Prednisone

Published

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in home health.
I gave a pt 40 mg of Prednisone by accident, instead of 20 mg. I told the doctor, but he said, "don't worry, up to 50 mg is the normal loading dose." I asked if I should make a report, but he said not to worry about it. Am I wrong? I feel pretty guilty about it. This was months ago. Any thoughts?:o

ALWAYS make out a med error report! Part of that is notifying the physician, which was done. Ya gotta cover yer butt! No one but you will do so. you worked too darn hard to get that license!

My understanding of med error reports is to pinpoint a problem, and come up with ways to solve that problem.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics Only.

Even if no harm was done you still need to CYA and fill out a medication error report.

Things have a way of coming back and biting us in the butt, even if it was something that didnt harm a patient...best to have a report that states yes, the dr. was notified of the situation but had no recommendations as dose given was within normal parameters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, OR, Cardiac ICU.

Ain't things done for the purpose of CYA great?

It should be reported so the process that 'allowed' the error to be corrected, i.e., if you use a pyxsis are the same drug in different strengths in the same drawer? Was the MD's order questionable/illegible?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The doctor's order was clear, I just took out two "20 mg" instead of "10 mg" tabs. I feel bad, b/c even though the dose was still normal, I should have informed the pt's parent, (she was a teenager), and I should have made an official report. I'm a really big rule follower and the fact that at the time I failed to do this (not realizing how wrong it was), kills me. I feel like a bad person. Whenever I think back to things I've done wrong in my life, and can't repair them, it kills me. I didn't get punished for this mistake, and I don't like feeling like I'm getting away w/ things. Am I :devil: or ???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
I didn't get punished for this mistake, and I don't like feeling like I'm getting away w/ things. Am I :devil: or ???

Good grief, you're neither! Would you prefer to get flogged for it? Do you think you are perfect and are above making a mistake? These things happen, you really need to move on if this happened months ago. There is no need to dwell on the incident. I would just caution you to remember that you are responsible for your own practice and the physician cannot relieve you of your responsibility to report mistakes or how to handle them as after all they are not the boss of us. :) Is there something else going on that you wish to share with us as this seems to be a bit of an overreaction to what was really a relatively minor mistake.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad I noticed the mistake, so I could at least inform the doctor.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.

An incident report is simply a mechanism for the facility to have a record of the event so that if there was a lawsuit, they would have a report of it; which by the way is not discoverable and cannot be used or seen by a plaintiff. It is not necessary for the patient to let you know and if there had been, you would have heard about it from the physician anyway since they were aware of the extra dose.

Please don't take this wrong but I still think you are overreacting. It's over, it was months ago? The chances of this teenager having an adverse reaction from a single extra 10 mg of Prednisone are extraordinarily slim. I hate to see you beating yourself up over this, especially if you plan to have a long career in nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You're right. I tend to overreact. I beat myself up over EVERYTHING. It will take time to get over this, b/c of the fact that I didn't think of it at the time it happened. I'm just kicking myself b/c I should have known better. I have a bad habit of doing this. I'm scared of something happening to the pt and scared that it will have repercussions on my career, which is starting to really take off. I just need to kick the fear that something bad is going to happen & go w/ the flow. I'll learn, I just need to get over my phobias.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Always : make a report.

Always: recognise you are not infallible

Always: realize you are a Nurse and learning all the time.

I've been started on as much as 80 twice a day when I have a flare. It's a whopping HUGE dose.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have no idea who or when it was exactly, so I can only sit and stew about it. Am I a bad person?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It just sucks b/c it's too late to report, I have no idea who or when it was exactly, so I can only sit and stew about it. Am I a bad person?

no, you're not a bad person.

but you need to try to put this in perspective and also get these anxieties under control.

it's time to move on.

next time you'll know to notify your supervisor and fill out a med error report.

leslie

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion