MED ERROR went to corporate

Published

Made a med error on my last day of orientation at my new job, in a town I recently moved to. The staff came against me and my case wasn’t resolved in house, instead they are reporting me to corporate and didn’t treat me like their team member. The medication was just given 1.5hrs early because I was just trying to help the CNAs and anyone else who needed help during my shift as a team player than being stuck up. I was so worried about helping the team succeed that I overlooked one medication not on the MAR when I gave it. Sometimes the staff come to me saying patient wants a pill and are demanding even though it’s my responsibility. I think it’s important to take people’s emotion into account when making decisions because everyone is in their own situation. It’s pretty pathetic that I actually did work the next shift and it went very smoothly. The error wasn’t found until the day after I had already worked one shift. I marked off the medication in the narcotic book and that’s where I was reported for administering it 1.5hrs early. I was still new to the facility and now I’m literally begging for a damn job after working so hard to get it. I’m sick of all this trouble when it was just an innocent mistake. Instead of my team and people being supportive and helping me learn I was talked to like I had some other intentions in mind. I was even accused of medication diversion. Honestly this could have been solved at the facility and I would have done an incident report when the patient wasn’t even harmed... now I’m being harmed and could lose my future. I’ll hear back from the risk manager Monday or Tuesday with “corporates decision”. Why couldn’t this be solved at the facility with an incident report like any other place! This is very extreme and it’s hard on me I’m young and I just moved to the area. This is mean. I understand what I did was wrong but now I’m going to be very hurt if I lose my job. This should be a learning experience and we should all work together. Now I’m being left out of the talks about me even though other people should take some accountability and responsibility for also working there. Man I always go above and beyond for people but lately I’ve been attacked professionally! As a licensed nurse I might lose my job due to one medicine error at the facility. Well if this is the case then any nurse who does the same should also lose their job. That isn’t nice though for people who work so hard. No one is perfect. It’s not professional to treat people without respect and not give them an excuse. I have a feeling this is the end for me and I don’t think it’s fair and I hope I get another chance, but I don’t think I will because I don’t feel like they took me seriously. Staff was unprofessional and mean ever since I started working as a nurse I have been attacked by CNAs saying we don’t do anything. Now after trying to impress them and working hard I have a med error. I don’t blame the CNAs but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. The supervisors should know better they are also treated badly, but no one sticking up for me and I’m actually a victim if I lose my job over this. I think the facility knows it should get more organized. Well I will continue to support my team and work to help the patients as best we can. I think that someone else in this situation would get different treatment. I am authoritative with the rules and it intimidates people, even the supervisors... I think they want me gone and it’s personal. I think that because this could have not went down public especially for me as a new nurse and could have been talked about more during a group meeting rather than me getting hurt over discussions about my practice. Well, I hope you have a good day and I am hoping for the best. ?? 

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The company is taking advantage of me while I’m home being suspended and other nurses are at work at the same facility that is disorganized. Some nurses even laughing and having a social time... little do they know. Management was very poor and they need a leader like me back at work to fix the problem and teach others. I feel like my situation is being taken advantage of and other nurses are using my example to help themselves. Yes I feel discriminated against because I tried so hard! 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
12 hours ago, A.A.I. said:

The company is taking advantage of me while I’m home being suspended and other nurses are at work at the same facility that is disorganized. Some nurses even laughing and having a social time... little do they know. Management was very poor and they need a leader like me back at work to fix the problem and teach others. I feel like my situation is being taken advantage of and other nurses are using my example to help themselves. Yes I feel discriminated against because I tried so hard! 

Feeling some hope but I know it could all be crushed. (: just taking it easy today 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in FNP.

Everyone makes a mistake, its unfortunately this is how ALL companies are they treat you like a criminal. There should be a learning curves such as a written warning and a video by the nurse educator to remind you how meds are passed it's just that simple. I don't think you would lose your job, highly unlikely.

 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in retired LTC.

Am reading this late, but I have to say that I have some serious concerns. Bottom line is you admittedly gave a med 1.5 hours early. Too early! You knew that. Yet you've failed to admit that you rolled over one of the '5 rights'. AND it wasn't on the MAR! Like you administered it from the Narc Sign-Out Book. That says discontinued med to me and thusly, you gave a narc WITHOUT AN ORDER! Is this the story here?!? By doing so, is does open up the facility's concern re the possibility of drug diversion. And they HAVE TO investigate in house to start.

You're defensive and finding excuses for a fundamental med error, one that involved a narcotic. I don't think you get it that the facility sees this as a bigger potential problem. DANG, you were still on orientation!  This was serious. So Corporate most rightly HAD to be consulted.

You've NOT expressed any ownership of making the error nor any remorse. You have all kinds of reasons.You've an inflated opinion of yourself as 'better than other staff'. Don't you think this may have already come across to many others and they're not esp fond of you?? You also seem to have the same derisive opinion of mgt/admin. Sounds like you've had differences with supervisors already. How long have you've been there to have developed such a persona??

Contrary to what you believe, you are NOT a victim, nor are you 'being harmed', as you say. I don't think they're going to be very forgiving and lenient. Even if you were to stay on, going forward, you will be wearing a BIG, FAT, RED BULLSEYE TARGET. So you might start to consider looking elsewhere for a job. And don't be surprised 'Not Eligible For Rehire' will follow you.

On a remote possibility, perhaps the issue was referred for an official second opinion acdg to Corp's decision. Like a tie-breaker opinion. I wish I could be more sympathetic, but it's hard. I hope things do work out for you.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School LVN, Peds HH.
On 11/3/2020 at 5:03 PM, amoLucia said:

Am reading this late, but I have to say that I have some serious concerns. Bottom line is you admittedly gave a med 1.5 hours early. Too early! You knew that. Yet you've failed to admit that you rolled over one of the '5 rights'. AND it wasn't on the MAR! Like you administered it from the Narc Sign-Out Book. That says discontinued med to me and thusly, you gave a narc WITHOUT AN ORDER! Is this the story here?!? By doing so, is does open up the facility's concern re the possibility of drug diversion. And they HAVE TO investigate in house to start.

You're defensive and finding excuses for a fundamental med error, one that involved a narcotic. I don't think you get it that the facility sees this as a bigger potential problem. DANG, you were still on orientation!  This was serious. So Corporate most rightly HAD to be consulted.

You've NOT expressed any ownership of making the error nor any remorse. You have all kinds of reasons.You've an inflated opinion of yourself as 'better than other staff'. Don't you think this may have already come across to many others and they're not esp fond of you?? You also seem to have the same derisive opinion of mgt/admin. Sounds like you've had differences with supervisors already. How long have you've been there to have developed such a persona??

Contrary to what you believe, you are NOT a victim, nor are you 'being harmed', as you say. I don't think they're going to be very forgiving and lenient. Even if you were to stay on, going forward, you will be wearing a BIG, FAT, RED BULLSEYE TARGET. So you might start to consider looking elsewhere for a job. And don't be surprised 'Not Eligible For Rehire' will follow you.

On a remote possibility, perhaps the issue was referred for an official second opinion acdg to Corp's decision. Like a tie-breaker opinion. I wish I could be more sympathetic, but it's hard. I hope things do work out for you.

Oh my... I agree with the quoted post 100%. You gave a narcotic early at the very least -- I'm still confused if it was even ordered. If you gave a narc that was dc'ED?! HOLY COW! As the licensed professional in this situation, it's absolutely your job and your responsibility to make sure all the meds are correct. You failed with the med rights. It's super disappointing to see the lack of humility and responsibility being taken here.

If I was your supervisor, you wouldn't have been suspended, but fired. As well as reported to the board.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in EMS, LTC, Sub-acute Rehab.

1) There are 2 kinds of nurses. Those who've made med errors and those who are going to make med errors.

2) No one has ever died directly from pain.

3) Corporate and the Law do not care about your feeling or emotions.

4) Never do anything your career can't handle.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion