Errors are an inevitable part of the nursing profession. In general, every human makes errors in life. But it can become critical to make mistakes, especially for nurses performing duties due to the sensitive nature of the job. Some errors are minor and negligible. Nursing, as a profession, is the cornerstone of healthcare service providers. Without its proper functioning, medical facilities can face severe consequences. The shortage of nursing staff and increased pressure on the present workforce are the major contributory factors behind the common nursing errors.
On the other hand, some errors can have profound effects. They can question the nurses’ professional competence or cause serious harm to the nurses’ jobs. These errors may often result in serious complications for patients. Whatever the case, it is always suitable to act vigilantly to take swift action and inform the concerned authorities.Â
With an advanced nursing education and relevant updated skills, nurses can outperform in the healthcare industry. For example, nurses can enhance their work ethics and career progression in the medical setups by going from AND to BSN online. Besides getting a relevant education, nurses can also rely on other ways to resolve the common problems. Â
There are five common nursing errors mentioned, along with the tips to avoid or fix them.Â
Medication Errors
Medication errors are the most common faults on the part of the nurses. They can prescribe wrong medicines, deliver wrong medicines to patients, or even administer the overdose of medicines to patients. Such types of errors can result in serious consequences for nurses. According to statistics, 9,000 patients are estimated to die due to medication errors across the United States each year. Similarly, most patients suffer from serious health risks caused by consuming the wrong medication. In some cases, the recovery period for patients may prolong and worsen their health condition. Medication errors can prove fatal to some patients, particularly the elderly.Â
How to fix: Medical facilities should install a comprehensive system entailing multiple checks throughout dispensing medicines to the patients. They must enforce a cross-check and verification system to avoid medication problems.Â
Improper DocumentationÂ
One of the primary duties of nurses is to maintain the medical documentation for the patients. Several types of documentation errors are prevalent such as inaccurate medical histories and incomplete information regarding intake of medicines and treatment delivery. Others include a lack of instructions related to after-treatment care. These errors can cause a ripple effect. Patients may receive an overdose of medication or improper treatment that can lead to serious health complications and, in some cases, even death. Improper documentation has huge implications for errors in the delivery of the ancillary services.
How to fix: Nurses must work with a present mind and pay due attention while attending to the needs of the patients. They must double-check written documents and medical records to ensure correct and proper documentation. It is always best to follow the checklist for patient protocols.Â
Carelessness while Patient Care
Nurses are responsible for moving patients from beds to wheelchairs or stretchers for regular medical check-ups and emergencies. However, sometimes they fail to comply with safety measurements, and as a result, patients fall. The majority of patients fall on an annual basis in the United States. Out of these, 30-50% of patients suffer from serious injuries, including internal bleeding, fractures, lacerations, etc.Â
How to fix: Nurses should consider taking help from supporting staff while moving patients from one facility to another. Similarly, they must check that safety gears are in the proper place. For instance, check the seat and belt of the wheelchair. It is crucial to follow safety protocols while administering care to patients to avoid common health risks.Â
Not Following Risk Management Procedures
Owing to the sensitive nature of the job, nurses are at more risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and infectious diseases. Some nurses are allergic to various chemical substances and drugs. Latex allergy is one of the commonly found allergies in nurses. They can also transmit infectious diseases to patients.Â
How to fix: Every nurse should get a proper medical check-up to identify allergies or other infectious diseases. Similarly, safety gear, gloves, masks, and other safety equipment can reduce the chances of getting infected with allergies and other ailments while performing their duties.Â
Tight Schedules With Workload
Heavy workload and shortage of staff are the leading causes of nursing errors. It is beyond the capacity of a human being to work efficiently and effectively for long shifts, accompanied by the extra workload. Nurses can become forgetful and stressed in such situations. Thus, they can even forget about their safety, and as a result, patients are more exposed to health risks. In some cases, they may insert an IV pump incorrectly, which can cause under or overdosing.Â
Similarly, fatigue is a commonly occurring challenge in medical facilities. In such critical times, it is usual for nurses to experience burnout. They can be emotionally detached and under constant stress. It led to the lower and dysfunctional performance associated with nagging mental and physical health risks.Â
How to Fix: Nurses must consult superiors and other colleagues for assistance. They can reduce their burden by asking for help from colleagues or other supporting staff. Similarly, they can also discuss duty hours and workload with the manager or supervisor to prevent the errors caused by overburden. They must take time off duty to recover from burnout and regain strength in acute circumstances. They must work for their own physical and mental health to deliver better service.Â
Final Thoughts
Nursing is another name for commitment and responsibility to serve humanity. Nurses must strive to make themselves better while achieving academic and professional excellence. They can help improve the healthcare sector and prevent the other nurses from making the same mistakes. It always starts with taking responsibility for whatever goes wrong. Nurses must learn to take ownership of their errors and take accountability for their actions. They must follow safety standards and protocols for risk management enforced in their workplaces. The medical facilities also must install effective monitoring and feedback systems in the healthcare facilities to improve the quality of the service delivery.Â
