Okay, I decided to sign up on this site because i don't know where to turn to after receiving a call from work today telling me that I am " suspended until further notice"
I was written up for giving ativan 0.5mg via GT q12 PRN to a pt who gets anxiety ( disrobes/grabs when receiving care). That order has been there for months. Family is aware and know that pt has that order. Family want ativan to be given prior to wound tx because pt is so agitated. I had that pt for months and ativan works effectively. I was then moved to a different station for a month and then floated back to the previous station 2 weeks ago for one day. Upon arrival, i checked 24 hrs, counted narcotics, made rounds, gotten report from previous nurse. I asked " does she still get wound tx, with ativan prior?" nurse replied, yes. I was passing my meds in the morning, I came across the tx nurse and asked what time is he going to do the tx. He said " in a few..." So I asked " do you want me to premed the pt?" He said " yes, please".
I checked the Mar.. order was there. Checked the narc drawer, med was there. Checked the last time it was given, it was given the day before. So I gave the med, documented that I gave and was effective after an hr... BUT forgot to sign the PRN box in the Mar.
weeks have passed, I got called in in the office.
They photocopied my documentation, the mar and the " DC order".
Apparently, the ativan was dc'd a week before I gave it. Dc'd a week before the other nurse gave it as well. I couldn't justify that I didn't see the DC on the mar, because i forgot to sign the PRN box.
I recognized the signature of who DC'd the med. It was the QA. The nurse who owned the cart was not aware that the med was dc'd. He made the same mistake, he didn't sign the prn box, but signed the narcotic documentation and narcotic binder. The mar didn't have a DC note when we both gave it. The med was still there. I am just so lost as to how I should feel about this. I feel so ashamed. They cancelled me today, received a call of suspension today until further notice. This is my first job ever, first job as a person, first job as a nurse. I am so scared. I need some advise.
I think you should consult with CNA rep and ask for their assistance. The union should be able to protect you from this. So, bring a CNA rep with you when you talk to your employer. Goodluck!
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I think you should consult with CNA rep and ask for their assistance. The union should be able to protect you from this. So, bring a CNA rep with you when you talk to your employer. Goodluck!
Nowhere in the original post does the OP indicate that her workplace is unionized, so in all likelihood, there's a good chance she's not a member of any union.
I think this is a bit of an overreaction, however you did not document appropriately which led to a med error. Let this be an example to dot your i's and cross your t's because someone else's mistake can become yours as well. Hopefully they won't fire you. Good luck in this process. Maybe start looking around for employment elsewhere..
Supposedly, it was written June 9 2014. The other nurse gave it on the 16th, and 20th. I gave it on the 17th.
I am not sure who caught the error. They were auditing charts I guess to prepare for the survey. OR, the Pharmacy person came, audited the carts and saw the medication that was dc'd and still there.
Thank you for replying. That made me feel better, even though the situation I am in still haunts me. I dreamt about my bosses for 2 consecutive nights, would wake up in sweat for I am really scared of losing my job. I really care about my job, it is my first job. Now I am contemplating If I should give them a call, or just wait for them to call me, if they will call me. I am honest I did the wrong thing, but I really believe that it could be avoided if it was dc'd properly. Again, thank you so much for replying.
I'm sorry that happened to you. I wonder, is your facility due for its state inspection? The heads tend to get a tad nervous when they're expecting state anytime and you'll get this over reacting behavior. It sounds like the QA has so.e responsibility in this situation because the order wasn't discontinued properly. I don't think you did anything that warrants a suspension I wish you well
Carrie RN
152 Posts
As a former manager, this is a med error, but not something to suspend a nurse over.