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Discussion

Medication Error

Hey everyone,

I am not a nurse yet, I am in school for my RN. I made a medication error and now I feel like I should never be a nurse. Does anyone else feel this way? The patient was not harmed because of it and I honestly just didn't go over my 6 rights well enough. I now how the 6 rights written on my badge so I will always do it but it was a dumb mistake and I feel terrible. My job does not take lightly to this either. I really just question my ability to be an RN after this. I love school and do well and love my job and patients. Am I the only one to make a mistake?

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    • Has anyone else done this? 33 members have participated

    1. 1. Has anyone else done this?

      • Yes
        69%
        23
      • No
        30%
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    Featured Replies

    Hi , I am not student ,but I am a new nurse and I have being made similar medication error, now my manager wrote me up and I gave me a action plan for commitment to improve, I feel sad and dump but the same time I am glad and think positive because I know that I will learn by my own mistake. Please some one help me how to write a action plan. I love what I do, I love my job and I don't want lose it.

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    We all make mistakes.

    You made a mistake, and there was no harm done.

    If you have the right attitude, this will make you better, and reduce your chances of a harmful mistake.

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    I'm curious as to how this error happened - doesn't a physician physically verify that you (as a medical assistant) have the correct vaccine/medication before you go in to the patient to administer it?

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    I'm curious as to how this error happened - doesn't a physician physically verify that you (as a medical assistant) have the correct vaccine/medication before you go in to the patient to administer it?

    I can't confirm anything about the OPs situation, but I can speak to what I have observed in other clinics. Generally, the physician just orders the medication and asks the MA to give it. They don't physically verify it or have to be present in the room when it is given.

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    This should possibly be an opportunity for a systems change in that regard. ^

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    Generally, the physician just orders the medication and asks the MA to give it. They don't physically verify it or have to be present in the room when it is given.

    I recently received a vaccination, and while the physician wasn't in the room when it was given by the medical assistant (nor did I expect them to be), I have reason to believe that the physician who ordered the vaccine verified that the medical assistant had the correct vaccine before they came into the room to administer it.

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    • Author

    Medical assistant can admin meds and vaccines. I know I messed up but I do have an associates degree for medical assisting. They don't have to verify anything. And I don't work in a Pcp office either. Basically the only difference between my RN and I is that an RN can give narcotics and start iv's.

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    Medical assistant can admin meds and vaccines. I know I messed up but I do have an associates degree for medical assisting. They don't have to verify anything. And I don't work in a Pcp office either. Basically the only difference between my RN and I is that an RN can give narcotics and start iv's.

    Except that a nurses livelihood could be taken away, as in their hard-earned license.

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    I'm curious as to how this error happened - doesn't a physician physically verify that you (as a medical assistant) have the correct vaccine/medication before you go in to the patient to administer it?

    No, physicians are not required to do that. However, MAs are still required to perform the 5 Rights, just like nurses do. This did not happen.

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    I do have an associates degree for medical assisting.

    I didn't know there were associates degrees for MAs separate from certificate programs. What made you choose the associates degree path? Does it allow you to make more money or do a broader range of things in your job? Do both paths lead to the same certification?

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    • Author

    I got all my RN re-reqs done in it and I get to work in the field during clinicals. Plus I wasn't sure if I really wanted health care at 1st.

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    • Experts
    Thank you, my work is not cool about this and I feel awful. They make it seem like it has never been done before.

    They have all made errors, trust me. They are just making you feel rotten so that you will feel so badly that you might very well never make another error in your whole career.

    Those who don't make errors are working in an area where they don't give meds.

    Don't keep bringing it up, don't tell the whole staff. Just learn from it and carry on.

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