than to let it happen and something serious happen. I made an error in judgement the other night and I'm soooo glad I did. It was a lesson, I don't feel incompetent about it, I just feel I learned from it. We are human! Look at the positive side of this error!! Okay! It's okay!!

[pinkrose01]

I just want to thank everybody for responding to my comment. By the way, I am new to this forum. I knew that I was going to get support from others by commenting but I never knew that it was going to make such a difference in the way that I felt. I am so gad that I joined. Now that I have had a couple of days to reflect on the incident I realized that several factors contributed to the mistake. First of all I'm used to giving medications by IV route and not by IM, I also so unexperienced that I get so preoccupied by the task itself and it's hard for me to think about anything else at that time but getting it done. Never the less, I have learned a good lesson and from now on I will check myself several times before giving any medications.