As a nurse, what was a potentially grave mistake you were able to stop a doctor from making?
Well, I did not stop him but I tried. A resident asked me to inject a large dose of morphine in a yelling patient. I had just given her a dose. The woman had lung cancer and only 1 lung. I told him I would not do it, he ran down and gave it to her. within minutes she went into respiratory arrest. As the emergency team came rushing I saw him glance at me and slip down the stairway.
Causing a patient to lose his eye in the Department of Corrections! An ER Dr. REFUSED to see my patient! His left eye was partially hanging out of the socket, and presented with an abundance of thick green drainage! My patient and I preceded to the Dr.’s supervisor C.M.O ! After all, as a nurse my responsibility is to be my patient’s ADVOCATE which I take very seriously 💝 After presenting him with my assessment and the ER fiasco, the C.M.O instructed me to go get the patient. I informed him I had him with me ☺️As the patient entered the office, the CMO thanked me asked could he hug me with tears in his eyes, and stated,” I need more nurses like you”❣️He along with the patient and I went back to the ER! Let’s just say the patient was sent via ambulance to the nearest hospital, where he remained on I.V. antibiotics for TWO WEEKS! His eye was saved, however, he was left with a vision deficit 💔 Although this incident occurred in a correctional facility, I treat my patients WITHOUT JUDGEMENT or DISCRIMINATION ❣️It is NOT my place!
The C.M.O uses this case as a teaching model for the MD’s and nurses emphasizing patient care , advocacy and NOT being afraid to elevate a situation you feel STRONGLY about! My actions saved the patient’s eye💝
Sadly, there are too many to list. I have been a nurse for 48 years...civilian, Air Force, and VA. It always involved hubris on the part of the intern, resident, or staff physician. Always be alert and never be afraid to step in and say no.
I don't think it should be Provider Vs Nurse question.. It should be a collaborative statement?
carrying out an order written for a drug that the patient was allergic to and it was on his record but the doctor did not see it.
The doctor order the lab tests and medications meant to for different patient..
The doctor entered the surgery for the wrong extremity
A 3 month old patient was in serious respiratory distress and the attending ordered morphine. The resident calculated the dose and called it out. I double checked & he had the decimal in wrong place so dose would be 10x order. Quietly grabbed him & said double check decimal. He quickly did, turned pale, called out corrected dose than turned and quietly thanked me.
