honest mistake and treated like a criminal

[pretty_LPN]

Hello all. I'm new here. I'm looking for an unbias opinion/support for my situation. I am an LpN and will be graduating with my BSN in a little over a year. This is my first nursing job and I've been here for three months. Recently I switched from 11-7 to 3-11..very overhwelming to say the least. Okay here goes.. I was passing meds. I accidentally spilled two cups on my med cart and some od thr floor..I sorted them out and threw out the ones that fell on the floor and repoured what I needed to.. and went on to administer the meds to the patients. One of the pills was a narcotic. The patients didn't say anything about the meds and neither did the other nurse that was in the room. I went on about my night. Next thing I know I'm getting pulled into the supervisors office saying I gave a Tylenol instead of the narcotic ..honest mistake since the pills are almost identical in shape and size. I was in a hurry and I admit I should have checked better to make sure I was giving the right pill to the right person. Thankfully no one had an allergy and no harm done. I was treated like a criminal and I had to take a drug test. Now I am waiting for the results to come back and I've had two meetings with the DON. She is saying it sounds suspicious. I'm so frustrated. The kicker is that I take pain medicine prescribed by a doctor for over ten years and so they are looking at me like I did this on purpose. I'm thinking I'm going to lose my job over this incident and I just want support and to see if this ever happened to anyone else. I'm a really good nurse ..ive been told so by many of my patients.. And on top of it the patient that this happened to is totally with it so why would I deliberately take his when I know I could get into trouble?? I have access to thousands of narcotics and people who can't speak... and I've never had a complaint before for any narcotics going missing.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[TiffanyRoseRN]

Wait something just doesn't make sense... If both a Tylenol and What ever pain medication dropped on the floor... And the patient got Tylenol instead of let's just say oxycodone (don't really know any pill that looks like a Tylenol). Who got the oxycodone? Is it still on floor? Another patient? I think that is where it looks suspicious? Also you say you have been there 3 months so you are over your 90 day period? Or almost there? They can not report and sanction you for something they can not prove. As long as you have a RX stating that you take the medication. They can not fault you. Worst to worst you will be termed...

[pretty_LPN]

Our meds are in blister packs so they are impossible to pop out in front of the patient.

And..

Also yes there was a possibility the pill could have still been on the floor or it could have been given to another patient. This is why I'm upset. No one stopped me.. The other nurse was a guy. He knee i was new up there and had been helpong me all night identify who was who. When it came to this though, didn't help me look for the pill or say hey this is wrong when the patient pointed it out ...just automatically ran and told the supervisor assuming it was purposefully and maliciously done . this was my first time on this med cart. I realize I shouldn't have pre poured meds. Lesson learned but what's done is done and now I feel like my employer needs to either educate me or let me resign or term me. I've been waiting for almost a week and I feel like I should just start looking for another job. I'm very frustrated.

[pretty_LPN]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have been very hard on myself ..probably worse than anyone else could be. I'm chaulking it up to a mistake and a lesson learned and I hope I can move on and be a better nurse now from it. I will keep you posted on what happens as it plays out.

[pretty_LPN]

Also I haven't reached my 90 days yet ..almost. And the two pills.. The stock Tylenol and the narcotic we have ( even the director of nursing agreed they are almost identical and easy to mistake)

[CrunchRN, ADN, RN]

Sounds like an honest mistake with some hard lessons learned. I hope it all works out for you.

[TiffanyRoseRN]

Well you were neglectful... But understand EVERYONE makes mistakes. We nurse are HUMAN! Just realize your mistakes and move on from it. This is an opportunity for your DON to teach not convict. You are a new nurse and time management is scary but it's better to be slow and thorough then fast and neglectful. Doesn't sound like they have a case against you. You will be fine. The worst they can do is terminate you because you are not past 90 days. But the BON will not sanction your license over it. You have a Rx for why you tested positive. And it was an mistake. It was neglectful and that will be the reason you will get disciplined. Let them do what they need to do. Admit your wrong doings and take full responsibility for your mistake it could have been way worst... And move on. Just make sure you are more careful and mindful Of EVERYTHING you are doing. And do not depend on someone to help you. Some ppl are just not friendly. Let go and let God... (Or whom ever you believe if you are spiritual). Good luck to you!

[annie.rn]

Please keep us updated. I've said a little prayer for you.