Oops, sorry! Son got wrong vaccination

Nurses General Nursing

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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.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
I am really dumbfounded that anyone would take this lightly. I dont think everyone is ready to hang her , but I think the majority here want more than a couple of words to the office manager.

There were a few cries of "assault!" "lawsuit!".....etc. So I'm not quite so dumbfounded, and I don't think they mean to take it "lightly" either, although I can see how you're interpreting it that way. Sure this poster doesn't mean to advise just ignoring it.

Being the lone ranger opinion on a thread isn't easy always to get your point across. Been there and done that.

You are not overreacting. The longer I live, the more sick I am of people being rude. Courtesy goes a long way in pacifying and satisfying people.

It is not too much to ask from someone who is shooting up your child. She seems to have been poorly taught.

When my baby was born, I told them no silver drops in his eyes. I don't have GC, plus, it was a C Section. Darn if they didn't put in those blasted silver drops, violating my written instructions/release of responsibility. I should have sued. So should you.

Specializes in Surgical, Peds, UM.

I think we all agree that something wrong happened here - the 'nurse' was rude and did not follow basic standards of practice in medication administration - she should be reprimanded about her attitude and given remedial teaching about med administration - yes, I believe OP should follow up on this and make sure it is not just "overlooked" (I worked as a RN in a Peds office, often things do get "overlooked") However - to SUE???? Come on people, our society is very "sue happy" and I think it's getting rediculous. No wonder malpractice is skyrocketing and doctors are getting forced out of the profession - do we really want that to extend to nursing as well? Now if there was intentional harm or GROSS negligence involved causing harm to the patient, it may be different but the fact is, a non-harmful mistake was made (and yes I know, there could have been an allergy etc. but that is not so in this case!) and whether the 'nurse' was rude about it or the most apologetic person in the world, she doesn't deserve to be sued over it, nor does the doctor/NP involved. There are other ways to get the point across that this was not an acceptable standard of practice. There, I'm done ranting :)

Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.
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.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

Nope, you're not. Maybe your local BON needs to get involved...at least to find out why she is behaving so unprofessionally in not accepting accountability for the fact that she committed a med error...which sounds like a violation of the Standards of Practice of the Nurse Practice Act.

hotshot05 ~ I see you lurking a lot, but no updates.....what did they say at your meeting?

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
Nope, you're not. Maybe your local BON needs to get involved...at least to find out why she is behaving so unprofessionally in not accepting accountability for the fact that she committed a med error...which sounds like a violation of the Standards of Practice of the Nurse Practice Act.

Report someone to the BON for a med error or for being rude? Come on! If she was an MA posing as a nurse, yes, that should be reported, because it's a violation. Every quarter I get a newsletter from the BON listing disciplinary actions, including those taken against people misrepresenting themselves as nurses.

Specializes in Day Surgery/Infusion/ED.
hotshot05 ~ I see you lurking a lot, but no updates.....what did they say at your meeting?

I suppose when she has something new to report, she will. No need to tell everyone she's "lurking."

Specializes in ICU, HIV, Peds (last 30 Yrs<;o).
I think we all agree that something wrong happened here - the 'nurse' was rude and did not follow basic standards of practice in medication administration - she should be reprimanded about her attitude and given remedial teaching about med administration - yes, I believe OP should follow up on this and make sure it is not just "overlooked" (I worked as a RN in a Peds office, often things do get "overlooked") However - to SUE???? Come on people, our society is very "sue happy" and I think it's getting rediculous. No wonder malpractice is skyrocketing and doctors are getting forced out of the profession - do we really want that to extend to nursing as well? Now if there was intentional harm or GROSS negligence involved causing harm to the patient, it may be different but the fact is, a non-harmful mistake was made (and yes I know, there could have been an allergy etc. but that is not so in this case!) and whether the 'nurse' was rude about it or the most apologetic person in the world, she doesn't deserve to be sued over it, nor does the doctor/NP involved. There are other ways to get the point across that this was not an acceptable standard of practice. There, I'm done ranting :)

:yeahthat: The rudeness should definitely be dealt with, along with the series of errors (I suspect) that occurred in the communication between what the NP wrote/intended and what the nurse interpreted it to mean. Doesn't sound like to me it was an intentional "This is good for you so I'm going to give it whether you want it or not" situation. As a manager, I would (and have, in similar situations) met with the mom, apologized profusely (along with the now VERY CONTRITE nurse who did it), eaten the cost of the vaccine and probably waived the copay, counselled the employee, looked at the series of events that led to the mistake and changed things if needed, inserviced the entire staff on what happened, what was wrong with the situation and how to avoid it in the future, and reported back to the parent about what steps I had taken to correct the situation and ensure it didn't happen in the future.

Since no physical harm was done in this instance, and no malicious intent is in evidence, a lawsuit would be pointless, I think.

Good luck with your meeting with the office---hopefully, a lot of good will come out of this situation:wink2:

KidsRN

Any updates?

Specializes in cardiac.

Waiting..............................:rolleyes:

*drumming fingers*

Specializes in ICU, HIV, Peds (last 30 Yrs<;o).

*humming to self and studying the wallpaper*

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