When in the hospital, you expect the nurses to take care of you. Most of the time, nurses are competent and empathetic people. Unfortunately, not all of them are as professional and careful as they should be.
If a nurse makes a mistake while you are in his or her care, your condition may worsen. In some cases, nursing errors can even be deadly. Here are five of the most drastic mistakes nurses can make.
1. Patient falls
During your hospital stay, you may need to move around to stay active and healthy. If a nurse is not present to assist you when maneuvering around the hospital bed or equipment, you may fall and suffer serious injuries. Your nurse should check in on you frequently and encourage you to request for help when you need to get out of bed.
2. Medication mistakes
Errors regarding the administration of medications can be fatal. Common drug errors that nurses may commit include:
- Giving the wrong medication
- Giving the incorrect dose of medication
- Giving medication to the wrong patient
- Giving medication at the wrong time
Medication mistakes kill one patient every single day in America. Your nurse must be careful to make sure you are not one of them.
3. Inadequate prioritization
Sometimes, injuries and illnesses may progress simply because a nurse fails to prioritize properly. If a nurse does not provide you with the necessary care due to prioritization problems, the consequences can be serious. A smart nurse knows how to focus on the right tasks and delegate when necessary.
4. Infections
A variety of mishaps can lead to you contracting an infection in the hospital. A nurse may use improper hygiene or fail to disinfect equipment.
5. Failure to document
Nurses must document every action they take with their patients. Your nurse should write down everything he or she does when taking care of you. He or she should also report any concerning events to a supervisor.