incident report on 2 errors.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 23, 2012

Take a deep breath.

Do you know what the errors are? If not, she may just want to hear your side of the story. This is a normal part of the risk management process at any organization - the supervisor has to do a personal interview/investigation and fill out a form. It's your opportunity to tell your side.

Don't offer excuses. Focus on reasons instead. If the error was because you did something wrong, you need to own it and offer some sort of corrective action that is suitable to the incident - one that will help you to not make the error again:

* If you failed to follow a 'rule' you knew about, why did this happen - were you cutting corners? didn't think anything serious would happen? Just did what everyone else is doing? You need to adhere to the rules no matter what everyone else is doing

* Did you do something wrong because of lack of knowledge? Failed to recognize the importance of some information? - you'll need to beef up your knowledge base

* If you simply made a mistake - gave the blue pill instead of the green one... was it because you were distracted/rushed? Offer some ideas on how to prevent this in the future.

Whatever you do - don't blame anyone else or whine about all the things that "made" you do it. Managers hate that. Instead, talk about what you have learned from them & what actions you are going to take as a result.

We're all human. Humans are fallible creatures. These will not be the last mistakes you make, so learn to deal with them - that's a skill that you'll need again in the future.

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Feb 23, 2012

Most places just want to educate when med errors are made.

Tobygo2 · Apr 18, 2012

Hi all,
I am a new grad. My manager called and said I made 2 errors and I have to meet her cause
incident reports were generated. I already made 2 errors and this is my 5th month on the job. I am super nervous. How does an incident report affect an RN and what should I say at the meeting? The errors made previously were not fatal errors. I am not aware of the new errors. Although the previous errors were reported by me when I realized I made those errors. I also just got off of orientation 2 weeks ago. I just wanna cry. Am I good enough to be an RN or not??

I'm in the same boat as you and freaking out. What happened with you? Did your NM talk to you? I had 1 error made while I was orienting w/my preceptor and one was really just dumb...I forgot to undo the rollerball clamp on an IV med and the oncoming nurse didn't notice until 6hours into her shift so she wrote me up. I'm paranoid!!! From what I've heard though they're made to help you learn, not to be punitive. But I can't help but feel stupid....and yes I CRIED like a baby both times

jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B · Apr 18, 2012

Nurses make errors, no one is perfect. If you didn't give a med (for instance at an "odd" time) then offer your solution so it doesn't happen again. (I need to write my "odd" med times on my clipboard for my patients....and will institute same--then do it). ALWAYS remember your 5 rights. Also, use your clipboard (or a pad in your pocket) for any q4 hour vitals or any other thing that is not done on a routine schedule..... Sometimes, you just have to get into your own groove of remembering and organizing, and my paper "brain" is my best friend. Other new grads I have worked with have created their own "brains" and write them out at the start of the shift. Don't freak out, just be sure that you have a concrete solution to how this is not likely to happen again. Good luck and keep us posted!

Tobygo2 · Apr 18, 2012

One thing that bothers me though is that it appears certain nurses like to make you feel bad about getting an incident report. On my first one my charge nurse told me it was no big deal, but a coworker found out about it and decided to tell me it was a huge deal to the point that she had me in tears. I just wish sometimes people did not choose to hold them against you or make you feel bad about yourself when you already are beating yourself up.

brie1017 · Oct 26, 2013

How can a medical incident effect me and my job?

NursingPhDstudent · May 28, 2018

In my opinion, yes medication errors are terrible, but if you report them and take the right steps to mitigate the issue - you could be saving that patient's life. I have seen nurses who chose to not report medication errors, and then the next nurse double doses the patient without even knowing it. I work with children, and am a new nurse who is in graduate school as well - the doctors and nurse managers understand mistakes happen - we need to have the responsibility of reporting the incident and notifying the patient and other staff to asses the issue so that the patient recovers fully. (I also cried after giving Benadryl instead of tylenol to a patient, and the poor kid was sleeping the whole afternoon - but I took vitals every hour on the dot to ensure the child recovered! And in four house - the kiddo was fine...). But this still haunted me for the entire day...nursing is rough, and other nurses should support new nurses instead of supporting negligent nurses who do not own up to errors! And everyone has made errors..we just need to change it so it does not happen again!

CharleeFoxtrot, BSN, RN · May 28, 2018

Since the original post is from 2012, I'd think the issue has been resolved

BlinkyPinky · May 28, 2018

This is very true. And I am guessing that these meetings ("calling you in") are rquired for your manager to "check a box" that she counseled you. B/C the all-important Incident Report/Medication Occurrence Report, was generated. Once that happens, it sets a ball rolling that affect several depts and your manager has to counsel you and document that she did so.

Besides, med errors are supposed to be self-reported even in some instances; because supposedly they are non-punitive and used as a learning tool between Pharmacy and the institution and the nurses.

Guest219794 · May 29, 2018

I'm in the same boat as you and freaking out. What happened with you? Did your NM talk to you? I had 1 error made while I was orienting w/my preceptor and one was really just dumb...I forgot to undo the rollerball clamp on an IV med and the oncoming nurse didn't notice until 6hours into her shift so she wrote me up. I'm paranoid!!! From what I've heard though they're made to help you learn, not to be punitive. But I can't help but feel stupid....and yes I CRIED like a baby both times

We all make mistakes. Probably many that we never know happened. When we do find out, our first reaction is often defensive- that is just a normal, human reaction. When I gave the wrong antibiotic, my first thought was "What kind of moron put the moxifloxacin right next to the levofloxacin in the pyxis?"

But, regardless of that poor pharmacy practice, the responsibility is %100 mine.

When I discussed this with my manager, I attributed the mistake to my not doing the job I was trained to do, plain and simple. Being a good manager, he also asked about possible systemic issues, and I suggested that by putting look alike meds in different drawers, it might help nurses avoid errors.

I'll use the post above as an example of something to avoid: the oncoming nurse didn't notice until 6 hours into her shift so she wrote me up Does that sound like somebody taking full ownership of a mistake who is working on a way to avoid them in the future? (Toby- not trying to throw you under the bus. I have had a similar reaction, as have most of us. I think it is normal.)

How about this: When the oncoming nurse finally noticed my error, she contacted the MD and took corrective action, rescheduling future doses. Then, she followed facility policy and documented it using our ***** process. Now, when I give bedside report, I am always careful to review all the meds/fluids hanging. When I first take on a patient, I physically trace all the lines, and check the IV site, which avoids incompatibility, infusions directly into the sheets, inadvertently clamped lines, that sort of thing.