Hiii I am a RN have been a nurse for 8 years. Been traveling since covid. I have been off work for 6 months and just recently took a contract. I usually work days, but this time I took a night shift contract. I had one day of training to get oriented to the floor and started my night shift the next day.
During my med pass, I had to pick up a patient in a rush, staffing was a mess. It was late at this time. I went into the Pyxis, got this patients, meds, and instead of going in the room to scan her, I scanned her badge out on the computer in the hallway. I didn't want to be a bother. I had walked in and gave the wrong patient someone else's meds. My patient was next door. I thought I was in the right room.
After she swallowed them I knew I messed up. I'm so worried and disappointed. I can't believe I didn't just do it the right way. I'm always rushing.
The meds were 100mg of metoprolol, 75 mg of amitriptyline, 5 mg Eliquis and two units of Humalog. BP never went under 90/70
Because we were short staffed and we sent her to the ICU to be monitored. She survived they put her on vasopressor a low dose. She is OK but now I am just worried I'm going to be sent to the Board Of Nursing and my whole life is over. Contract cancel the whole works. Sued, jail everything is going through my head.
I think it's time for me to hand my badge in for good and find a new career because I clearly can't handle this anymore.
Specializes in Emergency Department, Pediatrics, Wound Care, PACU.
bluescoop said:
How did they find out about your mistake? You might not have needed to tell anyone. And this is why I always advise against taking 6 month long vacations because it is hard to get back into the swing of things after being out of work so long.
This is terrible advice. Please don't get on here with BSN, RN behind your name and suggest that a nurse should not report a med error that could result in patient harm. This makes me think you have done it and are dangerous. This advice is horrifying and scares me.
Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.
It's scary that one person described this as a near miss, and another recommends not reporting a potentially life threatening error.
Not reporting it is a huge disservice to a patient. It's extremely dangerous when a patient takes a dive suddenly, and the doctors don't have the knowledge needed to safely bring the patient back to a stable state.
You make a mistake, you own up to it. The patient, and the profession, deserve nothing less.
I just want to say you are not alone. All nurses make mistakes - very few will admit it but we all make mistakes. It comes with being human. Just try to listen to the voice in your head that knows you are intelligent, strong and compassionate. Listen to the voice that kindly reminds you to go slow, do your checks, etc. The other voice - the one saying you shouldn't be a nurse-shut it down.
This is not a near miss. This is a med error big time because of the Eliquis and insulin. An incident report needs to be written and passed on. The error needs to be verbally reprted to whoever you report to.
I'm sorry to hear! glad there was no true injury. vigilance is so important in the menial. never know when a common mistake or huge event could happen. always good to keep that in the back of your mind.
Specializes in EMT since 92, Paramedic since 97, RN and PHRN 2021.
I would just say don't try to hide it. Let the appropriate people who need to know and be upfront. I've noticed if it is something you can learn from this, even though it was obviously a mistake, higher ups tend to work with you instead of against you.
Well it's Monday and I Hope you are doing well after such a tumultuous weekend.(hang in there, this too shall pass). Always always always scan the armband babes (the patient's LOL) , we are always on, working in our minds that entire shift, use those second checks..
Your patient shouldn't be on pressors for long, it's the insulin that made my mouth drop.. but you once you see that they'll be fine, you'll be fine.. You are human, you'll be okay, keep your head up (Big Hugssss)
LubbDubb77, BSN, RN
123 Posts
This is terrible advice. Please don't get on here with BSN, RN behind your name and suggest that a nurse should not report a med error that could result in patient harm. This makes me think you have done it and are dangerous. This advice is horrifying and scares me.
What this nurse did was the right thing to do.