A blundering nurse who wrongly gave a powerful dru
A blundering nurse who wrongly gave a powerful drug to three frail patients escaped with a caution today.
(Fri)
Dawn McLean, 34, gave the trio the antibiotic in a drip bag – despite not being allowed to administer intravenous medicines by her employers.
The error was spotted by a colleague who stood over from McLean after she completed a night shift in Solihull Hospital on 26 February 2002.
The patients included a man with severe pneumonia, a 93-year-old man with a hip infection and a stroke victim.
A doctor was notified and the medication was immediately changed.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council in central London heard that none of the three patients suffered any side effects because of her mistake.
The committee was told McLean was not authorised to give intravenous drugs because she had not completed a course on the subject run by her employers, Birmingham Heartlands and the Solihull NHS Trust.
McLean, from Chemlsley Wood, Birmingham, appeared at the hearing today to admit misconduct.
Nicole Curtis, for the NMC, said the drug Metronidazole had been mixed with another antibiotic and had been given to all three patients.
McLean had then initialled the drug chart to say she had dispensed the medicine.
Miss Curtis said: ‘The drug chart shows none of the patients was prescribed this at the time.
McLean who qualified as a nurse in 1997, resigned from her job on March 4th last year, after the blunder was uncovered.
She told the hearing that she has now completed the intravenous course while working as an agency nurse.
‘It knocked me for six and I lost my confidence but I was determined not to let it get to me,’ she said.
Referring to the mistakes she said: ‘We were very very busy.
It was just too much, it was a very very hectic night.
‘I think this happened because we were very busy.
I never had a break I think I was doing far too much.
It was just basic human error I mis read the chart.
‘
She added: ‘I was absolutely gutted.
I was gobsmacked, I was shellshocked.
‘This had never happened to me before.
My tummy just turned.
I had butterflies”.
McLean said she was determined to continue in the profession and vowed: ‘Nursing is in my blood, it is all I want to do.
‘
Chairman Miss Sharon Hall, said: ‘You failed to promote and safeguard the interests and wellbeing of patients on three separate occasions, and you failed to exercise necessary care and this is misconduct.
‘
The committee decided to issue McLean with a caution that will remain on her record for five years.
Miss Hall added: ‘The three separate failings highlight seriousness of these drug errors.
‘The respondent was the nurse in charge and as such had overall responsibility for ensuring the safe administration of drugs to patients in her care.
‘
ends
