I Accidentally Gave My Patient a Double Dose of Meds

So there I was, another day at the hospital. You know how it is, sometimes you're juggling so many things in your head and on paper that one small mistake can feel like a huge deal. And yes, I made such a mistake last week. I think about it every single day since then. I had just finished my shift, exhausted but still feeling okay. But when the evening rounds started, I was starting to lose track of everything. We had new admissions and patients needing follow-up care, not to mention the ongoing meds management for all the existing ones. One patient, Mr. Thompson, had requested an early dose of his painkillers because he wasn't doing well. I double-checked his chart, as I always do. The medication was clearly listed with a specific time and dosage. As I prepared it in the nursing station, my mind wandered to some emails I needed to send about upcoming shifts, which is not ideal when you're handling medications. It's one of those moments where your brain does a little hiccup. I filled out his medication card as usual, but somehow managed to put down double the dose he actually required. Mr. Thompson didn't seem particularly aware at that moment, so I thought maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal if he just rested more and felt better faster. But you can probably guess where this is going. The nurse who came on shift for me noticed immediately, as there was a discrepancy between the dosage listed and what Mr. Thompson had actually received. She flagged it right away, and we were all pretty shaken up by then. I had to call in the supervisor to explain everything, feeling like I'd failed at my job utterly. I ended up reporting myself for this mistake, which felt like a weight on my chest even after everything was resolved. The hospital followed proper protocol and it's unlikely Mr. Thompson will have long-term effects from the double dose, but that doesn't mean it wasn't traumatic for him either. In retrospect, I realize how important it is to focus entirely when handling medications. It was a lesson hard-learned, but one that I'll never forget. The guilt keeps coming back in waves, especially around 3 PM every day, which happens to be the time it all went wrong. Sometimes it feels like no matter how many days pass, it's still happening right now.