how serious?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I made a med error the other day and I'm very upset about it. I've been working at a jail for almost a year and just recently became more comfortable with the hectic pace. I made a mistake misplacing a narc the other night. I know its no excuse but it was a very busy night and I am sick right now also. The patients med was missing when I got to him and the best explanation is I gave it to the wrong inmate. So I had to call my boss, the doctor and wrote a med error report. I'm kind of worried as I made a similar mistake about a month after I started, but did'nt get in trouble that time as I was on my last day of orientation. Then I had another incident having to do with locking the narc container and got wrote up for that. I don't think I'm going to get fired as the boss said no diversion is suspected and I get along with the boss, but she said it could go on my record and not look good, but just try to not make it a pattern. I know there is nothing I can do about it now, but do you guys think it is really serious and I should be worried about this job and future jobs as being on my record. btw, I'm thinking of applying at a hospital as a friend said they may be hiring and that I may have enough experience to finally get into a hospital, but I'm not sure if I would like the more sedate pace as I kind of like staying busy as time goes by quick. But then again, you are much more likely to make mistakes when being rushed...

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Specializes in Cardiac, Hospice, Float pool, Med/Peds.

We are all human and you just need to learn from this... Slow down. Nothing is worth the rush. I will remember each medication error that I have ever made and will not make the same mistake twice... I would apply for the hospital job if you want; you will not know unless you try...

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Specializes in CVICU.

The best advice is to be completely honest about your situation. Admit what you did and take necessary actions to make sure it doesn't happen again. It doesn't make you a bad nurse. I don't think a single one of us on this board has never made a med error or will make never a med error in their lives at sometime. Perhaps you can suggest to your supervisor ways to help prevent this in the future?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Is there one common denominator for these errors? You mention the rushed pace. Is there a reason it is so rushed? Are the inmates trying to rush you? I think you need to see if there is a common denominator that you can change. Good luck.

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Specializes in CVICU.
Is there one common denominator for these errors? You mention the rushed pace. Is there a reason it is so rushed? Are the inmates trying to rush you? I think you need to see if there is a common denominator that you can change. Good luck.

I agree. Does your facility have a formal way to do incident reports? Are they looked at by people who work to identify the scenarios surrounding the errors in the first place?

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Yeah I had to fill out an incident report and I'm sure they will talk to me about it when I go back to work. I will likely get some kind of verbal or written warning and suggestions of how to not make this mistake again.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, , Home health, Education.

I'm thinking of applying at a hospital as a friend said they may be hiring and that I may have enough experience to finally get into a hospital, but I'm not sure if I would like the more sedate pace as I kind of like staying busy as time goes by quick. But then again, you are much more likely to make mistakes when being rushed...

Wow....I had no idea that working at a jail was more hectic than a hospital. Guess I worked in the wrong one. :)

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