help!!

Anna Flaxis, BSN, RN · Apr 12, 2015

I wish I could pat you on the hand and tell you it's okay, it happens to all of us, but honestly the worst med error I have made was giving insulin SQ instead of IV (force of habit, floor nurse to ER transition)- and I've given a lot, I mean a LOT of high risk meds.

I always carefully read the order, pull the meds from the Omincell/Pyxis, read the label on the vials (pharmacy tech could always put the wrong drug in the wrong drawer/bin) draw them up, and check the order against the meds I've drawn up, at the bedside, following the five rights.

Even in a critical situation, when the doctor gives a verbal order, I *always* make a habit of reading back the order, i.e. "epinephrine 1:1000 0.5mg IM", with the doctor at the bedside. Typically, I even bring the vial to the bedside and draw it up in the presence of the doctor, repeating the verbal order prior to giving the med.

Moral of the story, always double check AT THE BEDSIDE prior to actually giving the med. I don't care how much of a hurry the patient is in- just the other day, I had a patient freaking out, saying "hurry, Anna, hurry!!!!"- but nevertheless I did not skip my safety checks.

Always follow your five rights, and double or even triple check before actually giving it. It does not matter how busy the ER is- how slammed you are- how many ambulances are rolling in, how many patients are in the lobby, how many admits are waiting to roll to the floor, you do not ever skip your bedside check/5 rights.