My orientee gave the wrong narcotic

[JohnD91]

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).

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

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

Here's the issue. Replace "right" with "correct." I.e, you make sure it is the correct route, correct time, correct resident, etc. "Right to refuse" means that the resident/pt has a right to refuse a pill, and therefore it is using the word right in a very different sense. When you start adding in these rights, you start to muddy the issue and over complicate the issue.

In addition, your actively check the traditional rights--you make sure it is the correct patient, you make sure it is the correct med, correct done, correct time, etc. You don't actively make sure they know they have the right to refuse. Yes, if they want to refuse, you say something to the effect of "that is your right," but you don't with every med say to the patient "you know, you have the right to refuse this med."

Also, wouldn't right date fall under right time? Again, why make it more complicated.

As for the OP, I agree with those who said it should "fall" on the licensed orientee, not the preceptor.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

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.

LOL! (Then again, probably shouldn't laugh since it's sadly true!)