MEDICATION ERROR

[beyer_corpuz]

I am an LPN and I made med error back in January. We were short staffed; pharmacy lated; pressure from MD's. Additionally (my bad) I only had a few hours sleep the night before. Lotes going on.

Error - two similar meds with similar names in stimulant class. I administered same dose as was required. Mixed up one med for other with same dose. I reported this. I observed patent and young boy went home same day.

A month went by. I was taken off meds. Then They called me to labor relation. To, make a long story short they suspended me for 30 days. Then they called me for hearing in 3 months later. After much dictation for the ADN handling this they decided to demote me . My union rep would nor let me talk. The ADN said that he went back in my history over my 8 yrs as an LPN. I had never been reported for any medication error . Yet he claimed I had other mistakes. I know any mistakes I resolved at that times.

Two months later they offer to demote me to a psych tech( I work in psychiatry) which as my title ten years ago. They cut my salary $6,000, If I agreed I would go back to work in that capacity. Otherwise I could go to court which my union rep advised against.

I tried to fund jobs outside but could only find nursing homes. So two weeks I signed to go back as a psych tech. I started on Friday(2 days ago). Don't ask me why I am writing this now. I had forgotten about this great site and had changed emails.

I will stop here. This is the so called General Summary.

My career is really over in this hospital.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I'm sorry this happened to you.

I was wondering as I read your story if you had made other medication errors of which you were unaware. There probably isn't a single one of us who hasn't had that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomach when we come to work the next day and the nurse who took over our patient says "I just wanted to let you know . . . ."

If your colleagues aren't as up front as mine, it's entirely possible that you've made mistakes of which you are ignorant. Maybe they didn't want to take the time to talk to you about it, or they thought you wouldn't take criticism well -- for some reason nobody TOLD you when they discovered your error. I would challenge you to make every attempt to find out. Once you know exactly why the decision was made, you can address the issue. It's rather difficult to address an issue of which you are unaware.

Ask your union representative for recommendations to get your career back on track. They usually have good ideas based on their experiences representing other employees. My husband was a union rep for years, and he was often able to work out remediation programs for employees to keep them on the job. It's something to consider.

Good luck to you as you work through this demotion. I hope you're able to get your career back on track. I have to admire you for taking the demotion and continuing to work while you sort through your options.

[beyer_corpuz]

Thank you,

This is so helpful. I am in orientation now at the same hospital. I would write more but I s onsu subway.

thanks cb

[Buyer beware, BSN]

OP:

I had a patient once who was on a Pitressen drip for ISADH.

Since, as usual, after report I noticed the liter bag of this stuff running out, I called to the pahramacy to make me up a batch.

"OK, fax me the order." So I faxed the order.

Before long, I received the medication.

When I went to spike the bag I noticed that it was labeled Pitocin.

When I called the pharmacy saying "say, you sent me Pitocin instead of Pitressen!" The pharamacist replied, "hell! they're right next to each other on the shelf!"

This is what I mean.

[lindseylpn]

Even though your employer has "demoted" you, your BON holds you accountable to your highest degree/license. So, even though your title with your employer is "psych tech" the state still sees you as an LPN. Personally I wouldn't work in this position and I'd find something else.

[NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN]

I won't tell you not to take or keep the psych tech position because only you know what your financial obligations are. But I will say that the longer you remain employed in that capacity, the harder it will be for you to find another LPN/LVN position. I understand being in a company for ten years and wanting to stay on. But what benefit is that company to you now? They will allow you to keep going and retire as a tech? Do they plan to put you back into orientation as a nurse...ever??? The longer you accept this, the longer they will stand by their decision.

The handwriting on the wall is that you will begin to lose what few nursing skills you have acquired and as such, will receive poor performance reviews from preceptors should the current employer decide to give you a second chance. The flip side of this coin is that your employer will extract basic nursing tasks from you (such as Foley insertions/removals, IV discontinuations, replacing IV fluids, etc.) without compensating you one dime for what you know.

You should be looking to find another position right away! Employers will be wanting X-amount of years recent 'nursing' experience within the past X-year(s). It is better to offer a reasonable explanation with a corrective plan of action in place, than to allow a current employer to cause you to have wasted time, money, and possibly a future, on an education and license that they will no longer allow you to use.