Oops, sorry! Son got wrong vaccination

Nurses General Nursing

Published

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.

Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

And how many people here are screaming 'lawsuit'???? I wonder why we can't get raises...all the money and energy and time is going to BS lawsuits. ***. For a lawsuit to be successful there has to be HARM, actual harm involved. This kid got the first dose...protecting him from hepatitis A...which probably protects the mom. Most kids don't have any symptoms from Hep A disease but pass it on readily. Adults, after a period of being non symptomatic have serious problems from it...hence the need for vaccine. (it doesn't stop people from working at fast food restaurants) How do you know who is preparing your food? I have given literally a thousand Hepatitis A injections with no reports of even minor swelling afterward. Yep, there is commonly soreness at the site, which is minor considering HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. I'd pretty much guess that the Varicella vaccine caused the redness. Hep A is given IM and can be given in the thigh or arm. I prefer the thigh until age 5...for any vaccine. Main reason is because it is easier for the nurse to give a shot there and still hold the child. Parents are notorious for not being good at holding them down...and I'd rather not have a needle break off in someones muscle.

Now as far as getting consent...yes this person should have made it clear exactly what was given before it was given. But it is not mandatory to get parent signatures, etc. Most places do obtain signatures because of fear of BS lawsuits. And everyone gets mad because they have to wait for 1-2- hours in the immunization clinic.

I am not surprised by someone coming here to vent about a situation like this (who wouldn't be mad about this...) but what I am surprised is how our profession can't wait to pounce on others WITHIN OUR OWN PROFESSION who are not absolutely PERFECT. A few words to the manager of the clinic should suffice (unless actual harm occurs due to the immunization) so it can be brought to the attention of the clinic. It sounds to me like a 'system' problem rather than any specific person being at fault.

At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely.

This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.

I agree with the hep A...my son needed it for school too!

Yeah, even in my situation with the chicken pox vaccine (which did need signed consent) I wasn't thinking of a lawsuit or getting back...it was a mistake that shouldn't have been made, and I urged them to check thier system for how this can be avoided in the future, because the next time could be worse (a lawsuit friendly person, an allergic reaction, etc).

The nurse who gave my son his was very sorry, and I knew she was...and I wasn't THAT mad, and she and the MD (who was my ped MD...yep he is old..LOL!) discussed it with me and how to avoid this. They even dropped the bill for the exam and vaccines (The MD paid for it). I was mad yes, but not so mad that I couldn't look at the mistake as just that, and move on!

Just a funny side note too...for what a small world we live in is! Many years later, I was going out with some friends and one had a new girlfriend. It was THAT nurse! LOL! She saw my son and I an instantly remembered as well as I. We giggled about it, and had a great time jet skiing! She and I shared RN stories and had a blast together! She was so greatful I wasn't still mad or upset...and I wasn't! It didn't hurt my son, and I calked it up as a learning experience for both of us!

Yes, nurses make mistakes...humans make mistakes...but to get all lawsuit happy...well, that is the reason we nurses live in fear of doing things remember?!?!? All the lawsuits that can come our way with the slightest mistake in charting or skill/tx!

I didn't EVEN think to sue the nurse/MD that made the mistake with my son...that wouldn't have helped anyone, and more than likely would take a good nurse that simply made a mistake, and a great Ped MD out of business and leave hundreds of people without their help! It wasn't worth that to me!!!!!!

Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

And how many people here are screaming 'lawsuit'???? I wonder why we can't get raises...all the money and energy and time is going to BS lawsuits. ***. For a lawsuit to be successful there has to be HARM, actual harm involved. This kid got the first dose...protecting him from hepatitis A...which probably protects the mom. Most kids don't have any symptoms from Hep A disease but pass it on readily. Adults, after a period of being non symptomatic have serious problems from it...hence the need for vaccine. (it doesn't stop people from working at fast food restaurants) How do you know who is preparing your food? I have given literally a thousand Hepatitis A injections with no reports of even minor swelling afterward. Yep, there is commonly soreness at the site, which is minor considering HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. I'd pretty much guess that the Varicella vaccine caused the redness. Hep A is given IM and can be given in the thigh or arm. I prefer the thigh until age 5...for any vaccine. Main reason is because it is easier for the nurse to give a shot there and still hold the child. Parents are notorious for not being good at holding them down...and I'd rather not have a needle break off in someones muscle.

Now as far as getting consent...yes this person should have made it clear exactly what was given before it was given. But it is not mandatory to get parent signatures, etc. Most places do obtain signatures because of fear of BS lawsuits. And everyone gets mad because they have to wait for 1-2- hours in the immunization clinic.

I am not surprised by someone coming here to vent about a situation like this (who wouldn't be mad about this...) but what I am surprised is how our profession can't wait to pounce on others WITHIN OUR OWN PROFESSION who are not absolutely PERFECT. A few words to the manager of the clinic should suffice (unless actual harm occurs due to the immunization) so it can be brought to the attention of the clinic. It sounds to me like a 'system' problem rather than any specific person being at fault.

At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely.

This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

Isn't the issue here that the med was given without an order and against the parent's wishes not whether or not the med is beneficial to the child. It seems that most people here agree that the immunizations are beneficial.

Specializes in Utilization Management.
Isn't the issue here that the med was given without an order and against the parent's wishes not whether or not the med is beneficial to the child. It seems that most people here agree that the immunizations are beneficial.

Yes, most. But my son is allergic to one of them. What if....?

Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

This almost happened to my son. I told them I didn't want for him to get the flu shot (for my own reasons) and then the nurse came in with his immunizations and one of them was the flu shot. I didn't complain about it since I caught her before she gave him the shot, but I would have been very upset if she gave it to him.

Specializes in cardiac.
Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

And how many people here are screaming 'lawsuit'???? I wonder why we can't get raises...all the money and energy and time is going to BS lawsuits. ***. For a lawsuit to be successful there has to be HARM, actual harm involved. This kid got the first dose...protecting him from hepatitis A...which probably protects the mom. Most kids don't have any symptoms from Hep A disease but pass it on readily. Adults, after a period of being non symptomatic have serious problems from it...hence the need for vaccine. (it doesn't stop people from working at fast food restaurants) How do you know who is preparing your food? I have given literally a thousand Hepatitis A injections with no reports of even minor swelling afterward. Yep, there is commonly soreness at the site, which is minor considering HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. I'd pretty much guess that the Varicella vaccine caused the redness. Hep A is given IM and can be given in the thigh or arm. I prefer the thigh until age 5...for any vaccine. Main reason is because it is easier for the nurse to give a shot there and still hold the child. Parents are notorious for not being good at holding them down...and I'd rather not have a needle break off in someones muscle.

Now as far as getting consent...yes this person should have made it clear exactly what was given before it was given. But it is not mandatory to get parent signatures, etc. Most places do obtain signatures because of fear of BS lawsuits. And everyone gets mad because they have to wait for 1-2- hours in the immunization clinic.

I am not surprised by someone coming here to vent about a situation like this (who wouldn't be mad about this...) but what I am surprised is how our profession can't wait to pounce on others WITHIN OUR OWN PROFESSION who are not absolutely PERFECT. A few words to the manager of the clinic should suffice (unless actual harm occurs due to the immunization) so it can be brought to the attention of the clinic. It sounds to me like a 'system' problem rather than any specific person being at fault.

At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely.

This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

I guess I'm looking at it from a mother's standpoint. Mom first then RN. If this would have happened to me, you darn right, I'd be stark raving mad! I think what upsets me the most is the callous attitude that the "person" had while interacting with the family. I don't put up with this type of behavior in everyday life. Let alone from a dr's office that I utilize when my kids are sick. This is America and we still have a "right" to say "no" to any procedure. Doesn't matter if it's vaccinations, blood tests, oral medication, surgery, etc. So, if that's pouncing on someone, well, it is what it is.

unacceptable!she has no manners and negligent on her duties:angryfire :banghead:

Specializes in Med/Surg, ER and ICU!!!.
Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

IMO, the biggest mistake here was the "nurse/MA?" not taking responsibility for giving the shot and trying to "hide" the fact it was given. If she is doing this, what else could/is she doing to patients?

Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

IMO, the biggest mistake here was the "nurse/MA?" not taking responsibility for giving the shot and trying to "hide" the fact it was given. If she is doing this, what else could/is she doing to patients?

That is my problem with the whole thing...the nurse's attitude about the mistake. I don't expect her to burst into tears or throw herself at the mom's feet or anything, but she should admit there was a mistake, give mom a list of possible side effects, ask the office manager to write off the charges, and whatever else can make the situation a little better.

...At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely.

This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

As well as informed consent...Many parents have the right to refuse any and ALL immunizations, d/t any personal beliefs...Schools have to let them in regardless...There is much legal precedent...

Specializes in Looking for a career in NICU.

My daughter was receiving synergis (sp) to prevent RSV and it was the only shot she was getting that day at the pediatrician's office. I had a change of insurance due to a job change, and called them A MONTH in advance to tell them that if they filed with COBRA and they denied it to call me immediately b/c we would still be in-transition with the paperwork, but I was definately in a financial position to pay cash if I needed to and then get reimbursement from the insurance company.

I showed up with my daughter for an appointment, a roomfull of sick children....took a 1/2 day off from work, drove 15 miles to get my child and 15 miles through heavy, city traffic to get to the pediatrician....and they didn't have the meds for my daughter.

I was LIVID!

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I dont even know what to say about this post. No one here is even making a agrument about receiving/benifits of immunizations or even the s/e of the medications. However, the person administering the medications was rude, rough and did not follow Dr. orders putting that child at risk. What if the child had a allergy to the medication or it was being held for whatever reason. If this had been your child would you just say a couple of words to the office manager and chalk it up to being a mistake and go on about your day. I dont really think so..... I am thinking like a mother here and not a nurse. It is my job to protect my children and I make it my buisness to know what is being given to my children. I dont know about the laws for requiring signatures for immunizations, but I do know you cant just give these type of immunizations without consent. I am in charge of their healthcare and I have the final decision PERIOD. Im not sure what kinda system problem you see, because I see a problem a whole lot bigger than the system. The staff member in question didnt follow orders and this could have been a hugh problem for the child .. thank God is was not. But how many more kids has this person given injections too or taken care of. Saying a couple of words to the office manager is just not enough. It would be one thing if the Nurse/MA admitted to the mistake and apologized. But this person see's no mistake and in my opinion does not know her limitations. Now, I dont think I made any comments towards securing a attorney personally . Because thats just not my way of taking care of buisness.

Are you guys serious??? Jeez, I thought this was a board full of nurses who have been put in situations which a mistake could have happened??? Oh wait, we're all beyond reproach, right? We'd never make a mistake.

And how many people here are screaming 'lawsuit'???? I wonder why we can't get raises...all the money and energy and time is going to BS lawsuits. ***. For a lawsuit to be successful there has to be HARM, actual harm involved. This kid got the first dose...protecting him from hepatitis A...which probably protects the mom. Most kids don't have any symptoms from Hep A disease but pass it on readily. Adults, after a period of being non symptomatic have serious problems from it...hence the need for vaccine. (it doesn't stop people from working at fast food restaurants) How do you know who is preparing your food? I have given literally a thousand Hepatitis A injections with no reports of even minor swelling afterward. Yep, there is commonly soreness at the site, which is minor considering HOW THE IMMUNE SYSTEM WORKS. I'd pretty much guess that the Varicella vaccine caused the redness. Hep A is given IM and can be given in the thigh or arm. I prefer the thigh until age 5...for any vaccine. Main reason is because it is easier for the nurse to give a shot there and still hold the child. Parents are notorious for not being good at holding them down...and I'd rather not have a needle break off in someones muscle.

Now as far as getting consent...yes this person should have made it clear exactly what was given before it was given. But it is not mandatory to get parent signatures, etc. Most places do obtain signatures because of fear of BS lawsuits. And everyone gets mad because they have to wait for 1-2- hours in the immunization clinic.

I am not surprised by someone coming here to vent about a situation like this (who wouldn't be mad about this...) but what I am surprised is how our profession can't wait to pounce on others WITHIN OUR OWN PROFESSION who are not absolutely PERFECT. A few words to the manager of the clinic should suffice (unless actual harm occurs due to the immunization) so it can be brought to the attention of the clinic. It sounds to me like a 'system' problem rather than any specific person being at fault.

At last count; 13 states in the USA require Hep A immunizations for school entry...and that number will only increase. I'm sure in your research you know that it is a TWO shot series....ONE now and one in (after) SIX months...and you don't have to repeat the first dose if you don't get it on time. It is given every day in my clinic to children age 12 months, safely.

This thread should be a head's up to us all that bedside manner and patient/parent teaching is one of the most important things we can do.

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