Reflecting on medication errors in nursing is a critical aspect of professional development and
patient safety. As a student nurse, I understand the gravity of medication administration errors
and the potential impact they can have on patients and healthcare professionals alike.
Reading about the case of the Tennessee RN RaDonda Vaught who was convicted of negligent
homicide due to a medication error resulting in a patient's death was both sobering and
thought-provoking. It serves as a stark reminder of the immense responsibility that comes with
administering medications and the potential consequences of even a single mistake.
In my own experience as a nurse, I can recall a situation where a medication error occurred. It
was a near miss rather than a serious error, but it was a wake-up call nonetheless. The error
occurred during a busy shift when I was administering medications to multiple patients. In the
midst of the hectic environment, I almost administered the wrong dosage of a medication to a
patient. Fortunately, I caught the mistake before any harm was done, but the incident left me
shaken and deeply aware of the importance of vigilance and double-checking every step of the
medication administration process.
If the error had not been caught in time, the outcome could have been detrimental to the
patient's health and well-being. To prevent such errors in the future, I have since implemented
additional safety measures into my practice. These include double-checking medications with
another healthcare professional, verifying dosage calculations, and ensuring a distraction-free
environment during medication administration.
Reading the article on how RaDonda was convicted of negligent homicide was a poignant
reminder of the real-life consequences of medication errors. It evoked a sense of empathy for
both the patient who suffered due to the error and the nurse who made the mistake. My initial
reaction was one of sadness and introspection, prompting me to reflect on my own practice and
the importance of remaining diligent and focused when administering medications. It is so easy
to get busy and distracted. You have multiple people asking questions and stopping you from
what you’re doing and you have to have the ability to multitask and focus without getting off the
task at hand and it’s easy when you’re tired, overworked and understaffed, which is about a
99% occurrence in nursing.
My heart goes out to all involved. I can empathize with all parties: the family who lost their loved
one, the person who lost their life and the nurse who has to live with the fact that her med error
caused it all.
I truly hope that RaDonda finds peace in this experience. The one thing we all fear the most
actually happened to her; Making a mistake that can hurt someone. I think as nurses we all
dread that possibility. Luckily at my hospital we are not allowed or able to override so this
mistake is a little harder to happen but can still occur given the right situation.
Moving forward, I am committed to maintaining a high standard of medication administration
practice, staying informed about best practices and guidelines, and continuously seeking
