LPN Reprimand listed on National Provider Data Bank

Nurses Professionalism

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Hello,

I have been an LPN for 6 years. I will be graduating from the LPN-RN program in December! in 2014 I inadvertently made a med error by giving a kid Menactra instead of Daptacel. I did not know until a coworker told me when I came in at 0900 the next day. I immediately began to freak out. The person who informed me had worked there for 3 years and I considered her a friend. Well, I considered all of them in the office a friend! I was wrong! This person was responsible for the vaccine count on the previous day and she miscounted. So that is why it was not caught until the next morning. She instructed me to erase the wrong administration and put the correct one to make the right. So, I did. As this is going on the boss is walking around the nurses station demanding answers about the count being off. I was terrified! There was so many people at the nurses station. I surely didn't want to tell her what happened at the nurses station. About 10 minutes later I realized that I would have to tell my boss about the med error. But before I could get to her, she was already heading for me! Long story short....my boss turned me in to the BON and I now have a reprimand on my LPN license. I will soon (hopefully) have an RN license! I have gotten hired at 4 other places since this incident. I was completely honest about the event in my interviews. I got the jobs with no issues. My concern is being listed in the National Provider Data Bank. Does anyone know if that will affect me be able to work in the hospital setting as an RN? I know the hospital setting has more strenuous hiring process. I know that it will be two different licenses but the reprimand will still show in the NPDB. Help....any suggestions?

I am surprised as well that it was reported to the BON. I can't imagine, if it's a medication error and pt uncompromised, that it would hinder your ability to get a good job.

Also, no matter how long you've been a nurse, you can make mistakes. How you handle those mistakes will define your character. Good Luck and congrats on graduating!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
Maybe I missed something....is it standard practice these days to be reported to the BON for every med error? :cyclops:

I wonder that as well...for every Ned error I have committed, I would have SEVERAL reprimands.... :nailbiting:

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