Jmartjrmd
Well-Known Member
@Leeda.the.Paladin @lavaflow99
Discussion for anyone but in particular to
all my fellow Healthcare workers and legal minds this is an interesting case from 4 years ago. It's a hot topic in nursing and legal circles because the Tenn. noard of nursing just stripped her license so the case is front and center again. I watched the bon trial. What are your thoughts on this case? Should she have been criminally charged?
Back story
This nurse was assigned as a resource nurse. She was asked to go to CT to give patient some versed because patient was anxious. She was precepting and had him with her.
She goes to accudose but versed isn't on patient profile yet so she goes to a few machines to check those. It hadn't populated yet so she does an override
She types in Ve and picks first thing that pops up.
She doesn't look at vial, instead flips vial and reconstitute according to directions.
She goes and looks for computer to scan but learns the department doesn't have a scanner.
Because the pt. had contrast she feels like she needs to give the med because they needed the scan or the pt would have had to wait another day.
She gives the med then leaves for her next task in the ER. She takes vial with her to scan later.
After ER they go back to ICU where she gives the med to the nurse assigned to the patient so they could waste the excess when the pt. returns. They hear code blue called in PET scan. The patients family is outside her room and ask if that's their family member. She says she doesn't know but thinks it probably is.
So trying to shorten this a little..... the nurse goes down to see if that was the same patient and it was. At that time they'd gotten her "stable" and return to icu with her critical.
So the nurse she handed the bag to asks her if that was what she gave the patient. She says yes and he informs her that it was not versed but vecuronium and hands her the bag back. She tells him to give the bag to their charge nurse. She goes into the room and informs the team that she'd made the med error because the team couldn't figure out what went wrong.
The patient dies I think the next day.
She was charged with abuse of an adult and negligent homicide.
What say you?
I have alot more details but wanted to discuss because the outcome of this case will have a huge impact on Healthcare. She's facing up to 10 years in prison.
Discussion for anyone but in particular to
all my fellow Healthcare workers and legal minds this is an interesting case from 4 years ago. It's a hot topic in nursing and legal circles because the Tenn. noard of nursing just stripped her license so the case is front and center again. I watched the bon trial. What are your thoughts on this case? Should she have been criminally charged?
Back story
This nurse was assigned as a resource nurse. She was asked to go to CT to give patient some versed because patient was anxious. She was precepting and had him with her.
She goes to accudose but versed isn't on patient profile yet so she goes to a few machines to check those. It hadn't populated yet so she does an override
She types in Ve and picks first thing that pops up.
She doesn't look at vial, instead flips vial and reconstitute according to directions.
She goes and looks for computer to scan but learns the department doesn't have a scanner.
Because the pt. had contrast she feels like she needs to give the med because they needed the scan or the pt would have had to wait another day.
She gives the med then leaves for her next task in the ER. She takes vial with her to scan later.
After ER they go back to ICU where she gives the med to the nurse assigned to the patient so they could waste the excess when the pt. returns. They hear code blue called in PET scan. The patients family is outside her room and ask if that's their family member. She says she doesn't know but thinks it probably is.
So trying to shorten this a little..... the nurse goes down to see if that was the same patient and it was. At that time they'd gotten her "stable" and return to icu with her critical.
So the nurse she handed the bag to asks her if that was what she gave the patient. She says yes and he informs her that it was not versed but vecuronium and hands her the bag back. She tells him to give the bag to their charge nurse. She goes into the room and informs the team that she'd made the med error because the team couldn't figure out what went wrong.
The patient dies I think the next day.
She was charged with abuse of an adult and negligent homicide.
What say you?
I have alot more details but wanted to discuss because the outcome of this case will have a huge impact on Healthcare. She's facing up to 10 years in prison.
And she did all this while precepting? Not a good look!
And there needs to be better check and balances with the med machine especially with meds that are close in spelling or sound alike. Like how is it possible a med is able to be administered without scanning? I don't think I have seen that before.
