I just need to vent a little. I'm not sure why this medication error is hitting me so hard as it isn't the first I've made and definitely not the last. I have never made the same type of error twice and this is no exception. I think I may be frustrated because of how the doctor belittled me for the error as if I were incompetent.
Here's the story:
My patient had a home medication for metoprolol in her room. Per our policy patients cannot take their medications. I looked on the Mar and there was no order. This being night shift I called the on physician twice with no answer so I then called the attending. The attending gave me a verbal order for the medication, I proceeded to put the order into the mar. I give the med.
Three hours later:
pharmacy calls me and states, " the med ordered is not the same as the pt takes at home. " What?? I re look at the mar then look at the med rec...I had put in the wrong drug. The same dosage and frequency but the Medication was a different form of metoprolol. I about cried. I got my big girl panties on and assessed the patient. She was fine her bp was good and she said she felt normal. I called the on call doctor...
He asked me in probably the rudest tone you could muster, "SSo you thought it was okay to call me at 1130 at night to ask me about a blood pressure medication?"
Well no...i am calling about the error.
"You just aren't getting it, I find it odd you don't understand why it isn't okay to call someone who is sleeping about a blood pressure medication."
Erm...The patient is stable and I read off her vitals.
He just kept asking me why I called him. Eventually I gave up trying to explain what happened and stated it was a medication error between these two medications the patient is fine and because I called you I get to write in my note and incident report that you were informed.
"Click"
Damned if you do, damned if You dont. I just wish it hadn't of happened and glad I am able to learn from my mistake. Thanks for your continued support in my sanity
