I was blamed for a medication error I didn't do!

elizabells, BSN, RN · May 21, 2008

This isn't "creating drama" - a nurse who lies to cover up a mistake is dangerous. In an ideal world, you'd tell, the NM would believe you and your liaison would back you up, the nurse would be fired, and you'd move on with your career. This might not be what happens. It could have negative repercussions on your clinical experience. However, I truly encourage you to tell. If you allow her to blame you, not only do you look bad, but she'll get away with it, and she WILL do it again. This shows a fundamental lack of ethics on her part. If things get bad, your liaison should find you another clinical site.

pagandeva2000, LPN · May 21, 2008

I don't know, but I would wish to cover myself if I were a student. I would probably begin by speaking to the powers that be in the school itself, since they are the ones that would ultimately make the decision. Plus, I would rather that they hear from me first, than from anyone else. I'd also get that nurse's name that knows your preceptor lied.

I am sorry to hear this and hope for the best.

Balder_LPN, LPN · May 21, 2008

I am a nursing student in my last semester of school and I'm finishing up my preceptorship in the Intensive Care Unit. I work in the same ICU that I have been precepting and have a good relationship with the manager and the nurses. When I found out who my preceptor was I was a little intimidated because I had heard from other new grads that she is very condescending and difficult to follow. I put that in the back of my mind thinking that I'd just make the best of it. The first few days were rough, everything I heard from other nurses I experienced. The issue now is that my preceptor made a medication error and told my preceptor liaison that I gave the medication--which is a complete lie! This was unbelievable! My liaison knows that I didn't make the medication error and is appalled that my preceptor would behave this way. My preceptor does not know that I know she lied about her error. Since I work with her, it is a bit complicated. Do I talk to her manager about how she covered for her mistake by lying and saying I gave the medication? My liaison said that she doesn't want to cover for her errors but doesn't know how to best approach the situation. I don't want to create drama, I just don't want my reputation smeared with lies. Could this nurse lose her license? What would be the result of her manager knowing what she did? Thank you for your help! =)

new grad here.....TALK TO YOUR INTSTRUCTOR IN PRIVATE BEFORE DOING ANYTHING ELSE. start a little log yourself of everything while it is fresh in your mind. and TALK TO YOUR INSTRUCTOR!

ponderpoema · May 21, 2008

If things get bad, your liaison should find you another clinical site.

Thankfully I have been paired with an alternate preceptor since this incident and I am having a great experience. The difficulty if I tell the nurse manager and if my preceptor does lose her job as a result, I will be working at the same hospital that my preceptor works in. yikes! :bluecry1:

ponderpoema · May 21, 2008

Absolutely! I won't do anything without my instructor and she is involved but hasn't made a decision yet...she has never delt with this before.

MikeyJ, RN · May 21, 2008

Can you look back at the MAR to show that you did not give the medication and that you did not sign/initial that med?

ponderpoema · May 21, 2008

"Can you look back at the MAR to show that you did not give the medication and that you did not sign/initial that med?"

Yes, she charted that she gave the medication and we can go into the electronic record to prove that she gave it.

bollweevil · May 21, 2008

I am a nursing student in my last semester of school and I'm finishing up my preceptorship in the Intensive Care Unit. I work in the same ICU that I have been precepting and have a good relationship with the manager and the nurses. When I found out who my preceptor was I was a little intimidated because I had heard from other new grads that she is very condescending and difficult to follow. I put that in the back of my mind thinking that I'd just make the best of it. The first few days were rough, everything I heard from other nurses I experienced. The issue now is that my preceptor made a medication error and told my preceptor liaison that I gave the medication--which is a complete lie! This was unbelievable! My liaison knows that I didn't make the medication error and is appalled that my preceptor would behave this way. My preceptor does not know that I know she lied about her error. Since I work with her, it is a bit complicated. Do I talk to her manager about how she covered for her mistake by lying and saying I gave the medication? My liaison said that she doesn't want to cover for her errors but doesn't know how to best approach the situation. I don't want to create drama, I just don't want my reputation smeared with lies. Could this nurse lose her license? What would be the result of her manager knowing what she did? Thank you for your help! =)

Welcome to the world of work. :madface:

Who cares what happens to her? :nono: Your only concern should be to protect yourself.

Your liason certainly doesn't seem to care about you or about telling the truth. She knows exactly what to do but is afraid to do it. :banghead:

Write this incident down, while it is fresh in your mind. Keep it where only you can see it - not at work. Name names, dates, times, who lied to whom, what that person's response was, etc.

Are you facing punishment/discipline/trouble because of this? Was the patient harmed?

bollweevil · May 21, 2008

This isn't "creating drama" - a nurse who lies to cover up a mistake is dangerous. In an ideal world, you'd tell, the NM would believe you and your liaison would back you up, the nurse would be fired, and you'd move on with your career. This might not be what happens. It could have negative repercussions on your clinical experience. However, I truly encourage you to tell. If you allow her to blame you, not only do you look bad, but she'll get away with it, and she WILL do it again. This shows a fundamental lack of ethics on her part. If things get bad, your liaison should find you another clinical site.

Does she deserve firing? How bad was this error? OK, she's lying and bosses don't tolerate that too well. Maybe that should be the reason for firing her.

bollweevil · May 21, 2008

"Can you look back at the MAR to show that you did not give the medication and that you did not sign/initial that med?"
Yes, she charted that she gave the medication and we can go into the electronic record to prove that she gave it.

So why is there any problem? If she signed it, why are you involved in it at all?

For the record: proving it was given is different that proving that she signed that she gave it.

ponderpoema · May 21, 2008

No, I'm not facing any discipline for this because my liaison knows that I didn't make the error. The patient wasn't harmed. The error was that she gave a previously ordered stat levaquin after the medication had already been discontinued. Thank God it wasn't a error that harmed the patient! Thanks for your input!