Need some advice about error :(

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

Deep breaths, it's NOT the worst thing that ever happened. Patient, you, and wife are okay. It's up to the policy now.

RN wife should have known that.. she was not covered under HER license to draw blood in this setting.

Notify supervision now.. not tomorrow.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

Honestly, as long as no harm came to anyone, I'm not sure this is one I would take further

fezz · Mar 27, 2017

I can understand that you are worried because the liability question in America can make people a bit paranoid but you DID NOT HARM your patient. This is not a big deal. This was an IV start , not a risky procedure. The patient was compliant. Honestly in peds we have the parents do medical procedures all the time, patients come to the hospital and self cath them self if they insists on it. Don't beat yourself up over this. We all make mistakes, this is not a big one. I'm not sure what bringing it up to the supervisor would even do?

Sour Lemon · Mar 27, 2017

So HH nurse, went to draw labs on pt who is hard stick. Wife is RN, attempted to get blood via venipunture 2x, wife said let me try. I let wife try and she was successful .....NEVER CROSSED MY MIND UNTIL STARTED VENIPUNCTURE WHAT I JUST LET HAPPEN......I am going to be talking to my supervisor about situation tomorrow. I feel like I just let the worst thing ever happen. Any advice out there? Didnt know I could do something so stupid

Just don't do it again. I don't see the need to turn it into an ordeal.

blondy2061h, MSN, RN · Mar 27, 2017

I can understand that you are worried because the liability question in America can make people a bit paranoid but you DID NOT HARM your patient. This is not a big deal. This was an IV start , not a risky procedure. The patient was compliant. Honestly in peds we have the parents do medical procedures all the time, patients come to the hospital and self cath them self if they insists on it. Don't beat yourself up over this. We all make mistakes, this is not a big one. I'm not sure what bringing it up to the supervisor would even do?

Yeah, I'm coming at this from an oncology perspecrice where we send patients home with CVLs, feeding tubes, TPN, trachs, and chest tubes and their non-medical professional family members are taking care of them. Even when they're re-admitted they often prefer the family member do the care as they're comfortable with that. I watch to make sure technique and sterility is correct, and use it as a teaching moment if not, but other than that allow it.

Dallas_RN, BSN, EMT-P · Mar 27, 2017

Patient is safe, no harm was done...take it as a learning experience and move on.

RiskManager · Mar 27, 2017

I, for one, would not get too exercised over this. The patient clearly had no problem with it and there was no adverse outcome. I would not make a habit of it, though.

cleback · Mar 27, 2017

We teach family how to manage IVs and do other nursing procedures all the time. You were supervising for correct technique. No need to get worked up. I may talk with my manager though about what to do for future requests. Now that the wife was allowed to try, she may want to do it again and will be upset if she is told no.

Cowboyardee · Mar 27, 2017

... I feel like I just let the worst thing ever happen...

Apologies in advance for a bit of snark/perspective.

The worst thing ever might be killing a whole lot of patients intentionally and maliciously. Of course, history's most prolific known serial killer was a nurse: Charles Cullen - Wikipedia

The next worst thing ever might be killing patients negligently or carelessly. Also been done thousands of times in this profession, I'm afraid.

Maybe the nurse who coordinated the Tuskegee experiment deserves a shout out here too. Eunice Rivers Laurie - Wikipedia

And the list continues, very much including causing unneeded pain and suffering despite good intentions.

Miles down that list of bad things you can do as a nurse, I suppose you'll find allowing another off-duty nurse who's better than you are at some task to perform said task and save a little aggravation for the patient. Maybe.

But above that one by more than a few spots is thinking like a bureaucrat and wasting more time wringing your hands over a situation where care was provided in good faith and in a way that improved outcomes and delivery (albeit marginally) than worrying about how you might deliver better care in the future. There's more to this job than liability.