How many med errors are acceptable for a new grad RN at a teaching hospital?

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 12, 2015

Simple:NONE.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2015

How many med errors are acceptable for a new grad RN at a teaching hospital before considering termination?

This depends on a myriad of factors such as the nature of the errors and your reaction to them. In addition, some managers are more punitive than others.

canigraduate · Oct 12, 2015

None.

You should be checking your five rights three times prior to giving meds.

1) when you first read the order

2) when you pull your meds

3) before you give the meds to the patient

The nurses who make med errors consistently often skip one or more of these checks.

As to how many before you get fired, how would we know?

That's generally very specific to the facility and can change based on the severity of the error and the patient outcome.

FeleciaSmith · Oct 12, 2015

Uh last time I checked none! If a nurse does not know what she is doing she needs to be brought to the table and told so a plan of correction need to be in place to keep not only the patients but coworkers safe.

elkpark · Oct 12, 2015

Of course that would vary, depending on the individual employer and the severity of the errors, but, in general, not many.

Beth0504 · Oct 12, 2015

So you are a new Grad...congratulations!!! How long have you been on orientation? What have your preceptors been doing to help you with dispersing medication? What type of nurse are you? Do you work the floor and have a lot of patients? If you are new and making med errors, I would ask for more orientation time with a different preceptor. Go talk to someone with experience that can help you do things right and gain some confidence in your abilities. Good luck!!

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Oct 12, 2015

Want to elaborate? Why are these errors being made? What kinds of errors are they? Are patients being harmed? What is going on?

This.

I hope the OP returns to answer these questions.

sjalv · Oct 12, 2015

This is another "How could we possibly know?" question.

Iknowwha2du · Oct 13, 2015

Well the main thing is not to kill someone and give a medication that could alter their health in such away that they can't recover. I don't have a number for you in terms of how many errors are too many. Don't feel like you are dumb for re- asking the med rights stuff either. The patients sometimes say, you already asked but then I will say O I am sorry etc., and they will repeat it. I work in a fast paced environment so I am used to interruptions from staff, family and whoever else while I am passing medication. I have to tell people to wait a second etc. I have asked my patients to state their birthdays twice at times because things get so hectic and I forget that I already asked. I have been told by co-workers to just scan their band and don't ask for the bday cause it is on the band etc. I go over all of my rights each time, sometimes multiple times. Who cares how many times you do it, just as long as you don't give the wrong med to to a patient. Nursing environments can be so hectic so do what you have to do to be safe. I understand what it is like to be a new nurse. You probably are so nervous but sadly that nervousness can hurt you. Try to be confident and careful at the same time. It is too bad that most orientations suck nowadays, because they are to short and inconsistent. It also depends on who is training you in terms of how you feel about asking for help. Some nurses will eat you alive. You just have to bare it and learn as much as you can so you can get through this tough phase of your life. You will eventually become a confident experienced nurse if you work hard enough for it.

Pediatric Critical Care Columnist · Oct 15, 2015

None.
You should be checking your five rights three times prior to giving meds.

We've been told that there are EIGHT rights of medication administration now: patient, medication, dose, time, route, documentation, reason and response.

canigraduate · Oct 15, 2015

We've been told that there are EIGHT rights of medication administration now: patient, medication, dose, time, route, documentation, reason and response.

Well.

You can't do all that prior to admin, now can you?

I agree with right reason, though. Documentation? Better not happen before administration. Response? Obviously, unless you are in a time warp, that's not going to happen, either.

The PTB can manufacture rights all they want, but there are only so many that make sense for medication checks.

The five rights are for patient safety, not for CYA.

marie.rn2419, RN · Oct 24, 2015

It is my sincere hope that you are merely nervous/fearful and looking for consolation, because your question raises concerns about your intentions. Firstly, there is no 'magic number' of strikes before you are out. Repeated errors and lack of accountability for your actions may lead to a written warning and up to termination. Generally, your manager wants to know that your error was due to lack of experience that they can help you address and resolve, rather than lack of giving a **it.

No matter what the situation, do not EVER fail to report an error for the purpose of covering your bum. In the event that you show a hospital that you are unable or unwilling to take responsibility for your own actions, you become a liability.

You need to take your career and professional reputation into your own hands. How are you addressing your prior errors? Do YOU know why you made them? Are you struggling with knowledge of pharmacology, or are you lacking in the attention-to-detail department?

Please, do not take my words as criticizing you to tear you down. Same with the other comments here. The crew at AN tends to pose questions that are meant to lead you to the proper answer on your own. In doing so, they are helping you to become a better critical thinker and problem solver, which helps you to become a better nursing professional.