jenzul

Thank you, It was a lesson I WILL NEVER forget and a mistake that will NOt happen again. If anything I now have no hesitation asking for help despite how busy everyone is. The pt. is first and has always been with me. I've slowed down and I am keeping a safer pace. I am now trying to pick myself up and learn from this and move on. I have to say I came very close to quitting and giving up nursing all together, but I read a very good article on medication errors and nurses and dr's speaking out about theirs and how they felt. Many of the cases did not turn out as well as mine with their pt's. They too were experiancing the shame, guilt, and questioning. The article further stated that many of us in medical think we have to be perfect and in a way we do for our pt's safety but unfortunetly we are not...we are human. That's why we have the protocols and safe guards in place.....when in doubt ask......and I will..

I've been a nurse for 14 years, 8 years in long term care, 5 years in a pediatric clinic, 1 year home health, and currently in adult prime care. I've been at my new job now for 4 weeks and even with a great deal of experiance under my belt there is much I do not know, with this being a new speciality. From the enormous list of "new" drugs people are now on to different injections I've never given...B12, testosterone, Zostavax, and the one that brings me to this post...the Allergy injection. I've made medication errors in the past but none that could have actually done serious detrimental harm. I did yesterday and my mind and confidence is completely shot. I've never given an allergy injection or seen one done. The pt. came in for a nurse visit and all my other co-workers were busy. So I looked up the last few injections and it stated 0.5ml given in the deltiod. Those of you who are familiar with allergy shots are already seeing what is coming. I went into the room with the pt. and saw on her list 1ml (because I did not look better)as her next injection. I asked the pt if she has been going up in dose with each injection she said yes. ...I gave her 1ml...yes instead of 0.1 I gave her 10x the correct dose in the DELTIOD not her tricep. When I went to sign the paper to recheck everything (which I should have done first) I felt like I was going to vomit. I immediatly went to my co-workers we called the Dr., we monitered her and THANK GOD besides being rightfully very angry.. she is fine....but she may not have been. If someone else had done this I would have been appalled and would question their abilities....I do not want to face my co-workers, I'm not sure I want to even be a nurse right now.... They have all been supportive but really this was a beyond stupid error...still feeling sick over it.