It is really sad to listen to the stories I hear from some of my clients about communications in nursing. Nurses talk behind each otherās back, complain about each other and, sometimes, have no hesitation in putting down others, right in front of each other. Itās sort of like middle school. I know I used to be quiet and keep things in which really bothered me. Now my motto is if it crosses my mind, it crosses my lips if my comments can be a contribution to the other person. Remember you cant put … [Read more...]
Shortcuts
Have you ever headed somewhere and took a shortcut only to wind up taking more time than had you taken the original route? Well, the same is true in nursing. Some nurses take shortcuts to expedite their work load. Shortcuts can include pre-documenting, medication administration, setting up medications early or even ordering items well before the physician arrives because you are sure the doctor will order it. All of these are very dangerous practices. I have represented nurses who asked … [Read more...]
Is It Nursing Malpractice?
Is a med error considered malpractice? āMalpracticeā is a fancy word for negligence, but involves a professional. There are 4 elements of malpractice: Duty (the standard of care) Breach (you didnāt do what you were supposed to do or did something that you should not have done); Causation; and Harm. So, letās put it in laymanās terms. You have a duty to come to a halt at a stop sign, you donāt stop at the sign and you hit another car and cause injury. That is negligence because … [Read more...]
No Longer A Job For Life!
In the time when I was growing up, the goal of my parentsā generation was to get a job and stay there for life. It would be a job for which you could contribute to a retirement so that someday you would be able to retire. So, when I got out of nursing school, it became my goal to find that job for life! I knew I wanted to continue my education but always believed I would be working at the same facility and move up the ladder. However, as we have all come to realize, the culture has changed. … [Read more...]
Is Your Co-Worker Impaired?
Substance abuse is one of the most important issues in nursing because access is so easy. Even with Pyxis machines that distribute medications with a thumb print, there still are ways that a determined nurse can divert medication. According to the Indiana State Nurses Assistance Program [ISNAP]: Impaired nurses demonstrate mood swings and irritability. He/she may seem depressed for no apparent reason. There can be frequent complaints from nursing peers, patients, or family members that the … [Read more...]
