My son is 8 years old. He had a well-child check up Friday. NP said he's due for varrivax booster and they also recommend Hep A. I had never heard of Hep A for kids. She said that it's not a new vaccination, but they've only been giving it to kids for about a month. Ok, I'll think about it. She says thats fine, she'll give me the paper work.
In walks nurse/med assistant (not sure title). She's giong to do finger poke and what I think is varivax. She was very rude from the very beginning of the appointment. Anyhow, she just grabs his finger and pokes, doesnt even give a chance to explain this to my son are ask him if he's ready. Poke! Just does it. I know he's 8 and won't say he ready, but come on a little warning would have been nice for both of us. Then she asks him where he wants his shot. "Will you hold still like a big boy and take it in the arm like the big boys do, or do we have to use your leg like the babies" I interrupted her and said that the leg would be better because the muscle is bigger and it won't be as tender afterward. So I get him ready and as I'm distracting him she pops in the shot, again no warning to either one of us. I did not see her give the shot, but then I see her put 2 bandaids on, one on each leg. Ok, whats going on. I ask her to give me a copy of what she just gave him. Sure as heck, she gave him the Hep A also. I brought this to her attention and she says, well she wrote for me to give both, I gave you the sheets, and there's really no harm. Sorry. Then walks away. I told the receptionist Sorry just isnt' good enough. I then talk to the NP who says she did not order for the Hep A only the varrivax, but that on the education she circled both varrivax and Hep A so I could look at the info. The person who gave the shot comes back over and says, well I can't take it back, and it's actually a good thing.
Yes, maybe this is a little mistake and no harm was done. But she didn't even own her mistake. She wouldn't have told anyone if I wouldn't have brought it up. I was told to call the office manager on Monday to speak to them. All I want is just an acknowledgement that it was a mistake. This lady was in a big rush since the beginning of his appt. And quite rude for being in peds office. What if it would have been something else.
I am not overreacting, am I? Now, he has a huge (larger than 50 cent piece red swollen area that is slightly warm on one leg. I don't even know which one went into which leg. I'm sure thats normal.
Specializes in Peds Urology,primary care, hem/onc.
I used to work in a Primary Care office and I am absolutely appalled for you! You NEVER do anything that causes pain to a child without warning them first. Even if it is "just" a finger prick. As far as the vaccines, at my old office a parent had to sign for each vaccine and give consent. I would go through each one and have the parent sign PRIOR to giving anything to make sure they knew what I was giving. I think that is mandate by law, but you would have to look into that. As far as where she gave the shots, I do pefer giving them in the arms at that age, but I always gave the parents the option and it did not ever have anything to do with the child being "a baby" or not. In my old office, that behavior would not be tolerated. I am not sure how much a role the NP had in the situation but whoever it was that gave the shots needs to be reprimanded. There is no excuse for her not to introduce herself to you either. Let us know how it goes!
I'm not sure how to ask this without sounding harsh, but how did you not notice her giving two shots? Or preparing both legs for injections?
I believe the OP was expecting her son to receive the Varivax vaccination, not the Hep A. The Hep A was given anyway. Her son would have probably had his pants down in anticipation of receiving only one shot. Not two. The OP did not see the administration of the vaccine because she was busy trying to hold her son for the administration. The Hep A vaccine is what is in question. It was given without mom's consent. I believe that's what the OP was questioning. This is my understanding of the OP's posts.:wink2:
get her!! for all our sakes and for the sake of all our kids!
she was wrong from start to finish. this person, if she is a nurse, will tarnish our reputation in general. she will jeopardize the healthcare system. and we dont want that. who knows what shell do next time.
Beside you being totally justified for being upset that they would give something to your son that you did not give consent and did not want, you very clearly have a lawsuit here.
get her!! for all our sakes and for the sake of all our kids!
she was wrong from start to finish. this person, if she is a nurse, will tarnish our reputation in general. she will jeopardize the healthcare system. and we dont want that. who knows what shell do next time.
What happened was a result of a systems problem, and not necessarily the tech/aide. I blame the NP and the MDs and whomever devised their system for administering medications. They're taking short cuts and have a pretty poor system for ordering medications where errors could easily happen. Sure the aide was rude (probably because she was overworked or asked to do something she was unqualified to do - ie. give immunizations), but your discontent should be directed to the decision-makers who decided to use an unqualified health care provider and use a system where someone could easily misinterpret an order.
And lawsuits? I think actually injury needs to occur to have a viable lawsuit. We already have too many lawsuits - don't think this justifies one unless your son required further medical care due to their negligence.
What happened was a result of a systems problem, and not necessarily the tech/aide. I blame the NP and the MDs and whomever devised their system for administering medications. They're taking short cuts and have a pretty poor system for ordering medications where errors could easily happen. Sure the aide was rude (probably because she was overworked or asked to do something she was unqualified to do - ie. give immunizations), but your discontent should be directed to the decision-makers who decided to use an unqualified health care provider and use a system where someone could easily misinterpret an order.
And lawsuits? I think actually injury needs to occur to have a viable lawsuit. We already have too many lawsuits - don't think this justifies one unless your son required further medical care due to their negligence.
just an FYI...(In Arizona) MAs can give immunizations, albuterol SVNs, and do TB skin tests...Their providers (MD, PA, NP) are responsible for their certs.
Sure the aide was rude (probably because she was overworked or asked to do something she was unqualified to do - ie. give immunizations), but your discontent should be directed to the decision-makers who decided to use an unqualified health care provider and use a system where someone could easily misinterpret an order.
I'll keep this in mind next time I have the shift from ****. If we are short staffed or everyone is on their call light or everyone is puking and pooping and I am feeling overworked, it is OK to be rude to our residents...maybe I can be rude to their families and staff too.
I see your point that people get stressed when they are "overworked," but there is no reason to be rude...when things get crazy, you need to take a deep breath and smile like you mean it...and when things are really bad, you need to work at making a point of being nice...it's too easy to get sucked in to the "I am having a bad day, so I am going to make your day bad too" game.
What happened was a result of a systems problem, and not necessarily the tech/aide. I blame the NP and the MDs and whomever devised their system for administering medications. They're taking short cuts and have a pretty poor system for ordering medications where errors could easily happen. Sure the aide was rude (probably because she was overworked or asked to do something she was unqualified to do - ie. give immunizations), but your discontent should be directed to the decision-makers who decided to use an unqualified health care provider and use a system where someone could easily misinterpret an order.
And lawsuits? I think actually injury needs to occur to have a viable lawsuit. We already have too many lawsuits - don't think this justifies one unless your son required further medical care due to their negligence.
I don't think the OP mentioned anything about a lawsuit. I think she was asking for opinions on how to deal with this situation. Yes, it is true, that an MD or NP is responsible for the MA's med error. But, we still don't know if it was a MA or a licensed nurse. And yes, it does sound like they have a faulty system that they use in their practice. As far as the person being rude because she's overwoked etc. Hogwash!!That doesn't give her the right to be rude. We all have bad days and still manage to give other human beings the respect that they rightfully deserve.
Beside you being totally justified for being upset that they would give something to your son that you did not give consent and did not want, you very clearly have a lawsuit here.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
Oh dear! I am very sorry this happened to you, and I had the same thing happen to me and my son! I wonder what it is that is missing in the checks and balances system that needs to be addressed!
My son was getting his shots, and I voted NOT to give him the Chicken Pox vaccine (he was still very very young).
My reason was simple, with the chicken pox...you get it and you know it is done, but with the vaccine...what if it doesn't work, or you need boosters, or a batch is bad...etc. I felt he was young and healthy and able to have it under my care and I could be assured it wouldnt' be a probelm later in his life...
The nurse came in, didn't really speak much...gave the shot...and I was like "whoaaaaaahhhhhh what did you just give????". I was so mad!
But alas...I have told my son to keep up on info regarding the vaccine, and I continue to check it out. We also have his MD informed (new one).
That just made me so mad...they needed my signed concent for this...and they did it without it and a verbal declination! Uhggggggg...but oh well what can you do...
rnsrgr8t
395 Posts
I used to work in a Primary Care office and I am absolutely appalled for you! You NEVER do anything that causes pain to a child without warning them first. Even if it is "just" a finger prick. As far as the vaccines, at my old office a parent had to sign for each vaccine and give consent. I would go through each one and have the parent sign PRIOR to giving anything to make sure they knew what I was giving. I think that is mandate by law, but you would have to look into that. As far as where she gave the shots, I do pefer giving them in the arms at that age, but I always gave the parents the option and it did not ever have anything to do with the child being "a baby" or not. In my old office, that behavior would not be tolerated. I am not sure how much a role the NP had in the situation but whoever it was that gave the shots needs to be reprimanded. There is no excuse for her not to introduce herself to you either. Let us know how it goes!