How many of you have experienced medication errors?

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2010

Thankfully, none of the mistakes I've made have been serious, but yes, I have made mistakes. I write them up when I catch myself, because, really many of them could have been prevented with small changes.

I remember once we had the same exact error happen twice in one week, by two different nurses. It was written up, a very small change was made in pharmacy, and it never happened again.

indigonurse · Dec 28, 2010

It is unavoidable. But most of us er um present company included have had lapses in judgment that caused them to happen.

ANNIENURSEANGEL · Dec 28, 2010

as long as were human, we will make errors. The way to minimize errors, is to remember to take your time. remember the 5 rights of medication administration. I carry a black marker with me, so if i am called away, i write the patient's name on the medication cup. Alot of times nurses will make mistakes, not when their busy, but when it is slow. Your mind gets preoccupied with other things.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2010

I think the reason why errors happen, in addition to sheer volume of meds, is distraction. Once I begin preparing a patient's medicine, I do not allow myself to be interrupted unless I must be. If a bed exit alarm goes off, I am going to answer it but probably not a regular call bell.

mihualalei · Dec 28, 2010

Thank you for everyone.

GLORIAmunchkin72 · Dec 28, 2010

I think how many you make depends a lot on your patient load and the setting. If you are constantly pressured for time and encounter constant interruptions, such as running after alarms and call bells, you'll either end up overlooking something or somehow end up outside the 1hourbefore/1hourafter time limit. Either way it's a med error.

opossum · Dec 28, 2010

I made one as a student and was devastated about it, even though (thankfully) there was no harm to the patient. But it was one that could have, should have been avoided. I gave an IV diuretic subq instead. Very stupid. I realized I had drawn up the diuretic out of the bottle with a needle similar to a subq needle I used to administer heparin to this pt. Somehow thought I was therefore giving the diuretic subq. :confused: As I was administering it subq in the pt's belly, I had that feeling of dread wash over me...

Something important to note: It was a 12-hr shift on a difficult step-down floor, where students didn't exactly thrive. I had not taken a break that day and had skipped lunch. These are by no means excuses, but it certainly explains why the med error happened and I will NEVER make that mistake again! From now on, I will make sure I eat, get enough hydration, and triple check that MAR.

But I'm sure I'll make other mistakes in my career! :uhoh3: