Rewarded for med error?

[Jenni811]

Ok...not really, but attention getting isn't it??

Yesterday, had my FIRST med error in the year i've been working. It was seriously VERY minor and a mistake anyone could have made given the situation (long story). Basically it ended up in me giving a medication at 12:00 when it was due at 2:00. I filled out the proper paperwork, i was really upset about it. we had a "safety huddle" i guess you could call it with my manager, the CNL and myself. To discuss what happened, why it happened. i was in no way being punished, i was really shocked.

The next day (today) i find a candy bar in my mailbox (Hersey! YUM) for my honesty about the med error and helping the hospital in finding ways to decrease medication errors.

Here i am...thinking i'm going to get FIRED because of my stupid med error, not resulting in patient harm. The doctor could have cared less that i gave it at noon instead of two. Infact she asked me to move it till 12:00 later because she thought it would be a more convenient time since she had other meds due at 12:00.

Thought it was really interesting my hospital handled it so great and made it actually pleasant to come to them with a med error. It was more like "What could have our facility done to make this not happen?" type of discussion.

Thoughts?? i hear so many stories on here of people almost losing their jobs to medication errors. and my medication error resulted in a hersey bar.

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

To the OP - I am glad your employers handle things this way, and good for you for being honest. we all have to feel comfortable reporting errors - otherwise we can't improve. Not to mention, follow-up may be needed for the patient - an antidote, more intense monitoring, etc. How would this happen if med errors are covered up?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

You can be sued regardless of whether you have personal insurance or not.

If I am ever involved in a lawsuit, I want MY lawyer advising me, not the hospital's...

Make sure that hospital insurance will still defend you if a lawsuit pops up after you are no longer employed there.

I didn't mean we can't be sued. I meant that with the insurance through the hospital it will usually be the hospital named in the lawsuit (you still have to take part in it all). To where if they find out you also have your own personal malpractice ins. I was told they would sue under the name of the hospital and than come after you too individually. I talked to a few people that had to go to court and were sued and had the malpractice ins. through the hospital. The hospital Ins. will cover you if the lawsuit was from the time you were employed there. Even if it doesn't come about until later because you were covered at the time of the incident. They only don't cover if you are moonlighting while you are at your other job. You will need your own insurance for that. Sometimes for health-fairs they will cover you but you have to get approval first and it will be detailed for the days you need it.

[lady constance]

life wings... has anyone heard of the program? FEW MONTHS ago, our institution bought it and s running ALL STAFF THRU IT.. DOCS, SURGEONS,RN's...and they mix the staff all together.

basically it says when humans are involved, errors will happen.... but research bears out that there are at least 6-12 things that happen BEFORE things go horribly wrong---and that EVERYONE HAS THE OBLIGATION and right to ask any activity to stop immediately and call attention to some facts that you are not sure others are aware of that you are...and there shall be no repercussions to that person.....

this program also states and says med errors will happen... and state that institutions are best to REWARD those who come forth in honesty....

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I didn't mean we can't be sued. I meant that with the insurance through the hospital it will usually be the hospital named in the lawsuit (you still have to take part in it all). To where if they find out you also have your own personal malpractice ins. I was told they would sue under the name of the hospital and than come after you too individually. I talked to a few people that had to go to court and were sued and had the malpractice ins. through the hospital. The hospital Ins. will cover you if the lawsuit was from the time you were employed there. Even if it doesn't come about until later because you were covered at the time of the incident. They only don't cover if you are moonlighting while you are at your other job. You will need your own insurance for that. Sometimes for health-fairs they will cover you but you have to get approval first and it will be detailed for the days you need it.

Have you considered that in the event of litigation, it is the hospital's logical priority to protect itself as an organization, not an individual employee who can be replaced?

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Your title is misleading. You were not rewarded for your med error. You were rewarded for prompt reporting and transparency. Big difference.

[ZippyGBR, BSN, RN]

Thoughts? It was a small med error and they were happy you were honest. You don't get fired over something that minor...trust me I know.

exactly, and as has been said it didn't cause patiuent harm and provided a valid thinking point for changing practice regarding risk management ...

[Jenni811, RN]

Your title is misleading. You were not rewarded for your med error. You were rewarded for prompt reporting and transparency. Big difference.

no sh** sherlock!! that's why i said "ok, Not really. Attention getting isn't it though?"

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

no sh** sherlock!! that's why i said "ok, Not really. Attention getting isn't it though?"

...and it's the same kind of sensationalism that makes the local new so unbearable to watch.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

Chocolate bar = positive reinforcement.

[MyGranniePanties]

Chocolate bar = positive reinforcement.

Chocolate= positive reinforcement=making errors on purpose so you can report them and get more chocolate?

[netglow, ASN, RN]

They advise you to "let them take care of it" instead of you protecting yourself. Not good. By the time you even know what is going on in the course of an investigation you are already under the bus. This is why they don't want you to get your own insurance. It's like someone saying you should wear a blindfold during a dodgeball game - they'd all laugh under their breaths in the ER once you're wheeled in, then call a psych consult for ya. Remember, your employer is not your family. They are not going to take a fall for nothin if they can let the pressure valve release by handing you over. Trust me. Think about it. Why the hell would they sit you down and tell you not to protect yourself. It makes no sense, right? They do this because they do not believe you are intelligent. Now how do you feel?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Have you considered that in the event of litigation, it is the hospital's logical priority to protect itself as an organization, not an individual employee who can be replaced?

Yes, and I have also talked to some employees that ended up needing to use the ins. and they still work there and they have not had any problems and the hospital had their back. If you did something criminal, they won't help you. Not all employers are the same and not all treat their employees like crap and would be quick to throw them under the bus when it wasn't a criminal act. I looked into things. I will leave it that, the point of my post was not to debate this. I was stating how my hospital runs similar in the med error things and something else they do.