Medication errors by new grad

[DysrhythmiaRN11]

I started a new job recently. Unfortunately its a nursing and rehabilitation center. The patient load is horrific of up to 30 patients max! I am in a 6 week orientation program. My 3rd week of orientation I hit the floor and the nurses immediately wanted to push their boundaries. I was suppose to be getting trained on all 3 wings before being left alone; technically thats their rules and as a new orientee, you make only 23 dollars an hour to train until your 6 weeks is up. '

Last Thursday the facility was short. I had been on a certain wing for only 2 days. I wasn't familiar with the medications or the patients. The unit manager assigned me to the wing all by myself to their convience to manage 18 patients by myself. I didn't complain, I did the job because I thought I had to,even though i had no preceptor.

I gave a pain patch at 9am that was scheduled for 9pm by accident and on top of that, it was 15 mcg instead of 50mcg. I am not making any excuses for my mistake, it was an honest mistake. i am working out of a MAR that is scribbled upon day in and day out..its unorganized, messy and it shouldn't be allowed to be used. All medication administration records should be electronic. The 9pm looked like 9am and the dosage I just totally missed. I guess this is what will make me a knowledgeable nurse.. learning from my mistakes.

The ironic part is although i admitted to my mistakes, the unit manager claims she doesn;t remember me working alone as the primary nurse... i told her she is the one who assigned it and she played a part in the error... and until my training is over as a new grad.. i refuse to work alone because that error could have been avoided. Am I wrong... I felt bad.

[NickiLaughs, ADN, BSN, RN]

No you shouldn't have been alone by yourself. It is your error, but it sounds like a lot of other contributing factors happened. If the MAR is illegible or the order is, it needs to be redone. I would be concerned that she says she didn't assign you to yourself. I know it's a rough economy, but I think I would start browsing around for another job, this one sounds like your license could be on the line.

[DysrhythmiaRN11]

No you shouldn't have been alone by yourself. It is your error, but it sounds like a lot of other contributing factors happened. If the MAR is illegible or the order is, it needs to be redone. I would be concerned that she says she didn't assign you to yourself. I know it's a rough economy, but I think I would start browsing around for another job, this one sounds like your license could be on the line.

I know, and thats the scary part, a new job. As a new graduate I found it difficult to get into the job I have. I am guessing that it is much better to not have a job and still have my license rather than having a job and loosing my license. I switched to a different shift with less of a work load and possibly better trained nurses. I will see how it goes. I appreciate the response. Its nice to hear from experienced nurses that know what they are talking about.