SEeking advise or inputs for a Friend

[crichei23]

This is the scenario. A friend in Highchool is working as a Medication assistant in an Assisted Living facility committed a mistake regarding medication administration documentation. It was first week of the month (May 4) when she noticed that one of the routine pill( Vit. B12) of the resident is not on the newly printed MAR(Changing of new MARS). She is giving the Vitamin for 3 days now but not signing the MAR coz it's not in there. So basically she is giving the pill based on his memory.

So the Med. Aide transcribed the Vitamin order and signed the previous days(May1,2,3) when it was given. So it appears like a late documentation. Later that day if was found out by her supervisor what she did and talked to her the next day about it. SHe took full responsibility of what happened and gave them her resignation on that day and the supervisor accepted her resignation.

My question is that considered medication forgery or medication error(late documentation)?(not sure if it's the right term to use)? Will this affect a job offer if a potential employer calls the previous employer for character reference? What are the informations the previous employer can release for background check or employment reference check? Will this affect his future nursing career since she's pursuing to become an RN someday?

Any suggestion or inputs will be much appreciated. BTW, Sorry for some wrong grammar. Thanks

[SoldierNurse22, BSN, RN]

That's going above and beyond a medication error. By giving the pill based off memory, your friend assumed the role of provider, administering a medication that was not prescribed. Yes, that can absolutely affect his/her career as a nurse and future job offers. While s/he did the right thing by owning up to it, the correct course of action is to contact the provider if a medication isn't showing up correctly, not assume that you know what the provider is thinking and give a med without an order.

[crichei23]

That's going above and beyond a medication error. By giving the pill based off memory, your friend assumed the role of provider, administering a medication that was not prescribed. Yes, that can absolutely affect his/her career as a nurse and future job offers. While s/he did the right thing by owning up to it, the correct course of action is to contact the provider if a medication isn't showing up correctly, not assume that you know what the provider is thinking and give a med without an order.

Thanks for your input Soldiernurse. According to her it was prescribed by the doctor on April routinely. The only thing is when it’s time for changing of MAR for the month of May, the company that prints the MARs is not always updated so when the new MARs arrived to their facility, it is always checked to compare for new orders from the previous month MAR. Maybe due to human error, that’s why she missed the said pill.

Hoping she can find a better career after the incident.