Have you ever made a med error?

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i'm a senior rn student & i made my first med error last week. the nursing director said if i make another med error i'm out of the program. Has anyone done a med error as a student?

i know i'm going to be totally paranoid from now on giving meds, since i know if i mess up again i'm OUT!....ugh!

Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Maybe. I don't know. I felt like I did what I was supposed to because I went and told the instructor even though she had no idea that I had made a medication error. I felt I had to set a precident for myself of being accountable and I had resigned myself to facing the music. But she is the instructor and chose to let me (and herself) off the hook. I feel like it's behind me. Plus some other students and I already had a face to face with the dean about this instructor for other reasons (consistent near abusive behavior) and I feel that, in addition to putting myself in double jeopardy, reporting this CI for another reason would be like beating a dead horse. I don't know. I'll think about it...

I'd love to get others' feedback on this issue.

I would not go crazy to report this clinical instructor. You did what you were supposed to do, because either way, whether you are a student or nurse, you report to the immediate supervisor and let your fate be held in their hands. Why ask for more trouble for yourself??

If the clinical instructor stated that she was going to let you get by with it, then, she has to explain it. Either way, I am sure that you learned from the experience, and would not let it happen to yourself or your patient again if you can help it. I remember once, that one of my friends that has been a nurse for some time stated that " some patients get well IN SPITE OF..." and I see what she meant.

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I would not go crazy to report this clinical instructor. You did what you were supposed to do, because either way, whether you are a student or nurse, you report to the immediate supervisor and let your fate be held in their hands. Why ask for more trouble for yourself??

If the clinical instructor stated that she was going to let you get by with it, then, she has to explain it. Either way, I am sure that you learned from the experience, and would not let it happen to yourself or your patient again if you can help it. I remember once, that one of my friends that has been a nurse for some time stated that " some patients get well IN SPITE OF..." and I see what she meant.

I agree....

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Specializes in L&D, medsurg,hospice,sub-acute.
A better question should be:

Who hasn't made a med error?

I would be impressed...

Thank-you!! Thank-you!! We all make mistakes--I am a night shift nurse and do 24hour chart checks, and let me tell you--we prevent so many because of clerical errors caught in time!!! And if there really are saint nurses out there who haven't made actual med errors (or haven't realized the ones they did make) I am sure they have made other errors--dressing change issues, incorrect communications with staff or patients--get real people--stop crucifying nurses for being human. It hurts to make an error, and it should bother us, but not invalidate everything else we have to offer to the nursing profession---we are more than what happens in a one moment synapse lapse--we treat our patients often with more respect and forgiveness for inappropriate unacceptable behaviors than we do our fellow professionals--putting their life on the line in service to others. We owe each other more than that. STOP EATING YOUR YOUNG!!!!!We are supposed to be a nurturing profession--we need to nurture each other too.

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The worst is when you catch a med error done by someone you work with and respect. I caught one that one of my colleagues made the other day. No harm came to the patient but I had to pull the nurse aside and tell her about it. I had come on shift after her. She is a really good nurse though.....we all make mistakes.

Once I gave a med to someone who supposedly was allergic to this med. I got a verbal order for the med in the middle of the night. I didn't see any allergies listed on her chart. She did have a bracelet on but I didn't see it. No excuse. It was a classic stupid nurse error. She didn't have a reaction but I sure did!! I was sick. I caught it right away and told the nursing supervisor/doctor. They said no worries, just be more careful. I never made an error since and hope I never do.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Thank-you!! Thank-you!! We all make mistakes--I am a night shift nurse and do 24hour chart checks, and let me tell you--we prevent so many because of clerical errors caught in time!!! And if there really are saint nurses out there who haven't made actual med errors (or haven't realized the ones they did make) I am sure they have made other errors--dressing change issues, incorrect communications with staff or patients--get real people--stop crucifying nurses for being human. It hurts to make an error, and it should bother us, but not invalidate everything else we have to offer to the nursing profession---we are more than what happens in a one moment synapse lapse--we treat our patients often with more respect and forgiveness for inappropriate unacceptable behaviors than we do our fellow professionals--putting their life on the line in service to others. We owe each other more than that. STOP EATING YOUR YOUNG!!!!!We are supposed to be a nurturing profession--we need to nurture each other too.

One of the things that I read in my pharmacology textbook is that they are considering enforcing less punitive actions for those that make mistakes so that the nurses will own up to them more comfortably. I have yet to see this happen, but we can hope. We do have to nuture and support each other and this is one of the main reasons that nursing has the trouble it has at this time, the flame throwing, holier than thou attitudes that destroy each other. We need to monitor the patient and feel free to report our mistakes and then the situation should be reviewed for future reference. But to crucify each other brings about animosity and dishonesty, even from some of the best nurses and should stop.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
One of the things that I read in my pharmacology textbook is that they are considering enforcing less punitive actions for those that make mistakes so that the nurses will own up to them more comfortably. I have yet to see this happen, but we can hope. We do have to nuture and support each other and this is one of the main reasons that nursing has the trouble it has at this time, the flame throwing, holier than thou attitudes that destroy each other. We need to monitor the patient and feel free to report our mistakes and then the situation should be reviewed for future reference. But to crucify each other brings about animosity and dishonesty, even from some of the best nurses and should stop.

I agree in the non-punative approach. That doesn't let people off the hook, it helps them to own their mistakes and improve upon them, as well as alert others to a potential problem.

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I, personally, would document the conversation in your personal information/records. This way you will have a record of exactly what was said, by both sides. I just like to think CYA. You have sort of done that here on this site though. It is just a thought.

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This whole discussion saddens me on so many levels. First, that so many of you have only owned up to one or two errors. Having been a nsg instructor and a clinical supervisor, I have caught so many med errors that had continued on, some for years. For instance, while giving meds with a student, I noted that the pt had an order on the MAR to give lubricating eyedrops to both eyes every 4 hrs. My student gave one drop to each eye and when we returned to the medcart, I noted that the MAR stated to give 20 drops OU. This order had been transcribed onto a computerized MAR for over 1.5 yrs and no one had ever caught it. We got the order clarified to read 2 drops but can you see how errors happen without you even being aware of the error. This same facility was notorious for documenting that they were administering meds by mouth when the majority of their pts were receiving their meds via GT. Many of these meds were ones that were not to be crushed or opened but they did it on a routine basis. Remember that there are now considered to be 6-7 rights of medication administration (right pt, right drug & right dose for right reason, right time/frequency, right route, and right documentation). I think it is terrible that a student should be dismissed immediately for one mistake. I would never fire a licensed nurse for a first med error. Med errors are usually system-errors not the error of one person. How can we grow as "practicing" professionals if we never get the opportunity to learn from our mistakes?

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
This whole discussion saddens me on so many levels. First, that so many of you have only owned up to one or two errors. Having been a nsg instructor and a clinical supervisor, I have caught so many med errors that had continued on, some for years. For instance, while giving meds with a student, I noted that the pt had an order on the MAR to give lubricating eyedrops to both eyes every 4 hrs. My student gave one drop to each eye and when we returned to the medcart, I noted that the MAR stated to give 20 drops OU. This order had been transcribed onto a computerized MAR for over 1.5 yrs and no one had ever caught it. We got the order clarified to read 2 drops but can you see how errors happen without you even being aware of the error. This same facility was notorious for documenting that they were administering meds by mouth when the majority of their pts were receiving their meds via GT. Many of these meds were ones that were not to be crushed or opened but they did it on a routine basis. Remember that there are now considered to be 6-7 rights of medication administration (right pt, right drug & right dose for right reason, right time/frequency, right route, and right documentation). I think it is terrible that a student should be dismissed immediately for one mistake. I would never fire a licensed nurse for a first med error. Med errors are usually system-errors not the error of one person. How can we grow as "practicing" professionals if we never get the opportunity to learn from our mistakes?

Wow...I have only been an LPN for 4 months, and this is the first time I am hearing that some of these mistakes can actually go on for this long. Something to ponder...

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Specializes in Intensive Care, Internal Medicine, FP.

Not only going slow but also ask questions if you are unsure and look up any medication you do not know the reason for giving, the side effects and contraindications. These are habits that will benefit you your whole nursing career. Your teacher may seem tough but medical errors can end your career if they cause harm to a patient. If its too busy on the unit to give medication safely then the administrators need to make changes to protect the nurses and the patients by making the working and care environment safer.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Not only going slow but also ask questions if you are unsure and look up any medication you do not know the reason for giving, the side effects and contraindications. These are habits that will benefit you your whole nursing career. Your teacher may seem tough but medical errors can end your career if they cause harm to a patient. If its too busy on the unit to give medication safely then the administrators need to make changes to protect the nurses and the patients by making the working and care environment safer.

Unfortunately, in some facilities (such as mine), administration turns a blind eye to adjusting policies that support nurses in this. It is a ongoing arguement that has not had solutions, yet.

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Not only going slow but also ask questions if you are unsure and look up any medication you do not know the reason for giving, the side effects and contraindications. These are habits that will benefit you your whole nursing career. Your teacher may seem tough but medical errors can end your career if they cause harm to a patient. If its too busy on the unit to give medication safely then the administrators need to make changes to protect the nurses and the patients by making the working and care environment safer.

also, to any administrators out there what's up w/ the pixus being placed in the middle of the nursing station where everybody and their brother is trying to get by & bump into you??? why isn't there a med "room"???

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