So here's my situation. I failed my clinical on Monday.
First of all, we get on the floor at my clinical site at 6:30 AM. I had a patient with 0700 Insulin to give. Last week a nurse on the floor told me that all 0700 meds are given by night shift, and not to worry about them. Three weeks ago, my instructor told me the same thing.
Monday, one of the patients I was to care for had an 0700 insulin, but I assumed night shift gave it, based on what I was told in previous weeks, and did not worry about it. Well, it wasn't given, I found out around 900, and then gave it over 2 hours late. I was told this was my fault. Maybe it was. I don't think so.
The shift proceeded, and I was passing 1400 meds. As I was scanning them to give to a patient, I scanned Reglan (Which was IV Push), and it said that the order changed, so my instructor told me to set it aside and give the rest of the meds.
I had to hang a piggyback, which I did, and the IV pump started acting up. My instructor was trying to figure out what was wrong, and told me to go ahead an pass the rest of the meds. I did this, and accidentaly grabbed the Reglan as well. I verbalized that I was passing it. My instructor didn't say anything, So I went ahead and gave it (Yes, I should have remembered but she didn't say anything). I was going to flush the line one last time, and she realized what I had done, and freaked out.
I asked her if she heard me verbalize that I was passing it, and she said no. So, I went and threw up. I knew it was over. The order change was only that it was to be given PO rather than IV Push. I immediately told the nurse, and she was like oh, it's not big deal don't worry about it. I talked to another older nurse on the unit, and she said yea, you messed up, but that shouldn't fail you. Well, she was wrong.
So now, I'm just wondering what you all think. Yes, I made a med error. Yes, I should have made sure my instructor heard me before I passed it, but lately they've been encouraging us to be really proactive, and just go ahead and do things on our own. I assumed because she didn't say anything that it was ok to give.
I really don't feel like the 0700 insulin was my fault, based on what I had been told previously, but the other mistake may have been. I just am having a hard time believing that failed me. I'm going to meet with the director of nursing tomorrow to talk about it. I don't know what to do!!
I do hope that you learn from your mistakes. Hang in there. I always, always check to see if a medication was given. I always check the MAR agains thte physician's order to make sure that eveything is okay.
goodstudentnowRN
1,007 Posts
I do hope that you learn from your mistakes. Hang in there. I always, always check to see if a medication was given. I always check the MAR agains thte physician's order to make sure that eveything is okay.