Memories of a medical error

A recent study published in a journal checked out medication errors from the nurses’ perspective. Researchers sought details about error reporting, the importance of technology in reducing errors, and current medication administration procedures, but in addition asked open-ended questions that allowed nurses to share their very own experiences with medication errors.

When I used to be a senior nursing student, I neglected to examine a patient’s pulse before giving him a dose of digoxin. I used to be devastated. As soon as I saw him swallow the pill, it struck me that I hadn’t taken his pulse. I panicked and grabbed his wrist. His pulse was 62; above “Keep your heart rate below 60”, but not by much. I didn’t take into consideration this incident for a very long time, but now that I believe back, I do not forget that clinical day very vividly. My first concern was, after all, the patient’s well-being, and fortunately his vital signs remained stable. However, my feelings of self-doubt and failure haunted me for a very long time. How could I forget something so necessary and yet so easy?

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