Stressed made a medication error

[Wayzlost]

I have been working my first RN job for a little over six weks, three weeks of this was orientation. I made a medication error tonight and I am freaking out about how it may affect the patient. Error was reported and report made on the error, I accept full responsibility for the error and I feel horrible about it. I am so worried about this patient at this point. I am seriously questioning whether I should continue doing this job or even work as an RN period.I don't think I could handle seriously injuring or possibly killing someone. I often feel overwhelmed and unsure of what to do on tis job. I only had three weeks orientation without a consistent preceptor and often have 7 or more patients at a time. There is little time to stop and ask questions nor is there always someone available to ask a question should you have one. I also am already being put in charge nurse position in which I do not feel adequately prepared for. I have already thought about leaving this position numerous times but unfortunately due to the current job market there aren't alot of nursing jobs available to those with as little experience as I have. I have been actively applying elsewhere and haven't received any calls for interviews so far so I'm feeling trapped in this job.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

For what it's worth, my friend, almost everyone feels this way after their first med error.....it's the ones who don't that probably shouldn't be nurses.

Now.....take some deep breaths.....feel the stress and the panic leave you......and reassess the situation when you are calmer. Yes, you made a mistake. Any nurse who claims they've never made a med error is either so new that the ink on their license is still wet, or they're lying through their teeth. I've certainly made a few, and this won't be YOUR last either. But you did what you were supposed to: you reported it, did what you could for the patient, and owned it. All you can do now is learn from it, and apply what you've learned to the next situation.

As tempting as it seems right now, walking away from your job isn't going to make things any better; it only puts off the lessons that need to be gleaned from this episode, and you'll have to take them with you into the next job, and the next job after that, and the next job after that. Far better to feel bad for a short time, see the situation through, and then move forward. You can do this!! Hang in there, it does get better. :hug:

[Do-over, ASN, RN]

Great answer Viva - it helped me as I am still working through a med error I made a couple of weeks ago. Several contributing factors, but a huge wake up call to slow down when giving meds and to remember that I am the one putting the meds in the patient's hands/mouths/G tubes/veins and I need to be very careful everytime.

I confused two meds, and when I realized it I felt like my heart dropped into my stomach which caused them both to drop to my shoes... Fortunately, I realized the error very quickly and worked through what had happened with a co-worker. We discovered that I had underdosed the patient, corrected that, and then I went on with my shift. I also reported the error through our proper channels.

It FREAKED me out, but honestly, the acts of de-briefing with a colleague and reporting the error properly are the biggest things that helped me "get it off my chest" so-to speak.

[tnbutterfly - Mary, BSN]

Moved to First Year After Nursing Licensure.

[Wayzlost]

Thank you VivaLasViejas!

[psalm111]

I have been a nurse for 26 years; most of that time have been spent working in home health care which decreases the risk of med errors drastically. Now, I work at 2 different hospitals; one more modern and computer challenging than the other. Yesterday, I worked at the modern hospital. Feeling stressed about completing my work that I almost made a serious medication error. I broke one of the 5 rights---wrong patient. Had I just sat down and processed what was going on.....I would have remembered that most important rule. I must talk to my self constantly about slowing down......stop and think before adminitering any medication or treatment.