OK, to offset the thread "What was the most incompetent thing you ever saw a coworker do" I will start this thread. How many out there are brave enough to admit to mistakes they have made, and what we learned from those mistakes?
Let's make this thread a positive one and hopefully we will help each other avoid the same errors in the future....:)
Here's one of many of mine...I will add more as we go:
I got hoodwinked into staying over and doing a double. I was exhausted with a sick baby at home and had not slept well in a week. I was like a zombie making that last med pass at 6 am..and I had 13 patients on medsurg to pass meds to.
Well, we were short (and this was 20 years ago...not much different now is there?) and I was behind so I cut corners...found out later I had completely mixed up two patients' medications.: patient A got patient B's meds and vice versa.
Well, luckily these ladies were astute enough to not take them. I wish they had said something to me at the time, but as I said, I was rushed and behind so I probably didn't give them a chance...just pushed the pills at them and ran off....
My director called me at home later very sternly..to come in for a counseling. I felt awful. The ladies, of course, had spoken directly to my boss about this mistake I had made. No harm done, Thank God, as the patients didn't take those incorrect meds I gave them.
I learned not to let myself get talked into working extra when I know I'm already exhausted. Saying 'No' is the safest thing to do in those circumstances, to avoid potentially serious errors due to exhaustion.. And I also learned never to shortcut the '5 Rights' of medication administration because I am 'running behind.'
