How important the 3 checks of 5 rights are for meds!!! - page 2

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I have just finished my 5th qtr of ADN and we caught wind of a 6th qtr ADN student who was going through her preceptorship and made the near fatal mistake. :nono: She gave the wrong pt the wrong... Read More

  1. by JBGC4
    Jun 20, '09
    Joined: Aug '07; Posts: 304; Likes: 96
    We have 6 Rights in our text... the sixth is the Right Documentation.
  2. by JBGC4
    Jun 20, '09
    Joined: Aug '07; Posts: 304; Likes: 96
    Quote from RainDreamer
    The 6 rights are important, but mistakes can still happen.

    It's also imperative to look up each medication that you aren't familiar with, to check correct dosing, compatibility, adverse reactions, indications, etc, etc.
    My instructor was just saying the other day, "you wouldn't believe how many times doctors mess it up." Referring to checking the drugs you aren't familiar with.
  3. by FE710
    Jun 21, '09
    From: US ; Joined: Jan '09; Posts: 27; Likes: 8
    Quote from nc girl rn
    right patient
    right drug
    right dose
    right time
    right route

    i remember mine this way

    d.r. t.i.m
    right dose
    right route
    right time
    right identification of pt
    right medication

    and of course the 6th right of documentation!
  4. by Meriwhen
    Jun 21, '09
    Joined: Mar '07; Posts: 10,506; Likes: 12,982
    Don't forget #7: the right of the patient to refuse. It's just as important as the other 6.
  5. by shrimpchips
    Jun 21, '09
    Occupation: full-time student, nurse tech on a renal/plastic & reconstructive surgery unit From: US ; Joined: Aug '06; Posts: 661; Likes: 202
    The rights are extremely important! And check more than 3 times! I almost made a med error by almost going into the room with 1 tab of Zoloft instead of the ordered 0.5 tab :uhoh21: That is what polypharmacy will do to you (seriously this patient had soooo many meds!) but my point is to check, check, check and then double check, recheck and check again!!!
  6. by tbell2
    Jun 21, '09
    Joined: Apr '07; Posts: 188; Likes: 58
    I forgot to document that I had given milk of magnesia. My patient had many meds and it was one of my first solo med passes. I was on a roll naming the medication and explaining what it does, putting in the cup, and initialing when I watched the pt take it. I put on her new nitro patch, initialed. Handed her the MOM, and left. I gave the MAR back to the staff RN who also gave her MOM since it was not initialed. Obviously, there is no excuse. I messed up and I am so lucky it was not a med that would be life threatening with a double dose. Of course, I got an "unsatisfactory" and now I am damn sure to check, check, check, and initial!

    My first day of clinical at a hospital, I was not passing meds. The staff RN emptied out all the pt's meds into a cup and brought them to the room. I followed her in to watch. The pt didn't want one of her pills and the RN had no clue which one it was. She was visibly irritated with the pt, saying "Well, now I have to go and waste all of these and it will be a while until i can get back here with the ones you do want to take." I think of that every time I see a nurse putting the meds in a cup in the med room.

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