Question

NURSING

SITUATION # 2
Nurse Torres carried out an order of 60 u of regular IV insulin to patient X. The medication was administered to the correct patient. However, he manifested significant hypoglycemia when presenting a Dxt of <28 mg / dL, so he had to immediately manage and administer 2 vials of dextrose at 50% plus place a D5W% drip down to 60 mL / hr. The patient was placed in the Intensive Unit under observation. When the order was revised, it did not say 60 u IV but 6 u of subcutaneous regular insulin, the abbreviation of units was understood as a zero. The nurse assumed that the order was correct because it had been given by the endocrinologist.

1. How would you have acted in this situation?
2. What ethical-legal repercussions could arise in this case?

Answer 1

1. Being a healthcare worker ,it's mine utmost responsibility to provide patient care without any harm . Patient has reached us to get the treatment not the medical errors .

In such a situation , if I had any doubts regarding the prescription then I might have asked the endocrinologist about the dosage for verification before administration. Now the error has occurred, immediate management has to be done and incident report has to be filled .

2. The ethical-legal repercussions that could arise in this case are :-

- Legal action against the staff who administered the dose like compensation in the form of fine , suspension of license for a time period( temporary ) or permanent cancellation of license