Med error,I'm suspended,I need advice,please!

Mama2-3 · Aug 25, 2005

i don't inderstand how come they blame you when the RN said yes for the medication and after giving the medicine she realised it was wrong she should be suspended too.

Thanks so much for replying back,I could use all the support I can get right now.The RN was not suspended,they need her too much,She is a good RN and I am a good LPN.Someone has to be blamed and it was me.I admitted my mistake and I thank the LOrd that my patient is fine.RUle #1 ,no matter how much you trust your co-workers,NEVER give a med that has been poured by someone else,you never know what is in there.I will never make that mistake again.

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 25, 2005

RUle #1 ,no matter how much you trust your co-workers,NEVER give a med that has been poured by someone else,you never know what is in there.I will never make that mistake again.

This is really good advice. This is one of the first things we learned in school. Im sorry this happened to you! Good Luck, I hope everything works out for yoU!

meownsmile, BSN, RN · Aug 25, 2005

Mama2-3,, you have learned a valuable lesson. I agree that maybe that isnt someplace you really want to be if they will hang you out that quick. State your case,, what you know you did wrong, how you will make sure it doesnt happen again and then give your notice as soon as possible. I wouldnt even speak to what the RN did, beyond your belief that the meds you gave him were in fact what she told you they were and you did in fact give them, leave her out of it. If they want to get to the bottom of it they will call her in too, she has some questions to answer to also.

Mandylpn · Aug 25, 2005

i don't inderstand how come they blame you when the RN said yes for the medication and after giving the medicine she realised it was wrong she should be suspended too.

:eek: I agree with you, and the other nurse should know better not to pre-set up meds.

DusktilDawn · Aug 25, 2005

i don't inderstand how come they blame you when the RN said yes for the medication and after giving the medicine she realised it was wrong she should be suspended too.

Unfortunately, despite the fact the other nurse poured the meds incorrectly it was Mama2-3 who gave the medication to the patient. No matter if another nurse pours the medication, if you give it, you are responsible.

Although personally I feel the that the other nurse has culpability in the situation, legally it may be another matter.

The actions taken after the error was certainly approriate. Assessing the patient, the doctor was notified, pt was admitted for observation. When a medication error does occur (yes, that can happen to the BEST of nurses) all steps must be taken to prevent any further harm to the patient. It sounds that this is exactly what happened.

I can understand the incident being investigated and both you and the RN involved spoken to about it, but suspension at this point seems overboard. The incident should be investigated first before such measures as escorting staff by security off the premises and suspension. Disiplinary action usually takes place after investigation. Have you discussed this aspect with your union representative? What are your policies and procedures involving medication errors? Is suspension until the incident is investigated part of their policies and procedures? I could understand a situation involving patient abuse involving immediate suspension and escortion off the premises.

I do wish you all the best concerning this situation. Please keep us posted.

Bird2 · Aug 25, 2005

I am not trying to be critical because all nurses including myself make mistakes. But I have to ask why the RN preset 5 narcotics? They have to be signed out so she had to be in the narc drawer, right? Are you working in long term care? If you are they are probably in a panic and worried that they will get a huge fine from the State. The facility will have to answer to the incident and have a plan of correct ready. I certainly do not think that security needed to meet you at the door. I would have been insulted esp since med errors are usually viewed as a learning experience unless a pattern has been established.

ERNURSE4MS · Aug 25, 2005

WOW. Talk about overkill. Unless there was something not in your post, what they did sounds alot like persecution. The scenerio does not add up. Has this happened to other nurses that you know of( in that faciliy)? Have you any other actions against you( for other problems)? If not, sounds like they have jumped the gun and I would make sure I talked to my union rep ASAP if I were you. In any case, I pray that this all blows over for you. And like the other posters have said. I would put in my 2weeks as soon as you get out of your hearing!

Fonenurse · Aug 25, 2005

I agree with the others - your union rep is yor best support and ally right now.

The organisation doesn't sound as if it is keen on promoting a learning environment - more of a blame culture...

Here is the UK we are keen to have learning environments, so whilst you would have had a hearing (possibly), the organisation would also have looked at why the error occurred, so that that situation could be avoided in the future... it would have then offered extra training - questions should be asked as to why an RN was leaving you to undertake this task, as well as the points that have already been raised in other posts in this thread.

I wish you well...

RNLisa · Aug 25, 2005

Here's a little rundown of what happen.40 bed unit,we were short a nurse so the RN that was covering the house had to take one cart.9pm at nite she was called to another floor for an incident that had taken place.I was at the station trying to catch up on a pile of charting and numerous other things.ONe of her pts. foleys came out and she asked me to look for one,I did that and when I came back she had poured pills for a pt but couldn't give them because he was in the shower.She left them on top of the cart and asked me to give a pain pill to another one of her pts.She left for the other floor,I went to give the pt the narcotic and notice that the count was 5 off.I didn't give him anything until I could find out why the count was off.The gentlemen then finished his shower and was asking for his pills that were prepoured by the RN.I called the RN and asked if she wanted me to give them to him,she said yes and I did(BIG MISTAKE)So happens when she came back and I told her about the narc not being right,she said,Oh my God I put five Oxycodone instead of 5 phenobarbs in the cup.I immediately sprang into action,Assessed the pt.called the DR.CAlled 9ll.Looked for narcan in the crash cart.The pt at this point was fine.He left the building in 10 minutes and was admitted for observation.He returned the next day with no harm done.I was treated like an absolute criminal,I was not allowed to enter the front doors without being escorted and was told by the security(very loudly,not to cross the line.I am sick.

Did anything happen to the RN who originally got the pills out and then left the floor??? If she was the one who originally got the pills out,then why are YOU being persecuted?? I realize that you did give the meds, BUT, you didn't get them out. WOW, I am just shocked!

I hope everything goes well for you, you are in my prayers.

Geertje · Aug 25, 2005

HI,
I am new to this site and I would like to say hello to all the nurses out there!!My name is Julie and I am an LPN.I made a med error two nights ago and have been suspended without pay till further notice.I have a hearing tomorrow with administration and my union representative.Any advice would be greatly appreciated.Thanks so much!!!

God even in SA that is harsh, fight it and then move on, the hospital doesn't deserve your services if they can't support you when you make a honest mistake, nobody is perfect all the time

grannynurse FNP student · Aug 25, 2005

Here's a little rundown of what happen.40 bed unit,we were short a nurse so the RN that was covering the house had to take one cart.9pm at nite she was called to another floor for an incident that had taken place.I was at the station trying to catch up on a pile of charting and numerous other things.ONe of her pts. foleys came out and she asked me to look for one,I did that and when I came back she had poured pills for a pt but couldn't give them because he was in the shower.She left them on top of the cart and asked me to give a pain pill to another one of her pts.She left for the other floor,I went to give the pt the narcotic and notice that the count was 5 off.I didn't give him anything until I could find out why the count was off.The gentlemen then finished his shower and was asking for his pills that were prepoured by the RN.I called the RN and asked if she wanted me to give them to him,she said yes and I did(BIG MISTAKE)So happens when she came back and I told her about the narc not being right,she said,Oh my God I put five Oxycodone instead of 5 phenobarbs in the cup.I immediately sprang into action,Assessed the pt.called the DR.CAlled 9ll.Looked for narcan in the crash cart.The pt at this point was fine.He left the building in 10 minutes and was admitted for observation.He returned the next day with no harm done.I was treated like an absolute criminal,I was not allowed to enter the front doors without being escorted and was told by the security(very loudly,not to cross the line.I am sick.

At the risk of being jumped, you were wrong. The major mistake and error, which is what I believe your employer may be upset about, YOU gave medication to a patient which you did not pour. It is well and good you recognized your error and took appropriate steps but you violated a major rule, giving a medication you did not pour. And there is no excuse for that. The appropriate response is 'sorry, I never give anything I don't pour myself'. The RN should be displined as well, for asking and pouring the wrong medication. You both were wrong.

Grannynurse :balloons:

DusktilDawn · Aug 25, 2005

at the risk of being jumped, you were wrong. the major mistake and error, which is what i believe your employer may be upset about, you gave medication to a patient which you did not pour. it is well and good you recognized your error and took appropriate steps but you violated a major rule, giving a medication you did not pour. and there is no excuse for that. the appropriate response is 'sorry, i never give anything i don't pour myself'. the rn should be displined as well, for asking and pouring the wrong medication. you both were wrong.
grannynurse :balloons:

hi grannynurse,

when i was a nursing student one of the things pounded into my head was the fact that you never give medications that you did pour myself, you will be held accountable if the medication was poured incorrectly. also pounded into me was never ask another nurse to give meds that you poured. two of the many things nursing instructors drilled into me that i will never forget. also if you are providing medication to another nurses patient, check the order before you give it. unfortunately there are the few posters who don't understand why she is being held responsible for this.

i don't think the poster is trying to avoid responsiblity for her actions in this situation. i do think she learned one lesson the hard way. the rn was also wrong in this situation.

i've seen worse nursing errors that have never been handled the way this situation was.

do you think it was appropriate for security to escort her off the premises and suspend her prior to any investigation of this incident?