Sticky situation

Specialties School

Published

I have a bit of a situation today. Please remember, I have been at this job only since Feb 1.

Today when I went to get a student's medication (liquid quillivant) I found that the bottle had broken. I found this out when I went to shake it before drawing into a syringe. So it went all over my hand, the bottle, the counter and it was spilled in the plastic pencil box I store it in (and the broken piece of bottle was in there also).

So I finished with the students who were present (about 6 of them all come for their meds at the same time) and called my supervisor at another building immediately. Told her what happened, she said to get an administrator to see the spill and observe the clean up, so I did and rinsed out the bottle the best I could through the small broken area.

Called the mom, who took it surprisingly well. I really thought there would be a big backlash since I know it is expensive (she told me it was $300/bottle).

I documented what happened and called the certified school nurse who oversees my building and explained the situation to her. I told her that I am really nervous about this since I just started and have not had time to establish myself as a responsible employee and then a controlled substance spills on my watch. She was very reassuring that I am doing a great job and she doesn't think there will be any disciplinary action, but I am still a bit worried about it :(

Specializes in School Nurse.

Accidents happen, that's why they are called accidents. You did everything correctly. You don't have anything to worry about. Hope your day is better today.:)

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You probably shouldn't have turned the box up, drank the liquid, then licked your arm clean, though. Seriously, kidzcare.

My bad. Though no where in my orientation did they specify that I COULDN'T help myself to the kids meds.

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I'd be more worried about having the medication all over my hand...

My arm starting itching and I was freaking out! I scrubbed it several times and I'm sure the reaction was more from the soap than the medication... Now I'm worried that it seeped into my skin and when I go for my employment physical I will have a positive drug test... :(

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My arm starting itching and I was freaking out! I scrubbed it several times and I'm sure the reaction was more from the soap than the medication... Now I'm worried that it seeped into my skin and when I go for my employment physical I will have a positive drug test... :(

*rolls a shot of tequila down the bar*

Drink up.

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*rolls a shot of tequila down the bar*

Drink up.

Hahaha! I don't drown my sorrows in booze... I drown my sorrows in Chipotle.

*(gains 10lbs just thinking about it)*

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Specializes in Peds, Oncology.

I'm sorry! You did everything you could! I really hate Quillivant! I had a kid who was on it for about a year and that huge glass bottle always terrified me!

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

With insurance, the medication probably didn't cost $300. Maybe the bottle was cracked a bit when it was sent to school and the parent knew it. You're catastrophizing.

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With insurance, the medication probably didn't cost $300. Maybe the bottle was cracked a bit when it was sent to school and the parent knew it. You're catastrophizing.

That's my specialty :)

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Specializes in Pediatrics Retired.
That's my specialty :)

"STOP IT!"

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Specializes in School Nurse. Having conversations with littles..

Thanks Whisper- Another good new word for my vocab. Hard to pronounce. I will have to work on that :)

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**UPDATE**

My supervisor was in the building today and came to see the bottle. She was amazed at how it had split open and we saw other cracks in the side. While deciding the best disposal method, I went to close the plastic pencil box it is kept in and she said "I bet it cracked because it doesn't really fit in that box, so it's been closed in there too tight since September!" We looked closer and realized that the crack pattern exactly matches the geometric pattern on the pencil box. So we have determined that repeated closings in a too-small box are the culprit. The new bottle will be kept in it's original box.

She also reiterated that she is really happy with the way I am working out here and that it is really fun to get to know me (we chatted for a few minutes and we have a lot in common- both RNs, we both have multiples--she has quads!- and we just have similar personalities.) So I'm feeling much more reassured that there will not be any follow up issues.

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I have a glass bottle of naproxen here, I just keep it upright in a ziploc bag.

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