Patient Died from Med Allergy

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I just found this site and had to post. Ive had the worst day today. One of my biggest nightmares has come true! I killed a patient! Obviously, it was an accident but that is of little comfort to me right now. I've sat here and cried for hours -- I had to leave work early. ...Administered a medication they were allergic to it. It was in their file, but I was told to give it and I didn't double check. Clearly, more than myself is involved in this. I'm so worried -- I may lose my license. I'm utterly devastasted this happened. I think this is my last day of nursing... I can't fathom going back as just started 10 months ago. Just had to vent guys. :cry:

Omg! I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how you feel right now. Whatever happens I just want you to know that you are human. Yes you made a mistake but we all have, any nurse that tells you she hasn't is lying. We've just been fortunate. I know you're scared and worry about your future but as time passes you"ll feel better. Unfortunatley these are the liabilities that come with nursing. If you decided to stay in nursing I bet you that you'll be the best nurse in that hospital becuase you learned from your mistake and will always question what's in the chart, even if the doctor is screaming at you to give a med. Andif your destiny isn't to be a nurse anymore, it"s not the end of the world. There are other career paths out there, you"re young and you have your whole life ahead of you. If you ever want to talk I'm here for you. May prayers are with you. God Bless. Kym!:redbeathe

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Oh, honey. I have yet to meet a perfect human being. We all make mistakes. There but for the grace of God go I. I also missed an allergy yesterday - the patient was allergic to paper tape. It gave him a rash, but I could have just as easily missed a more serious allergy.

In your heart you were trying to do good. You made a mistake. You aren't a bad person. I am guessing you are probably overworked and have too many patients. Errors like these often aren't caused by one person only - they are the result of the many problems within the health care system.

Just hang in there. And yes, get your own lawyer. You need someone who is solely in your corner, and does not have conflicting interests with the hospital.

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Specializes in Hem/Onc, LTC, AL, Homecare, Mgmt, Psych.

I used to work with a nurse that inadvertantly administered a lethal dose of a medication resulting in the pt death.

She was fired, had to go to classes to relearn med-admin, interviewed by the BON, did not lose her license & went on to get her RN.

I agree, read the helpful advice here and remove this post.

Sorry.

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As awful as you feel, please be comforted in knowing that from your mistake, every hand I touch, every time I pass a med, every every time I administer anything, I will check allergies. I am sorry and thank you.

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I am so sorry. That is one of my greatest fears. It was not entirely your fault, there was a break down ib the system somewhere. Take peace in that. Now, go and delete your entire first post. Fill it with * signs or something. I dont want to see you have legal problems b/c of this post. I am so sorry. (hugs)

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Specializes in ER/MedSurg/Oncology/Ortho-Neuro.

As was advised, please delete your post. However, also know that by becomming a nurse, your heart was in the right place. No one, and I mean no one, goes into a health care profession because they want to hurt or kill someone. My mother was hospitalized for 9 days a few years ago after a motor vehicle accident. She would have recovered, but the MD made a terrible mistake in the OR that took her life from her. The MD was besides himself as he held his head in his hands and told us our mother was gone. Yes, as a family we were devastated, angry and suffered all of the stages of grief and then some. We, clearly had a lawsuit but felt it would not bring our mother back and certainly we knew...that no one could beat that MD up worse than he was already beating himself up over her death. Despite the margin of error being very narrow in our healthcare profession.....we are all humans. Unfortunately, our profession has also become one of haste.....and it is up to us to never allow anyone to push us faster than what we know is SAFE. May God Bless you new nurse. I pray that the family who has lost their loved one will find forgiveness and understanding for all involved.

Now Please go and delete your post.

God Bless You!

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Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.

I've edited the OP post due to members concerns. This could have happened to any nurse on any given shift... I've seen countless physicians write for orders they knew were on patients allergy list and told to "give it anyway" during my career...

Today, being wiser realize this is a SYSTEMS ISSUE for many persons handled/ processed this medication order:

a. Prescriber who ordered med-- Did they reference allergy list?

b. Staff taking off medication order and sent to pharmacy- Did they glance at allergy list?

c. Who placed the order on the Medication record---- Did they reference allergy list? Was chart check performed by prior nursing shift??

d. Pharmacy dispensed medication on patients allergy list ???????

That's a minimum of 2-4+ persons involved in this scenerio.........

Please call your Employee Assistance Program (EAP) today to get counciling/debriefing over this incident. You alone were not responsible for what happened to this patient.

Sharing your story will serve as a reminder to all who walk or will walk as a nurse today, tomorrow and in the future.

{{{{ HUG}}}} to get you through tomorrow and coming days.

To all who are reading: check that your is current today...never know when you will need representation.

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Specializes in CCU MICU Rapid Response.

Gentle hugs, and prayers for peace in your heart. ~Ivanna

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.

Do not accept sole responsiblity. If you are a religious person, do what the others have suggested. I'd call my union rep and lawyer up (unions will also provide legal representation that is separate from the hospital's interests, if you are lucky enough to work at a hospital that still has one). Take responsibility for your part in all of this, but don't martyr yourself or your license, because people with much more to lose will let you do so.

The world is not a nice place and you have to look out for yourself. I am sorry that the patient died because of this. You have to acknowledge your place in the breakdown of information, but don't do it alone, because you alone will be hung out to dry, and you did not intend on harming anyone.

Take care, and I hope that you are thinking clearer now so you can take steps to protect yourself. Even if you never go back to nursing again, there is no reason for you to sacrifice the rest of your life over this.

Blee

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i haven't read your entire story but my heart aches for you.

aside from getting your own attorney, i would write everything down that led up to this incident.

everything.

include names, times, orders, conversations....every minute detail.

and tuck it away in a safe place.

go talk to someone you trust.

i'm quite sure the last thing you want to hear is "mistakes happen".

but i truly am so, so sorry.

i can't even imagine your pain.

leslie

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I am so sorry to hear this. What is the job saying at this time? Are they placing blame on you? One thing for sure, I strongly suggest that you get counseling. I hope everything works out for you, but either way, this is a hard thing to face alone...almost like post traumatic stress. Please seek counseling as soon as possible in order to learn to cope with whatever feelings are happening with you now and in the future. I wish you the best of luck, and believe me, this story will make me into an even more observant nurse.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I like the fact that this thread was altered rather than deleted, because we all need to be reminded that this can happen to any one of us. If the OP decides to post back, at least she will see that she has a tremendous amount of support from us. Hey, let's face it: HOW many times, have ALL of us been pushed to the limit?? Been told to 'hurry up", that we were slow, etc...and pushed past our personal capabilities to keep up? Some people are naturally slower than others, and rightfully so.

If we stick together as nurses to first, stop eating our young, or those different than we are, appreciate some of their talents rather than to ridicule their mistakes, we would be better practitioners and nurses would be stronger.

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