Would you have done this differently?

ajaxgirl · Nov 4, 2009

I had an omission on the MAR and was told about it, and even though it had been rectified, it was still going to be considered a med error. Okay.
The part that bugged me was that other people make this same mistake frequently and they are never( that I have seen) called on it. So took matters in my hand, went back to the MAR and made copies of all such omissions and took them back to the manager, who paused and then said all should be equally treated. Long story short, would you have handled things differently?

I never would have done that. It looks like you are looking for trouble. It seems like you got in trouble and are taking everyone down with you.

I would have verbally told the boss that this has happened before with others and IN THE FUTURE I would have pointed them out as they came along.

What were you hoping to accomplish by going into the past?

Turtle in scrubs · Nov 4, 2009

Oh no.... I would not have done this. Don't really get your MAR system, but I do know I wouldn't bring up someone else's errors when I'm in the hot seat. Own your error and determine what you will do differently next time.

If it is a global problem then maybe this is a good time to look at that as a unit and come up with something that works better for everyone. I would only bring this up after accepting your mistake. And I would never take down individuals with me.

mamamerlee, LPN · Nov 4, 2009

As you said "That I have seen" You don't really know. If word gets out that you went to manager about mistakes that may be global, ou may be unfairly ostracized. Maybe a second meeting with your manager might have been to say you've noticed this is a frequent omission, how can we fix this? type of thing.

makes needs known · Nov 4, 2009

Do your coworkers know you did this? I'd watch out if I were you. No one is perfect, but people tend to get upset when they get called on their mistakes. This can go round and round.

Katie5 · Nov 4, 2009

If it is a global problem then maybe this is a good time to look at that as a unit and come up with something that works better for everyone. I would only bring this up after accepting your mistake. And I would never take down individuals with me.

This was the general idea and not as a means of fault finding. Nah.

IHeartPeds87 · Nov 4, 2009

I'm sorry but I really think that was poor judgment on your part.

I agree that it sucks that you made a medication error and were written up for it when several people make these errors and don't get written up for it.

It's like getting a speeding ticket. Were you the only one on the road speeding that day? No. Why did you get a speeding ticket? Because you were speeding. The fact that other people were speeding is irrelevant. Not every error will get a write up. If you felt like it was a situation of you being singled out and the managers are "looking" for reasons to get rid of you then i'd start looking for new employment.

Really what did you end up accomplishing by ratting out your coworkers? If you thought that as a team you could come up with new ways of reducing medication errors then I would have gone to my manager and verbally mentioned "it seems like we are having lots of medication errors lately and this seems to be an issue on our unit" and ask the manager for suggestions and maybe have a team meeting or something.

You didn't help the situation and may be ostracized by your coworkers for this!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

This was the general idea and not as a means of fault finding. Nah.

Are you a new nurse? I wasn't aware of it when I was new(er), but I've noticed that some of the more experienced nurses are a bit pickier toward new nurses than to each other. Sounds evil, but I can actually see some point to it. You need to be forming good habits while you're forming habits. A casual attitude about "minor" errors, now, could lead to a casual attitude about more major errors, later.

That said, I think you were right to point out what sounds like a possible systems error. Not to elude responsibilty for your own actions, but to call attention to something that isn't working.

Katie5 · Nov 4, 2009

Are you a new nurse? I wasn't aware of it when I was new(er), but I've noticed that some of the more experienced nurses are a bit pickier toward new nurses than to each other. Sounds evil, but I can actually see some point to it. You need to be forming good habits while you're forming habits. A casual attitude about "minor" errors, now, could lead to a casual attitude about more major errors, later.
That said, I think you were right to point out what sounds like a possible systems error. Not to elude responsibilty for your own actions, but to call attention to something that isn't working.

Yes, I'm a recent grad:)

I can say we lived a sheltered life in nursing school..lol

Turtle in scrubs · Nov 4, 2009

This was the general idea and not as a means of fault finding. Nah.

It's hard. Self preservation kicks in and I can see why you reacted this way in the moment. Also criticism on this board is not always easy to take. Kudos to you for taking a look at your actions and being open to feedback! Without such an honest assessment change rarely happens. Best of luck.

*ac* · Nov 4, 2009

I admit I would have really wanted to do this.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Nov 4, 2009

I don't think what you did is a good thing. As someone else said, it makes you look like a nit-picker, which isn't a good reputation to have. Also, it took time to do it, time you probably could have used for patient care. Finally, you made a mistake and were confronted about it. Others not being confronted about their mistakes doesn't change that you made a mistake. Gotta take the consequences you've earned!