Med error in nursing school!

[Will Never]

I'm in my last semester of a nursing program and I made a med error today. It has me feeling completely guilty and it makes me seriously question whether or not I will be a safe nurse.

What happened was I was assigned a new patient admit from the evening before. The patient had a prescription for synthroid on the MAR, for 0600 the following morning. But I assumed she hadn't gotten synthroid this morning either because she was admitted last night. So I went to my instructor and asked what to do even though there wasn't a dose scheduled. She asked someone the protocol and she told me to give the synthroid. So I gave it.

Then I got a call informing me that a med error was made. The patient had gotten her synthroid that morning... and I just didn't bother to look at yesterday's handwritten MAR. I was told no harm was done and no one is going to get in trouble, but it makes me depressed all the same. How could I not think to look at the old MAR to see if she got her synthroid? The MAR is setup so that 0600 this morning doesn't show up on today's MAR. It shows up on yesterday's MAR as though it were a nighttime med. That's why I assumed she didn't get the synthroid yet. I am so angry at myself, especially as a last semester nursing student about to graduate.

What are your thoughts on this?

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

instead of being a macho man and feeling like the big nurse on campus who gets to give the drugs without an instructor being present.

Wow. You really enjoyed that, didn't you?

Not all programs require instructors to be in the room during PO administration. Often, we're checked off at the Pyxis. If you have 10 students at the site, med pass would NEVER get done if an instructor has to hand-hold for PO administration later in the program.

[Nurse0621]

"instead of being a macho man and feeling like the big nurse on campus who gets to give the drugs without an instructor being present."

I'm actually quite perturbed at that comment. This student nurse had the guts to come on here looking for support, and that comment is ridiculous. A lot of nursing programs allow sn's to check off on p.o meds, allowing the sn to administer them with a peer or alone. Everyone makes mistakes - I'm sure even you have nicx. As for the original poster, keep you head held high and know that mistakes do happen no matter how much you strive to not make them. Even the safest nurses make mistakes. Learn from it and move on, you are a great student nurse.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Also I would suggest you strive to not make a med error, despite how common the mommy above me suggests they are. Yes, they are common. Yes, people make more than one. Does that mean you should just accept it and 'learn from it' because it made you feel bad? How about the patient? Obviously the synthroid isn't going to that, but somewhere down the line you might do something that will hurt them. And then 'beating yourself up' over it might be the right thing to do. Listen, nursing is a hard job. Some people just aren't cut out for it. Sometimes you have to become a scrub nurse because you can't handle the floor. That's the reality.

I don't know why I'm even bothering responding to this post because I noticed much less inflammatory responses have been deleted from this thread.

However...

I've never seen such an unwarranted, condescending tone as this. (Yes, sometimes condenscension IS warranted, but not in this thread.)

Who are you? Super Nurse?!

The "mommy" you so sarcastically speak of is apparently an ICU nurse who just happens to be a mother. Not an uncommon combination, genius. Scrub nurse "can't handle the floor?" I've been in the OR one time as a student, and my back and feet hurt like the dickens due to a combination of out-of-whack posture and flat feet. You have to have some pretty good stamina to stand all day long.

Is there no one in your universe that you DON'T look down on? You've managed to insult mothers, scrub nurses, and students in a few short sentences.

Good god.

[ckh23, BSN, RN]

Never assume.

[JoMark06]

Now, as for your instructor, you know as well as the next male nurse, that the instructor must be there with you as you administer the drug. Next time, make sure you really follow protocol and have your instructor there with you -- instead of being a macho man and feeling like the big nurse on campus who gets to give the drugs without an instructor being present.

How do you know the instructor wasn't with him when he administered the med? He didn't say that. What he did say is the he consulted with his instructor and that the instructor in turn consulted with staff of the facility. What right do you have to make such judgmental statements? And to tell him he's not cut out for the floor?? How dare you make that assumption! Nursing has a VERY steep learning curve. Did you hit the floor as a new grad doing everything perfectly? Did you never make a mistake, med error or other? This post is a GREAT example of "nurses eating their young"! And not only did you chew him up...you chewed on a few experienced nurses as well. This website is meant to offer support and advice. Yes, a little tough love is necessary at times too but think about what and how you say things before you hit submit!

To the original poster...while our ultimate goal is to avoid them, med errors are common, they do happen. The fact that you feel guilty is a good thing. It ensures that you will learn from this mistake.

I wish you the best of luck as you start your nursing career.

[Pepper The Cat, BSN, RN]

I've said this before.

Mistakes happen

Why do you think pencils have erasers? White out was invented? Why compturers have the "back up or delete key" - becuse mistake happen.

Yes, you made an error. Learn from it and move on.

It seems to me that your biggest mistake was "assuming". Never assume.

Double checked everything. Never assume. Once you are sure of your facts, then act.

[Oklahoma101010rn]

as a student nurse in my last semester...we were w a preceptor for 6 weeks and the instructor visited each hospital once a shift...mistakes happen...learning how to not make the same one and keepin the patient safe is whats important i work in ltc w 30 residents at once who are skilled i def have methods for ensuring pt safety and u will also develop methods

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

Don't be so hard on yourself- learn from your mistake and move on. While i wouldn't want to see anyone make an error, it teaches you to be more careful and to look for pitfalls that may cause future errors.

[obprof]

As a former nursing instructor, I am more upset with your instructor than you to be honest. She/he should have double-checked that med and would have discovered that it was already given. You asked for advice and help. Of course you followed your instructor's advice and trusted her/him to tell you the right thing to do.

But, yes, we all need to check and double-check what we do. Especially meds, IVs, pumps, settings. Making a med error isn't inevitable, but it is common and scary. Try to do the "5 rights" and scan the med if your system does this. I would tell my students that I check meds 3 times: when getting it ready, when walking down the hall and then right before giving it. I hope this helps. Hang in, I'm sure you'll be a great nurse!!!

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

School is the best place to make such an error. We have all made them. Remember how it feels and it will motivate you to develop routines and habits to be safe.

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

There is SIMPLY no error on your part. You are under the direction of your instructor.

I know you will learn from this .. but will your instructor?

[CrazyGoonRN]

As a student you are working under your instructors license. If the instructor told you to give it then she is ultimatly responsible for the med error since you are not a licensed nurse. You are learning and mistakes happen. Your instructor should have looked the info up herself and not relied on what her student told her.

Don't worry about it. This was not a life threating issue and the patient is fine. I honestly believe that all nurses make med errors. Some try to hide it and others own up to it. We are not just nurses we are human too. Learn from this situation and move on. You are not the first and you wont be the last to make this mistake.