I’m very distressed-my med error

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Specializes in IMCU.

I made a medication error and I’m new to my job. It was related to a drip that we use all the time.  Someone was supratherapeutic and I thought they were therapeutic.  The oncoming nurses caught it and reviewed everything with me.  It was totally my mistake as I went from memory for the therapeutic range rather than checking the algorithm. 
 

I’m really concerned for my job. The patient is OK but this may have contributed to a bleed. 

Forgive me not going into more detail - I think it would give too much information away about the patient. 
 

I feel sick.

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Specializes in Cardiac & Vascular.
On 10/30/2020 at 1:17 PM, DolceVita said:

I made a medication error and I’m new to my job. It was related to a drip that we use all the time.  Someone was supratherapeutic and I thought they were therapeutic.  The oncoming nurses caught it and reviewed everything with me.  It was totally my mistake as I went from memory for the therapeutic range rather than checking the algorithm. 
 

I’m really concerned for my job. The patient is OK but this may have contributed to a bleed. 

Forgive me not going into more detail - I think it would give too much information away about the patient. 
 

I feel sick.

As someone who has made a med error, I know the gut wrenching feeling. Take this as a lesson, always review your algorithms. You said the patient is okay. Please be kind to yourself. Hopefully, this will just be a learning experience and management will leave it at that.

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

I’m pretty certain that all nurses make a med error at some point in their careers.  We are human and often time pressured...not an excuse, but we are subject to many factors that can contribute to med errors.

As any experienced nurse should tell you, do not beat yourself up about this.  As long as you take the proper precautions going forward, be honest about the error, and learn from your mistake, you should be fine, particularly if the patient was not harmed.

I know the distress you are feeling.  We have a ton of responsibility caring for patients.  Take care of yourself and forgive the error as long as you’ve learned from it.

Hugs!

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Specializes in IMCU.

Thank you both for responding.  I’m new there. That worries me most of all. 

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The patient was OK!

That gut-wrenching feeling means you have learned a lesson that you will use to teach others and that you won't make again.

As the others have said...Be kind to yourself!

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Specializes in PICU, Pediatrics, Trauma.

Being new, to me anyway, is all the more reason you made the error.  You probably are not THAT familiar with all the policies and you also are probably still getting your footing.  
 

Again, just learn from it and your distress will pass and one day you’ll be giving less experienced nurses the reassurance we are trying to give to you as they make a med error.

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Specializes in Mental Health.

You’ll be okay! We all make mistakes! Most important thing is the patient wasn’t harmed! I recently made what I know to be my first med error. It did not cause harm and was actually a lower dose of a narcotic than what the patient should have received. The pharmacist actually put an order in wrong and I gave a man a 5mg Percocet when he should’ve received 10mg oxycodone. I caught the error (after it was administered) and traced the mistake. Ultimately, it was still my fault since I’m the one who gave it... but I did not get written up or anything because it was an error that anyone in that position would’ve easily made and administration was very understanding. Don’t beat yourself up. All you can do is acknowledge your part in the error and learn from your mistake. 

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