My orientee gave the wrong narcotic

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · May 2, 2013

Highly doubtful. If the HR department has done its due diligence and hired this person, the preceptor has a right to assume a basic level of competence, including safe medication administration.

BrandonLPN, LPN · May 2, 2013

Highly doubtful. If the HR department has done its due diligence and hired this person, the preceptor has a right to assume a basic level of competence, including safe medication administration.

I agree with the sentiment, but too many facilities have a "take down as many as you can" philosophy when the **** hits the fan. I've seen a couple scenarios where an orientee gave the wrong meds or injured a pt during a misperformed procedure and management brought down the precepting nurse along with the orientee. When a truly adverse reaction occurs management often goes into "panic mode" and shoots down anyone conceivably involved in an effort to make it look like they made a "strong and decisive" response.

Of course, the fact that there was apparently no injury in this case bodes well for the OP.

beeker · May 2, 2013

In my unit both would be written up. It counts a lot more against the newbie and their probation is extended. This is why no one will precept on my floor. Too many issues and no extra pay.

joslina · May 2, 2013

Do you have any system for checking meds before administered? At our hospital, we have care admin which is a scanner. We scan the pts wristband and every med if they don't match you wouldn't give them. We also ask the patient for their name and DOB before administering any meds... 2 patient identifiers

jtmarcy12, BSN, RN · May 2, 2013

When an Rn percepts another person. she is responsible for overseeing that nurse. So they both probably will be written up but the perceptor may take the brunt because she did not monitor her orintee closely enough.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · May 2, 2013

So, I had an orientee on my hall the one night and everything was going very well. She passed the 1600s and I the 2000s. Toward the end of the shift the narc count was off and upon closer inspection we determined that the wrong pain pill was given to the wrong resident (the dosages were not the same, but the pill itself was). I am worried about what is going to occur and how it will occur. I'm just wondering if I am the one who should be reprimanded for the medication error (seeing as she was under my responsibility), or if she will (which I would hope would not be the case).

You're orienting her to the floor and/or the facility. You're not teaching her how to look at an order, identify the patient correctly, identify the med correctly, and so on. She has a license because she's supposed to know this much.

Her mistake, but I'd be talking with her to see why she might have made it....was she distracted? Too many balls in the air? Finding out what might have caused it can help her avoid the next one.

Sadala, ADN, RN · May 2, 2013

See, y'all are just trying to suss this out using common sense and what should happen! In order to know what actually will happen, you'd have to be able to think like an administrator (illogical and capricious).

So... think of the most irrational and random response possible. THAT will be closer to what is going to happen.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · May 2, 2013

When we orient we have to double check and co-sign certain meds. Each facility is different. We also co-sign all charting. Yes, the person giving it is responsible but if you are orienting someone new you are also responsible for making sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

Amnesty · May 3, 2013

Nope. Every licensed person is accountable for their own mistakes - especially for something so basic as medication "5 Rights".

I'm amused that there only used to be 5 Rights. I was taught 7.

The Right:

1. Documentation

2. Date

3. Dosage

4. Route

5. Resident

6. to Refuse

7. Time

RNitis · May 3, 2013

I'm amused that there only used to be 5 Rights. I was taught 7.
The Right:
1. Documentation
2. Date
3. Dosage
4. Route
5. Resident
6. to Refuse
7. Time

DRUG!

chare · May 3, 2013

I'm amused that there only used to be 5 Rights. I was taught 7.

They are now at least nine. The nine rights of medication administration: an overview.

ktwlpn, LPN · May 3, 2013

At my facility the orientee must initially pass meds with a staff development nurse,when they show competency they then proceed to the unit where they are assigned a preceptor.After familiarizing them to the med cart and residents it is acceptable for them to take the med cart independently.I always encourage my orientees to ALWAYS check the narc count immediatly upon completing each med pass-this will catch any missed meds but if they admin the incorrect med they are completely responsible.It used to be an orientee had to complete one entire med pass with staff dev and demonstrate 100% competency.I think they have reduced that med pass to just a few resident and I don't think that's a good idea....I tend to stay beside that med cart for at least 2 med passes.