I got written up for leaving a saline flush in a patient's room. I had went in the room with it already having the plastic cannula on it, ready to use, but the previous shift didn't tell me that the patient was getting an IV at TKO, so turns out I didn't need it. I didn't throw it in the sharps container. I think I left it on the IV pump. So, the next night, I received a med error report in my mailbox, saying I left a "syringe with an unknown medication in it in a patient's room". The patient didn't even have IV push meds ordered, and the syringe already had "NORMAL SALINE" printed on it, so it couldn't have been an unknown med. So, on paper, it just looks bad, when in reality, it's something that every nurse has probably done on accident without discipline. I'm starting to think that if the next shift has time to write up reports like this on me, then they're probably over-staffed or is out to get me. Has anyone been written up for something like this? Or have you written someone up for this kind of thing? I realize what I did was wrong, but filling out a report with "unknown medication" on it seems petty to me. This could have easily been resolved with a quick, "Oh, by the way, here's something to remember..." Any thoughts? And how can I defend myself well on this? It just doesn't look good when the only thing I can think of to say in defense was that I was ditzy at that moment.
Timothy, you and I may never agree on politics but on this matter we agree 100%. This is a bunch of baloney and the OP needs to stop it in its tracks or else they will follow her/him around forever writing her up for trivial stuff like this. People like the person who wrote the OP up always go for the easy ones and if they know that you will challenge them on the dumb stuff they will think twice before they do this again.
I wouldn't have written it up either, I don't have time. Sometimes things are written up because staff is tired of messes that certain nurses leave, and they are using the write up as a form of documentation. We had a nurse who kept on making med errors, leaving rooms in a mess, etc...we talked to her 'til we were blue in the face to no avail. Once the write ups started, she straightened up. I have left syringes, trash, etc myself although not intentional. Although we have only ONE distraction every shift it will mess us up everytime. I just wonder if the nurse who wrote that up writes ppl up all the time....if so...his/her day is coming. Just take an extra 1/4 second and check behind yourself. Sorry that had to happen.
I agree ,, totally to much time on someone's hands.
Ive come across iv stylettess stuck in matresses for gosh sakes,a long time ago, dont use those now but non the less, thats a write up.
I would totally get with your nurse manager on this one and get it taken out of your record,,its totally petty. I'm sure that nurse could have found something better to waste her time on. Maybe a patient?
it will mess us up everytime. I just wonder if the nurse who wrote that up writes ppl up all the time....if so...his/her day is coming. Just take an extra 1/4 second and check behind yourself. Sorry that had to happen.
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,270 Posts
I agree with Timothy on this as well.
Petty.