I would like to know what you think of my situation:
I am a newly employed LPN for a residential facility and I made a medication error on my second day. During my orientation, it was for three days, I was merely shadowing another LPN so I can see how each and every medication should be given and basically know each and every client.
On my first official day, the administrator told me that I can start dispensing medications by myself but a fellow co-worker will still have to shadow me in case I have questions. Everything went well and I didn't miss anything. However, on my second official day, I made a mistake of giving a client a medication that is meant to be for another client.
The situation is this: there are two male clients who are going to receive medications at the same time. I was preparing for Client A's anti-depressant medication when suddenly Client B started acting out and began hitting himself. My co-LPN and I have managed to calm Client B down, so I decided to go back to the med room to dispense the medication. My co-LPN verified that it's the correct medication and we also went over the 5 (or 7) Rights. Client B started to act out again and began to hit himself, it was just my co-LPN and I who were trying to calm Client B down. So long story short, my focus now had been directed to Client B and decided to give the medication to him PO. I went back to the medication room and realized my mistake -the medication was for Client A.
I immediately told my co-LPN and immediately called my nursing administrator about the situation. At first she couldn't believe it and asked me if I was just joking. My co-LPN and I followed her instructions: contacted Client B's doctor, called the pharmacy for any drug interactions, supervised Client B for any side effects, etc. My nursing administrator told me to clock-out quickly and told me what are possible results -that there will be a lawsuit for the medication error, etc. My administrator told me that I will be updated or called for anything that might happen.
Now I feel scared because I might get terminated for making a medication error. I didn't hesitate on reporting it right away and admitting my mistake but I don't know if it will backfire to me. I am stressed because I don't know how it will affect my job and/or my future opportunities in case I get terminated. Can you please tell me what you guys think? My co-LPN told me that I shouldn't stress about it too much because medication error happens and we all make mistakes. But I can't stop thinking about it that I had a hard time sleeping.
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I would like to know what you think of my situation:
I am a newly employed LPN for a residential facility and I made a medication error on my second day. During my orientation, it was for three days, I was merely shadowing another LPN so I can see how each and every medication should be given and basically know each and every client.
On my first official day, the administrator told me that I can start dispensing medications by myself but a fellow co-worker will still have to shadow me in case I have questions. Everything went well and I didn't miss anything. However, on my second official day, I made a mistake of giving a client a medication that is meant to be for another client.
The situation is this: there are two male clients who are going to receive medications at the same time. I was preparing for Client A's anti-depressant medication when suddenly Client B started acting out and began hitting himself. My co-LPN and I have managed to calm Client B down, so I decided to go back to the med room to dispense the medication. My co-LPN verified that it's the correct medication and we also went over the 5 (or 7) Rights. Client B started to act out again and began to hit himself, it was just my co-LPN and I who were trying to calm Client B down. So long story short, my focus now had been directed to Client B and decided to give the medication to him PO. I went back to the medication room and realized my mistake -the medication was for Client A.
I immediately told my co-LPN and immediately called my nursing administrator about the situation. At first she couldn't believe it and asked me if I was just joking. My co-LPN and I followed her instructions: contacted Client B's doctor, called the pharmacy for any drug interactions, supervised Client B for any side effects, etc. My nursing administrator told me to clock-out quickly and told me what are possible results -that there will be a lawsuit for the medication error, etc. My administrator told me that I will be updated or called for anything that might happen.
Now I feel scared because I might get terminated for making a medication error. I didn't hesitate on reporting it right away and admitting my mistake but I don't know if it will backfire to me. I am stressed because I don't know how it will affect my job and/or my future opportunities in case I get terminated. Can you please tell me what you guys think? My co-LPN told me that I shouldn't stress about it too much because medication error happens and we all make mistakes. But I can't stop thinking about it that I had a hard time sleeping.