Really stupid med error

cmonkey · Apr 25, 2008

Do you see yourself ever making the same mistake again? If not, take it as a lesson learned and move on. If so, get out before you kill someone.*

*I very much suspect it's the former and you're being properly freaked out, but quitting over a mistake where the pt is okay and you learned something doesn't make sense to me. But I haven't been in your shoes yet. But I think you should stay.

medsurgrnco, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2008

Now you know how easy it is to make med errors. What was correct route & how did you give it? How can you prevent future such errors? When I have IM meds (rare), I circle the route on the MAR. Sometimes I also circle IV or SQ meds if they are on the same page as PO meds. If I am giving two meds at same time that are not PO, I either label the syringe or use different types of syringes or needles or caps so that I can remember which is which.

diveRN · Apr 25, 2008

Statistically, each and every nurse at some point in their career will make a medication error of some sort.

Perfection can and will ever only be achieved by one Man.

If your facility is willing to give you a second chance, you should consider giving you one too. Admit the mistake, say, "I am human" to yourself 3 times, and then strive not to make the mistake again.

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2008

I think you are being hard on yourself. We all make mistakes. Take this as a lesson learned and move on.

*ac* · Apr 25, 2008

I won't know the consequences till Monday.

TazziRN, RN · Apr 25, 2008

If there are consequences, accept them, learn from this, and move on. We all make mistakes. Some are of the "Why did I not see that at the time?" variety. Some are, like yours, the "I can't believe I did that" kind. It doesn't matter. What matters is what you learn from this. The most important lesson is that no one is perfect, and that we all make mistakes. Don't beat yourself up, just learn from it and move on.

MikeyJ, RN · Apr 25, 2008

There was a student a few years ago (don't actually know the student but have heard stories from instructors) that pushed some PO liquid tyelnol into the childs IV and killed him. Scary to think about.

*ac* · Apr 25, 2008

There was a student a few years ago (don't actually know the student but have heard stories from instructors) that pushed some PO liquid tyelnol into the childs IV and killed him. Scary to think about.

Luckily it was that kind of a route error.

*ac* · Apr 25, 2008

Most people are saying, learn from it and move on. I know I really learned from it, but it may take awhile to move on.

I'm sick with not knowing what will happen on Monday.

TazziRN, RN · Apr 25, 2008

Most people are saying, learn from it and move on. I know I really learned from it, but it may take awhile to move on.
I'm sick with not knowing what will happen on Monday.

{{{{{{AC}}}}}}

I know, the waiting is the hardest. Been there, no words of wisdom for that part. Good or bad, we'll be here.

*ac* · Apr 26, 2008

Luckily it was that kind of a route error.

I meant to say it was NOT that kind of error!