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Post by chavamom on Sept 20, 2009 20:31:38 GMT -5
I think though, that we have to admit even with an RN behind our name, we are human and we *do* make mistakes. There is a lot of research out there about how when there is a punitive approach to mistakes, the stakes are higher. People are afraid to admit when they make mistakes, processes don't get reviewed and corrected. The current attitude is *supposed* to be an understanding that we all make mistakes and we should view them with an eye to changing processes to prevent repeats.
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Post by achot on Sept 20, 2009 23:32:22 GMT -5
RN since 86 and I make mistakes every week,
most I catch before I do them, but come on, we are multi tasking ALL the time, we are short staffed, stressed to the limit, distracted constantly, mistakes can happen which is why we double check important things.
We do have to learn to set limits to the distractions in order to allow us to do our jobs properly. We do not need to be Super-nurse . If we find ourselves in a work situation where we think we could be making mistakes, or are correcting ourselves too often, we have to take a hard look at what we can do to minimize the risks.
If it means getting more sleep at night and leaving the simcha early, or turning off your cellphone so your kids cant call and complain that theres nothing in the fridge to eat, or telling the family member that you are unavailable to explain something right now, but will be available in another half hour, whatever .
And when we do make mistakes it is good policy to admit them IMMEDIATELY, report them to your supervisor in an objective fashion. AND To take steps to minimize damage and plans to prevent future mistakes.
That being said we should all carry personal professional insurance, for serious mistakes, the facility you are working for may not be very supportive.
I also urge you to report (serious) mistakes immediately in an objective fashion with plans for damage control and prevention of future mistakes. Trying to cover them up never works.
Facilities dont like to fire staff over mistakes that are human and reported immediately, treated right away and plans for prevention accepted by their Risk Management dept.
AND there is life after being fired, perhaps a step down but nursing is nursing and taking care of a patient is its own reward.
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Post by psyched on Sept 23, 2009 10:13:36 GMT -5
Rivka, I hear you, you are right. If a nurse would make a mistake on me as the patient, I would be royally annoyed.
What I don't like is that the hospital can be so understaffed, there have been times that I've been charging the unit and doing medication which is really a job for two nurses and I messed up big time on someone's meds bec I'm trying to do everything. At the time I reported it and we worked it out but I was thinking WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO HAPPEN? If they would have fired me for that- who's fault is it?
I feel like they leave us in horrible situations and then get upset when things happen.
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Post by achot on Sept 23, 2009 11:23:28 GMT -5
Yes as a patient I would be upset over a mistake (esp a med error) - but where is that same outrage and uproar when we are understaffed .
What reasonable person can be expected to do all that you (psyched) described and NOT make mistakes.
I am glad your med error was taken care of properly and it was right of you to report it etc. I think the way you handled it, minimized your risk of being fired for it.
Your new task is to identify the "horrible situations" at work and when they happen - write an objective memo to your Supervisor (keep a copy) , explaining why this situation will lend itself to a decrease in the quality of Nursing care and increased risk of mistakes. At least you will have it on record that you identified problems and asked for help during these situations.
The ideal staffing doesn't exist anywhere but a good nurse at least identifies the problems, brings it to her supervisors attention and tries to minimize the risk of problems.
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