medical mistakes

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i am a big beliver that you learn by making mistakes. some mistakes are obviously bigger than others. and as humans we are never perfect, and we don't live in a perfect world.

now that i have been working for 8 months, i can say that i have made a few mistakes myself. one time i did not give the scheduled pain med for my patient ..... (i can honestly say i do not know how i missed it, according to the computer it said it was a round the clock med when in fact on my paper med sheet it was a prn order--- and that was concidered a medical error).

i put up a bag of normal saline instead of an lr bag for my patient-- (the little bags look identical!!).

just to name a few------- but nothing that would kill any one of my precious pediatric patients.

last night, i heard a story that a couple of years ago, a nurse in the oncology floor was giving a chemo drug to my patient-- the nurse 1 had nurse 2 witness the chemo. nurse 1 gave 4x's the ordered dossage of chemo to the patient, the patient died, nurse 1 lost her license, and nurse 2 went on probation.

i know that working at night it's hard for us, but we still need to be on our feet-- not only to keep our licenses -- but for the sake of the patient's lives.

sometimes, my co-workers tell me "don't worry. i don't have to look at it" .... (talking here about my morphine that she needs to witness me). but evenso, i still make her look at it before giving it to the patient. after all, she has to signed that she saw it.

i like hearing stories like this because it helps me learn more so i don't make those mistakes. and perhaps, the hospital should have classes or medical error classes where mistakes are shared with us new nurses so we don't make the same mistakes.:confused:

Specializes in Tele.

I totally agree with everyone!

In my hospital we have the same system too with the machine that gives the meds, and witnesses for morphine---

but sometimes we do have to have a second witness to give IV lipids and Heparin and TPN --- and chemo--- that comes straight from the pharmacy, and with blood products too.... and you do have to have a witness check on you. & that was the problem that happened in my OP.

I like reading and listening to these type of stories, they are very informational and a good learning tool for us newbies!

Specializes in Oncology.

We don't double check heparin, mag, or potassium, and I give them all literally everyday. We do double check chemo and insulin though. We all seem to take the chemo checking very seriously, but not so much the insulin.

In our EMR if you sign out a med it makes you put in a name, but the other person has to enter their password also.

Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

"DILANTIN IS IN"!!! OMG- this resident just PUSHED the dilantin!!!

I'm confused. I push dilantin a lot. Was it just the wrong dose? Are you telling us this resident killed this child?

Specializes in PICU/NICU.
"DILANTIN IS IN"!!! OMG- this resident just PUSHED the dilantin!!!

I'm confused. I push dilantin a lot. Was it just the wrong dose? Are you telling us this resident killed this child?

I the pediatric/neonatal population, we never "push" dilantin, we give it slowly- dose says 50mg/min- however, we usually give it much slower than that- like on a syringe pump over at least 10 mins(helps prevent bradycardia/hypotention). This gal just slammed it in just like you would epi. I forgot to mention that this was a cardiac pt,too. And yes, the child died. I can't say that she would have lived if this did not happen, but it sure did not help matters.

Specializes in Med/Surg.
Most mistakes I have been aware of or witness to have been due to overload. Too great a work load, too little time, and no assistance from co-workers or administration.

So very glad that I never make mistakes.

How do you manage to never make a mistake?

Specializes in Oncology.

In my opinion, someone who says they never make mistakes just isn't catching their mistakes, which is even scarier.

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