Please help c this dilemma

Published

Specializes in Telemetry, Heart/Vascular.

I just had a HECTIC day at work.. but needed help c what I should do about this: have a patients who's getting Prednisolone Opthalmic drops q2h for R eye: she's 89, AAOx3.. she told me the drops go in both eyes.. so that's what I did each time they were due. At the end of my shift the daughter was at the bedside.. she let me know that I was making 'medication errors'.. I let her know the patient told me they were for both eyes. She was very rude about it though, and stated not to listen to her and to follow the orders. My questions is: can I get into trouble for this?? I documented what the patient told me. What should I do?? Co-workers told me to leave it alone and not worry about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If the order states it's only to be applied to the right eye then that is what you should be doing.If the patient is telling you it is meant for both eyes you should have the order clarified with the doctor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Oh, yeah... you don't give it to two eyes when the order reads one. You just exceeded the Nurse Practice Act in our state, and I'd bet all the other 49 as well. Give them as ordered or hold them BUT get a clarification from the MD/APN/PA or whoever ordered them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I just had a HECTIC day at work.. but needed help c what I should do about this: have a patients who's getting Prednisolone Opthalmic drops q2h for R eye: she's 89, AAOx3.. she told me the drops go in both eyes.. so that's what I did each time they were due. At the end of my shift the daughter was at the bedside.. she let me know that I was making 'medication errors'.. I let her know the patient told me they were for both eyes. She was very rude about it though, and stated not to listen to her and to follow the orders. My questions is: can I get into trouble for this?? I documented what the patient told me. What should I do?? Co-workers told me to leave it alone and not worry about it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Patient was 89, with perhaps a bit dementia.

Try not to let it get to you, we all have our moments. Learn from it and let it go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Patient was 89, with perhaps a bit dementia.

Try not to let it get to you, we all have our moments. Learn from it and let it go.

But the issue (at least how I'm reading it :)) is listening to the patient vs the order...

Yes- I'd call this a med error, and I'd do a verbal (documented) counseling form.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Long term care.

oh my goodness, yes we should listen to our patients, but FIRST you should have gotten the med order clarified before you gave the drops! and you actually wrote in nurse notes that the patient told you! this is crasy, I am sorry, but where in the world did you think this is correct nursing actions? mistakes happen, but in this case, you think that you are right in what you did...oh boy

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

Agree this is a med error and lori's reasoning (above). The most important thing now is to make use of the experience to learn and become better. It's unlikely the mistake will lead to any significant harm to the patient.

Just a brief perspective: Med errors are extremely common in our environment. And many of us have made inadvertent ones through the years.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion