It is with a bit of embarrassment that I share this story with you but in my opinion the teaching points are important. Those who have read my books have heard of the man who coded early in my nursing career. While the more experienced nurses went to his aid, I was asked to watch the other patients on the floor. I was new, I was scared and glad it wasn’t my patient. In the midst of this crisis, one of the nurses came out and asked if I could go to central supply and pickup some equipment. … [Read more...]
Communication In Nursing
It is really sad to listen to the stories I hear from some of my clients about communications in nursing. Nurses talk behind each other’s back, complain about each other and, sometimes, have no hesitation in putting down others, right in front of each other. It’s 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? “Malpractice” is a fancy word for negligence, but involves a professional. There are 4 elements of malpractice: Duty (the standard of care) Breach (you didn’t do what you were supposed to do or did something that you should not have done); Causation; and Harm. So, let’s put it in layman’s terms. You have a duty to come to a halt at a stop sign, you don’t 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 parents’ 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...]
