Swallowed foil wrapped pill

[Rosefrog5RN]

I am a home care nurse and set up clients pills in am/pm medbox. Call from aide stating client 'choking' on pill. Client's airway open, but feels that pill is 'stuck'. After trying yogurt, applesauce, bread, water, hot tea, client still has sensation of pill being stuck.

1 1/2 hrs after client sent to ER, received another call from aide stating that they thought client had swallowed bubble pack containing lansoprozole. (Aide did not tell me this initially and it really didn't even cross my mind!).

Has anyone else ever experienced this with their clients? I can't believe the aide gave client meds without removing from foil pack. Argh!

[BlueDevil, DNP]

Well if you didn't specifically tell the aide to remove the capsule from the packaging, I don't see how she can be held responsible. I heated up a Digiorno pizza for lunch yesterday when I was watching March Madness, and the package instructions include the helpful tips to remove the pizza from the cardboard carton, remove the plastic from the pizza before putting into oven, etc. Had they not told me otherwise, I most assuredly would have cooked the pizza in the plastic and box and eaten it that way as well, and consequently sued Digiorno for meellioons!!! Because, duh.

Stupid kills.