Forensic Nursing Chronicles

Recently at the hospital where I work and this apparently is in all hospitals it is required to check insulins before administering the insulin to the patient. We have always used the multiple use vials drawing up the amount of units required and then having another RN check the dose and the correct insulin. Approxmmately 2 weeks ago, we went to the insulin pens. I, like a lot of my co-workers are not to fond of the pens however not many like change. Recently on one of my shifts the pens came up from the pharmacy, patients drawers are changed every 24 hours. When getting ready to administer insulin on my morning med pass I was getting ready to set the pens when I noticed the Lantus label was on the humolog pen and the Humolog label was on the lantus pen. It was definetly a good catch as the patient could have gotten a large dose of Lantus when the Humolog was indicated. The pens went back to the pharmacy and were sent back properly labeled. I have always made it good practice not to assume medications should be what they should be. I have also always had another RN co-sign with me when hanging an IV medication even before it was required. When ever I have to calculate something ,i.e. IV Synthroid, I always have another RN do the calculation to be sure my calculation was and is correct. I have never opened meds at the med care, I always check them 3 times before I administer them and check the patients name band and account number to the MAR. I have on many occasions come accross account numbers for patients that do not match and before administering the medication calling admitting to be sure the account is for the right patient, there could always be another patient in the hospital with the same name but the accounts are obviously going to be different therefore I want to be sure that the patient I have has the correct MARS. You can never be too safe when passing medications.

Technorati Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Medication Error

Before administrating medications to a patient, health-care professionals need to assess the benefits and risks of giving the medication, as well as provide the patient and their family with information about the drug. The individual registered nurse has a legal and professional responsibility for the safe administration of medications. The responsibility and authority of the registered nurse to administer medications and delegate effectively are often compromised in the work environments in which nurses practice. To ensure patient safety in her/his work setting and avoid detrimental effects from unsafe medication administration, the individual nurse requires understanding of the legal, clinical, and ethical standards involved in the administration and/or supervision of the administration of medications.

Technorati Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Medication Error

Many people, including health care workers, believe that morphine is a lethal drug that causes death when used to control pain for a patient who is dying. That is a misconception according to new research published in the latest issue of Palliative Medicine; from SAGE Publications. Doctors should feel free to manage pain with doses adjusted to individual patients so that the patients can be comfortable and be able to live with dignity until the end. How much is too much? This is the big question that we as nurses often consider. From experience I have seen morphine given in small and large quantities to the dying pt, I have often wondered like many health care professionals are we assisting death by administering morphine in large doses? Will we ever know the answer, I want my pt. to be comfortable and free of pain, in the end when death is not preventable who is the most important? The pt.and his family of course, what we think doesn’t really matter.

Technorati Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Medication Error

The administration of medications is one of the most important roles for the Nurse. We as nurse should never administer a drug until we have become familiar with its therapeutic intent, dosage, mode of administration and potential side effects. One of the most common errors I have seen throughout my career is the improper administration and follow up of epinephrine, it seems simple enough to use an epi-pen; but most health care professionals don’t know you have to hold it in place for 10 seconds, yes, I have seen this many times unfortunately, some people still give it s/c. I have talked to pts who have had an anaphylactic reaction and they have told me they didn’t go to hospital for follow up because they didn’t know. A young girl died in my home town, she had an allergy to peanuts and although she was given her epi-pen by a teacher, it was not given correctly or the teacher didn’t know to check the needle after. The paramedics didn’t check the pen either when they arrived on scene.

Technorati Tags: Forensic Nursing, Forensic Nursing Chronicles, Forensic Nursing Theories, Medication Errors