Oops, sorry! Son got wrong vaccination

Nurses General Nursing

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My son is 8 years old. He had a well-child check up Friday. NP said he's due for varrivax booster and they also recommend Hep A. I had never heard of Hep A for kids. She said that it's not a new vaccination, but they've only been giving it to kids for about a month. Ok, I'll think about it. She says thats fine, she'll give me the paper work.

In walks nurse/med assistant (not sure title). She's giong to do finger poke and what I think is varivax. She was very rude from the very beginning of the appointment. Anyhow, she just grabs his finger and pokes, doesnt even give a chance to explain this to my son are ask him if he's ready. Poke! Just does it. I know he's 8 and won't say he ready, but come on a little warning would have been nice for both of us. Then she asks him where he wants his shot. "Will you hold still like a big boy and take it in the arm like the big boys do, or do we have to use your leg like the babies" I interrupted her and said that the leg would be better because the muscle is bigger and it won't be as tender afterward. So I get him ready and as I'm distracting him she pops in the shot, again no warning to either one of us. I did not see her give the shot, but then I see her put 2 bandaids on, one on each leg. Ok, whats going on. I ask her to give me a copy of what she just gave him. Sure as heck, she gave him the Hep A also. I brought this to her attention and she says, well she wrote for me to give both, I gave you the sheets, and there's really no harm. Sorry. Then walks away. I told the receptionist Sorry just isnt' good enough. I then talk to the NP who says she did not order for the Hep A only the varrivax, but that on the education she circled both varrivax and Hep A so I could look at the info. The person who gave the shot comes back over and says, well I can't take it back, and it's actually a good thing.

Yes, maybe this is a little mistake and no harm was done. But she didn't even own her mistake. She wouldn't have told anyone if I wouldn't have brought it up. I was told to call the office manager on Monday to speak to them. All I want is just an acknowledgement that it was a mistake. This lady was in a big rush since the beginning of his appt. And quite rude for being in peds office. What if it would have been something else.

I am not overreacting, am I? Now, he has a huge (larger than 50 cent piece red swollen area that is slightly warm on one leg. I don't even know which one went into which leg. I'm sure thats normal.

Thanks for listening to my vent.

Specializes in jack of all trades.

You definitely are not over reacting at all!! I would have more than P'd off and would have insisted on speaking to more than just the NP before leaving that office. Every time my son has recieved an injection his Doc doesnt allow them to leave the office for at least 20 min post injection to ensure no adverse reactions and this is her rule for all her patients. It's a good thing also as my son tends to have delayed reactions. They found out the hard way after giving a steroid injection for an asthma attack. It took 10 min before the reaction but he essentially respiratory arrested and it wasnt due to the asthma but the injection itself. Needless to say they only administer it in the ER to him now if needed. This person has no business working with kids and probably shouldnt be in the field with that sort of attitude.

I feel bad for you and your son. This is a really BIG deal. What if she had given a vaccine to a child who had an allergic reaction or whose parents objected for religious reasons, etc. I hope you mention the National Patient Safety Goals in your letter. This is a big black mark on the office/clinic that did this. Oh I would be so mad w/ that clueles ding-a-ling! I would ask for a meeting that included her and the physician who is the head of the practice!

hmmm.....can we spell a s s a u l t........

Specializes in rehab; med/surg; l&d; peds/home care.

i don't know how they do it in your peds office, but when my kids go for vaxs, the doc/NP first asks for consent for each vaxs (and explains it if need be), then he does his exam.

He leaves, orders the injections, and the MA (they don't have nurses doing vaxs there) comes in, and again hands me a record in my child's chart where the vaxs to be given are listed. I have to initial EACH one that I consent to.

Sounds like this office doesn't have checks and balances in place, and for sure the person giving the vaxs isn't following 5 rights of med administration!!! What is your son was allergic to it and it was given? She won't even admit she made a mistake! What did the NP say to you when you brought it up? Surely someone would have offered an apology. Too bad it wasn't the person who made the mistake.

I hope you get this resolved.

Did you find out the title of the person giving the vaxs? The office should be able to offer that as well...

Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

I would ask for a personal meeting with the MEDICAL DIRECTOR and the Office manager together. There is a physician/pediatrician in charge of that clinic/office and that is who you want to speak to.

I agree with putting it in writing.

The hospital they go through has nothing to do with this. The doc makes the rules in his own office.

Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

This is horrible. I would pursue it to the highest level. This ma/aide (whatever) needs to be barred from pt care. What she did is inexcusable. I also would let the office know that she can never have any contact with your sons in the future.

Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Please don't hate me, but I believe I'd get my attorney at least to write a letter of inquiry to the physician or owner of the clinic.

Otherwise you may end up with a "she said/he said/you didn't/yes you did" situation. My lawyer doesn't charge anything for a letter. What you have described is malpractice.

After the fingerstick I probably would have asked for someone else to administer the vaccinations. I agree with everybody else, go as far up as you can and be as loud as you can be. Nobody should be like that with any other person, much less a child.

Specializes in Geriatric Psych, Physicians office, OB,.

I agree. Lodge a formal complaint in writing, and present it to the physician in charge of the clinic. If it is a hospital based clinic, do the same with the CEO or administrator. I know one lady who wrote the state board of nursing when something very similar happened to her daughter. A nurse gave her 13 year old all THREE hepatitis B vaccines the same day. Said she thought that's "how it was supposed to be done"....needless to say, she took it to court. Clinic is now closed.

I'm curious....did the clinic charge you for BOTH the vaccinations? I know they can be pricey. If it were me, I would do every thing I could think of to make sure this situation was taken care of.

Specializes in pediatric ER.

I used to work in a pediatrics office and we always had to have consent before giving vaccines as well. So, I agree with everyone that this MA/Nurse/? made a huge mistake and needs some type of recourse. Good luck to you with everything, hope it all turns out for the best.

And, FYI

Hep a vac is IM, varivax is SQ and you can give both in the leg. Also, the reaction is probably from the varivax as this is a live vaccine and I would always worn parents that they may see a little rash which is a very very minor case of chicken pox. So no worries there. It should resolve without problems. Also with the leg vs. arm administration. Once a child is over 3, I would usually give shots in the arm mostly out of convenience, but also because it distrubutes about the same and a sore arm is easier to deal with than a sore leg (in my opinion). But, to each their own and I did have parents/children ask for it in their leg... but I'd always give the option so that's probably why with that one as well.

Once again, good luck... and sorry for rambling there for a bit.

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I am so sorry for this mistake and the discomfort and fear your son must have experienced. I too would not let it rest with the office manager. If the office is affiliated with a hospital, find out what the relationship is officially. Then, I would go through the patient relations office of the hospital affiliate. If not affiliated with hospital, I would go through the practice manager, NOT office manager. If this is a licensed nurse, I would seriously consider filing a grievance with the state board of nursing. (I don't say this lightly). If this is an unlicensed person, than I would file an official complaint against the MD in this practice.

I wish you the best. Either way, I would find another pediatrician.

The bad attitude is secondary to the error that was comitted. I would be very concerned about the medication error and take this to another level.

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