What happens after med error?

[natrgrrl]

I was reading another post about a nurse who made a med error. It got me thinking about my new job as an LPN and how easy it really is to make an error and how easy it would be to not report it.

So, what happens to the nurse who does report an error? What about the patient?

I have oriented for 2 days and will have 2 more days before I am on my own. There is so much info to learn for the day to day stuff. How will I ever know what to do if something out of the ordinary, like a med error, happens?

(deep breath)

But, so far, I really like my job. Great coworkers really make all the difference.

[CapeCodMermaid, RN]

Why would YOU be responsible for someone else's med error? We are all responsible for our own actions. The LPN has her own license.

[Nascar nurse, ASN, RN]

So here is a situation that happend to me and maybe one of you can help me out with this answer.

First day of Orientation on a LTC facility I was following a LPN around during med pass. The state came in and was monitoring her during a med pass of a patient. A med error occured because someone did not change the MAR and the LPN was sighted for med error. I as a new grad RN. Am I to also be blamed because I am an RN and was there or becuase I was first day orientating not responsable. This happened today so please let me know.

And if you want to get really technical.. the facility was cited for the med error that was caused by the LPN