About ten years ago, a patient at a Maine hospital was accidentally given ten times the normal dose of epinephrine. Copyright The Student Room 2023 all rights reserved. Former Tennessee nurse RaDonda Vaught was convicted in the accidental death of a patient whom she injected with the wrong drug. The criminal case of RaDonda Vaughta 38-year-old former registered nurse at Vanderbilt University Medical Centerbecame a cause clbre for those in her profession. More so if this occurred. Smith looked at his dad's chart, and found his father had been resuscitated about 10 minutes earlier. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento in 2000 with a bachelor's degree in nursing. Lyn estimates they were gone for about an hour and a half. In the wake of an error, they have to keep seeing patients and performing surgeries. Her prosecution sparked outrage and protests from nurses across the country and inspired a petition signed by more than 200,000 people demanding a judge grant her clemency. Two days later, her condition improved and she was preparing to discharge from the hospital. Saying Im sorry doesnt seem like enough but you deserve to hear that and you deserve to know that I am very sorry for what happened, Vaught added. Of course, this is something that should never happen but in the unlikely scenario that it did, I am curious as to know what the following procedures would entail. Around lunchtime, another doctor noticed the patients heart rate spiking. Academy 'condemns' Will Smith's Oscar night slap, promises 11-year-old reads aloud from 'pornographic' book he checked out from library at school board meeting, Chicago's top cop quits one day after woke mayor lost re-election bid, Influencer refuses to switch business class seats so family can sit together, RHOA star Drew Sidora accuses ex Ralph Pittman of cheating, mental abuse, Original Gone With The Wind script reveals secret war over slavery, cut scenes, Drake regrets disrupting someones life by name-dropping exes in his songs, Good luck 'worming' your way out of this one, Sunny Hostin Points Finger at China for COVID Crisis: Did Not Cooperate With the International Community, Kanye West and 'wife' Bianca Censori look surprisingly happy on dinner date. Kim discussed the dosage with another nurse and worked through her math. The hospital did, however, issue a statement to WPLG, saying: "Our hearts go out to the Smith family for their loss. Marty Nemko, Ph.D., is a career and personal coach based in Oakland, California, and the author of 10 books. Every nurse I've ever encountered has their cautionary tale that they share in the hopes that others won't make the same mistake. She told me she got the highest grade in the class, Lyn said. He goes out to the graveyard anywhere from three to four times a week and just sits out there and cries over it. "That could have happened to me, or it could have happened to my friend," Manges says. "His only complaint to me was he was cold and his mouth was dry, which is not uncommon for dialysis patients," he said. Im sorry that I havent said it to you sooner. "Nurses aren't superheroes. a few minutes before 11 A. M., all the doctors and nurses nervously wait outside the ward to . Id be super pissed if I were them. Some safety experts at other hospitals say theyve faced opposition from patient advocacy groups, which argue that the providers committing harm shouldnt get these resources. Unfortunately, needlestick and other types of exposures happen. Dear Marty, I'm a registered nurse and I killed a patient by accident. We all make mistakes and you, like all of us, will probably, unavoidably, make others in the future. Then again at the end of the day its just a mistake in a job where you dedicate your life to helping people. She tried to get information from the hospital, but they told her not to call.. Her remorse during the case was of the attitude, in my opinion as an investigator, that she felt by telling the truth it would all go away, and that she should be rewarded for being honest., And I appreciate honesty. Kim Hiatts mother, Sharon Crum, was a nurse. I am starting clinical in the summer and had a morbid curiosity. She is accused of killing Charlene Murphey, who received the wrong medication and became unable to breathe in 2017. Stephanie Amador/The Tennessean via AP, Pool Prosecutors said the. When he did, he says, the doctor told him, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this but the nurse administered the wrong medication and sent your dad into respiratory arrest.". Murphy entered the hospital because . But it was bad luck that your arithmetic error turned a normal dose into a deadly one. It hurts us to see him hurt so bad, and he has stated that he wanted her to have the max, Chandra said. When nurses are fatigued or have many tasks occupying their attention, that's when safety checks are most important, she adds. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. She was acquitted of reckless homicide. This situation will never be repeated by Ms. Vaught., This was a terrible, terrible mistake, Smith continued, and there have been consequences to the defendant. Vanderbilt University Medical Center officials would not comment on the case. They would go through the hospital's procedures of when an accidental death happens. This policy helps providers speak honestly and aims to prevent any involvement with the legal system. No need to use antiseptics or disinfectants. Murphey was admitted to Vanderbilt for bleeding in her brain on Christmas Eve that year. Her remorse during the case was of the attitude, in my opinion as an investigator, that she felt by telling the truth it would all go away, and that she should be rewarded for being honest., And I appreciate honesty. Her father, Dan Hiatt, was a physician. My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? Their ghosts creep into exam rooms, and seeing new patients can reopen old wounds. That poor patient. I know when to go to a reference or ask for assistance, when to refuse an assignment or procedure, and do my best to practice safe. In her spare time she likes to read, travel, write, and spend time with her husband and two children. About 500 people attended Kims memorial service on April 10, 2011, at the University of Washingtons leafy arboretum. Some of them said the errors helped them get better at their jobs by, for example, making them more careful about checking data. The same thing could happen in an ambulance. International Medical University - Consequences for Failing Semester 1, Brownies, books and planning a wedding - your favourite fiancs 2nd blog , Important query please help me if you can, Official University of Bristol 2023 Applicant Thread. Kim struggled with both the death of her patient and the loss of a career she loved. (Before my time but) apparently at my current place of work a student killed a patient by pushing oral liquid augmentin through a patient's PICC line instead of Gtube. Ever since Marc Smith was a boy, "My mother and father had taken in a countless number of children who were in bad situations at home or didn't have place to stay," he said. Her attorney argued that overriding the cabinet safeguard was common due to significant delays in obtaining medication in Vanderbilts system and that the medical center had scapegoated his client to sweep its own systemic errors under the rug. And prosecutors tend to focus on nurses, he says, rather than physicians or hospital administrators, though he's not sure why. How to Return to a Nursing Career After a Hiatus, RN Licensure: Get a Nursing License in Your State. Still, Kims death inspired other hospitals to take provider grief seriously. Once reported to the provider, several things may happen at once. Kim wrote the state investigators a lengthy statement about why she hoped to keep her credentials. Not often, grant you, but it happens. Uvo Ologboride, the nurse named in the lawsuit, had given Smith pancuronium. I calculated the . It happens. Ross says it's important for health care workers to feel free to report errors without fear of retribution. People here are still afraid to admit their mistakes, says one Seattle Childrens Hospital employee who requested anonymity, because they are afraid of losing their jobs.. In higher doses, pancuronium is used to administer lethal injections. This student's only saving grace was seeing how it bubbled in the subcutaneous fat, realizing "Huh, that's not right," and telling someone. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Then, during a meeting, someone mentioned Kims story. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. I am simply sick about it.. Daughter-in-law Chandra Murphey, who is married to Michael, testified that her family hasnt had peace or closure for four years and the situation has just been sickening to us. Chandra said, We did so much together as a family, and it just ended, in a split second for us., Speaking on behalf of my father in law he cries every day. His 8th book, just published, is The Best of Marty Nemko. Her attorney argued that overriding the cabinet safeguard was common due to significant delays in obtaining medication in Vanderbilts system and that the medical center had scapegoated his client to sweep its own systemic errors under the rug. Didnt get to give her a hug or a kiss. RELATED: How Do Nurses Protect Themselves from Highly Infectious Patients? During Fridays hearing, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent Ramona Smith, who interviewed Vaught after Murpheys death, testified that the nurse didnt seem remorseful about what happened. Official LSE Postgraduate Applicants 2023 Thread, Official UCL 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Thread. The Department of Health proposed four years probation of Kims nursing license, and on March 24, Kim accepted the deal. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. And yes I agree. There were multiple chances for RaDonda Vaught to just pay attention.. She was good at her job, and she knew it.. Nov. 21, 2011— -- The family of a 79-year-old dialysis patient is suing a Florida nurse who accidentally gave him a deadly dose of a drug that induces paralysis, instead of an antacid. And now public consequences in a criminal setting.. Vaughts sentencing has been set for May 13. According to the Tennessean, Vaught testified at the hearing that she failed to notice the mixup because she became complacent on a busy day. She specialized in taking care of children who were dying and helping their families with the bereavement process. She used to write poetry about her patients, Crum says. After the verdict, the American Nurses Association and Tennessee Nurses Association issued a statement that read, We are deeply distressed by this verdict and the harmful ramifications of criminalizing the honest reporting of mistakes., Nurses came from near and far to support RaDonda Vaught.This nurse drove all the way from Oklahoma City.Vaught, the former Vanderbilt nurse will be sentenced today after she was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide.
what happens if a nurse accidentally kills a patient