Med error ques

[yankeesrule]

In Feb I took a promotion where I now am a supervisor and no longer working in title for NYS as an LPN. Since then I have been wrote up for 5 med errors:

1. dr ordered a med stopped and a new med started (vit c). I instructed staff to d/c med, they didnt do it accurately .. hence I got the error. The vit C is another issue.. I wont go into but was wrote up for that.

2. I notifed the nurse on a sat via interoffice emial) that one lady would run out of Oscal. We needed a new Rx. I was off sun/mon. Was out sick t/w Thur I am informed at 830pm we dont have oscal for the lady in the am. I notifed the Rn via email of this (there are other circumstances) but because I didnt notify the nurse on call immediatley Med error.

3. wrote up for med error as we ALMOST ran out of Fruit eze.. (those not famililar with its like a prune spread) very hard to gage when to order as we use 4 tablespoons a day. Due to the pharmacy not always having stock I was wrote up for this possible error.

I am wanting to know : if I am still a LPN but not in title with my job because I took a step up the ladder, does my knowledge and crediablity not count. I am concerned this could go to my licsense. I dont know if this nurse just does not like me but there seems to be no give here. I am not saying I didnt make errors following the policy.. perhaps this is just a venting post. Then the mere fact I am a trainee in this slot I am not entitled to my union representation after being with NYS for 13yrs. I feel like this is a railroading and they are lining the track right up me. I have never in my 5yrs as a LPN felt so incompentent and questioning my ability and knowledge. Makes me rethink being anurse and perhaps a nice career in customer service is safer.

Thanks for reading my vent.

[TazziRN, RN]

I don't really have any input but I wanted to give you a hug.

:icon_hug:

[bookwormom]

These don't sound like terribly significant errors. My understanding of monitoring med errors is that there shouldn't be a focus on blame/punishment, but rather a focus on system issues-- so that problems leading to errors can be fixed. (Granted, I'm not working in a hospital at this time.) I hope all this works out ok. It does sound to me like the system you are working under isn't the best.

[mandykal, ADN, RN]

These don't sound like terribly significant errors. My understanding of monitoring med errors is that there shouldn't be a focus on blame/punishment, but rather a focus on system issues-- so that problems leading to errors can be fixed. (Granted, I'm not working in a hospital at this time.) I hope all this works out ok. It does sound to me like the system you are working under isn't the best.

I like how the above was said...

To the OP, your policy and procedure reference is your best friend. Review it, understand it, and know it. I don't know your policy but it sounds kinda like the workplace I work. The supervisor advises the nurse on new orders and the nurses follows thru... Perhaps, you should bring with you a note pad as I did when I was in your position. I wrote down names of clients with new orders, and at the end of shift, I would glance at my friend who always reminds me (my note pad), and I would check to see if the orders were indeed followed-up. Sounds more to do but occasionally, I did find errors. I know it's more easier said than done, but pick your self up today....relax, no harm was done. When you return to work now, you know what happened, you are more prepared than ever to prevent it from happening. :wink2:

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Sounds like there really isn't a very good system going on there. When there were cases of change in Rx, the RN's had to do it. We had to go to the med carts, take the med OUT (so it can't be used), yellow it out of the MAR and d/c it, and write a note in the 24 hour communication log that it was d/c'd and taken out. Same if it was a change in dose, route..and so on...old out/ d/c the med/ log it.

As far as running out, we tried to catch that earily but rarely happened. We would have a note on the MAR slot for that med saying the time and date we re-ordered the med and also logged in the 24 hour log. Then we also had a telephone log with pharmacy were we logged who and when we talked to anyone! Lot of writing yes, covered our hinies...oh yeah!

Whenever I got a med that was about out, I made it a priority to re-order it right then and there so I wouldn't forget...or I wrote it down in my notebook to do it before I left. My notebook was (still is) my brain! LOL!