Gave PO contrast too early?

[regerterb]

I am new to emergency nursing (6 weeks) only just a 3rd year nurse. I was given one day orientation but the nurses I am with are super helpful ans i learn lots off them. Tonight I had a pt with abdo pain...ordered a CT of same and Dr wrote up to give him 2x PO sachets of contrast.half hour apart...so i commenced it at 2100 hrs and the next to be at 2130 hrs. The night shift nurse comes on to shift and says we have to wait until xray call to start the sachets and the patients may be booked in later. I felt like an idiot as I didnt know this i just went off the Drs medication order. I told our manager..and his Dr..the dr called xray and they just ordered an extra sachet..as the CT was for 2230..i even called xray to apologise for what I did..they werent too impressed..i obviously know for next time..and previous times I have given it i have done the same thing with no problem...it must have been timed well. My manager said its not an.issue, no report required no harm was done to the patient and they used to give 3 sachets anyway. I just hate this feeli bf of doing something wrong because...you werent told of the policy..i have looked up the contrast before aswell on how to give it. I just thought the dr knew what time the CTs were before writing up the contrast (lesson learnt!)...any reassurance i always blow these things out more than necessary...

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Whoops! Generally PO contrast should be finished at least 45 minutes before CT and longer (2 hours) if highly suspicious of something like appendicitis.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Although OP is taking ownership, this is a great example of a systemic issue.... lack of clarity in the dosage & admin process. The problem has been identified, now hopefully someone will take responsibility for developing a guideline/protocol that will decrease likelihood of it happening again.