Medication Error

[That1Rn]

Sooo… I’ve been an RN for a whole 6 weeks..

and it’s happened. I’ve messed up… 

A little context… my last shift, after a terrible pm shift onto am. I had one discharge and the rest were fine.. I work on a dementia delirium/ acute geriatric ward that’s really heavy. I thought I was doing great, had done all showers, etc, helped my fellow sisters taking patients for x-ray and I was feeling amazing … lunch time came.. go in to check my patient BSL as I did in the morning…. And my heart sank….

I realised …. I missed his morning insulin jab…

100% my fault.

Back track-

While I was in the middle of getting my patients meds (which is in the draw next to the patient) he has a bowel action, got everywhere so decided to clean him up In the shower and redress his wounds as they got soiled. Give his medication and his clexane and moved on. 

When I took his lunch time BSL it was 10.1 he said oh that’s high (he was orientated) which made me think … I go straight to the BSL chart and I see it…. I go to my charge nurse and ask what to do…

She said go see the doctor which I did and he said give the insulin (12:30) at this time… I documented the whole thing in my notes and the charge was so nice and was checking on me and said she had done it before also… I have 4 days off so I’m just sitting at home… wondering if my patient is OK. 

I will never make this mistake again, I know that for sure… I just feel like I shouldn’t be a nurse, I can’t even tell my close nurse friend out of fear of judgment because it was purely my error. 

[Checkers08, BSN, MSN, RN]

I know it's difficult, but try to give yourself some grace. Like you said, you've been an RN for a whole 6 weeks.

Errors happen. We are all human. The best thing you can do is learn from this, and it sounds like you have.

[John2018]

You did what you need to do when you realized the error.. You owned up and made yourself accountable..Your patient will be fine..Enjoy your off, rest well.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

On 3/3/2022 at 1:33 AM, That1Rn said:

I will never make this mistake again, I know that for sure… I just feel like I shouldn’t be a nurse, I can’t even tell my close nurse friend out of fear of judgment because it was purely my error. 

The highlighted part is the important part.  As long as you've learned the root cause and won't do it again you've learned the hard way like many of us do.  You are not alone.

If your nurse friend is so perfect she/he/they have never made an error and judge you then they are lying.

 

[JKL33]

It is only a big deal in that you will learn something from it. It will be of zero lasting consequence for the patient.

On 3/3/2022 at 1:33 AM, That1Rn said:

I just feel like I shouldn’t be a nurse

I mean this kindly: This ^ is not a reasonable reaction or personal conclusion.  There are various lessons that can be learned from this minor incident, and one of them is that you have to be able to get through hiccups without such self deprecation. You deciding that you aren't fit to be a nurse isn't going to help any patients or yourself. It isn't an answer to anything.

Okay?

Take care, everything is fine.