lpnmeg

Wow, you guys took this scenario to a whole new level! I don't know where you got the idea that we violently held the patient down and stuffed her full of something she said she was allergic to. The statement came after the fact, because there was no getting it out of her beforehand. We didn't even get a chance to do a proper chart check because she was hell on wheels from the time she reached the floor. The doctor said the next day when the rn spoke to him that yes, he saw it in the chart but felt the ativan would calm the patient and a rash is more easily dealt with that an out of control patient. I appreciate all of the input, except the input insinuating that i am a negligent nurse who did everything possible wrong. She's doing beautifully now by the way, and she still gets the ativan with no problems and is thankful for all we are doing for her.

Last night we admitted a woman who was sooo manic. She was totally inconsolable for hours on end, finally the doctor wrote her up some orders. I asked the patient if she would like something to help with her nerves and help her relax a bit, she refused. I got the nod from the RN to go ahead and grab her an IM because this patient really needed to calm down. The doctor had ordered ativan 0.5 mg and haldol 1 mg, which i think is actually a small dose as this woman is pushing 300lbs. So i went down to the room with the needle, she got even more upset and combative, there was no reasoning with her at all. Men got on both sides of her, held her, i administered. She was still going on and on and on and finally asked what we gave her and we said ativan and haldol, which made her start up more. She started saying 'you can't give me ativan, i have an allergy' etc etc. We got it out of her that she gets a rash from the ativan. I went and checked the chart and sure enough, in the pages from the medical hospital she was in before coming to us, the allergy to ativan was listed. We monitered her for the rest of the shift, no rash or any other symptom was apparant. I'm willing to take responsiblility, I guess i'm just wondering how much trouble i'm in. I have never thought it was fair that it falls back on nursing that the doctor prescribed something she's allergic to, i think it's just an honest mistake, like he wouldn't have done it if he had known...like i wouldn't have given if i had known. What am I in for and has anyone else ever encountered is situation? basically it was just passed on in report that she has an allergy and that it was administered, i'm going in at 3pm today and am wondering what to expect. any support is accepted