Question about med error?

[Luvmedicine]

Hi, I am a nursing student working at a hospital as a phlebotomist. Recently, at the hospital I work at, all employees with pt. contact had to have their annual TB skin test done. I thought I had a positive reaction since my whole forearm became very red, warm and swollen...and painful. It turned out that a few employees ( including myself) were accidentally given tetorifice/diptheria instead. The hospital claims that they or the nurse who did the skin tests are not responsible because the packaging is similar and it's happened to employees in several other hospitals?

Have any of you heard of this?

[Brownms46]

Boyyyyy....what a load of bull! No error because the package was "similar? Are they kidding??? So the fact that the error was made at another hospital makes it ok??? Scarey !

[Shed13911]

I can not believe that the hospital is trying to cover up the mistake by putting it off on the packaging! What happened to the 5 rights of giving meds? Sounds like this needs to be reported to the state so that it can be investigated! I wouldn't let it go until they admit the error and have fixed the problem. Good luck, I hope you have no lasting effects!

[Agnus]

If I am not mistaken one requirement to becomming a nurse is that you can READ.

They are handing you a bunch of hooey. Yes they are responsible.

Simularity in packaging is NOT an exucuse to not read the lable. They violated standard of practice period. In other words they are neglegent, such action is reportable and punishable.

The simularity MAY contributed to the error but the nurse who administered is ULTAMATELY responsible for her own actions. She did not READ it, she gave it. She is responsible. Therefore you do have recourse against her and her employer.

Errors happen but lying is no error and is there-for inexcusable.

[ceecel.dee, MSN, RN]

Has the hospital ever heard of the 5 Rights of Med. Admin.?

It was definately a med error.

All who received the wrong test serum should fill out an incident report.

[bluenurse]

They are supposed to do 3 checks....which includes reading the bottle. I am sure it is a horrible situation for all involved but it is a lame excuse.....it is basic nursing to read the label of something before you give it. They need to step up and admit they were wrong and I wouldn't let it go until they do.

[Katnip, RN]

Every nurse is responisble for the 5 rights regardless of who he or she is giving it to, whether it's a fellow employee or not. The fact that the packages are similar is irrelevant. If a nurse had done this on the floor, she'd be responsible.

Reporting it is definitely a good idea. I don't know if you can claim significant harm, but it will give others a heads up about the similiarity problem.

It is ultimately the nurse's responsibility to give the right med. To anyone. Period.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

Yes, this happened at a place I used to work. But it was the same nurse every time that would do it. The vials are very similar in appearance, but if you actually read the label, you can tell the difference.

I have a question, though: Did the nurse that gave it to you draw it up herself, or did she get it from pharmacy already drawn up in the syringe with a Tb sticker on it? If this is the case, I could see where the pharmacy would be responsible for the screw-up.