As a nurse, you are aware of the effort required to obtain your nursing license. Depending on the type of nurse you are, finishing school, undergoing training, receiving your certification, and ultimately becoming a licensed nurse may cost you years and tens of thousands of dollars.
However, it only takes one poor choice, one seemingly minor error, or one momentary lapse in judgment to jeopardize all of your hard work. You risk losing your license and your arduously earned nursing career if you give the wrong medication or work quickly. These errors are more frequent than you might imagine, especially since the majority of nursing programs don't instruct students on how to safeguard their careers.
Keep communication in mind.
You must express the information you have to others in a clear and concise manner. Medical mistakes and poor patient outcomes are caused by breakdowns in communication between nurses, doctors, and other medical professionals. Reviewing your facility's systems and procedures and doing your best to follow them will help you communicate with your coworkers as effectively as possible. Speaking out about potential improvements may also be necessary.
Avoid doing anything that makes you feel uneasy.
Never comply with any request that seems to go against hospital or company policy, whether it comes from a superior, a patient, or a colleague. Avoid, for instance, any procedure whose instructions are against protocol or whose execution you are unsure of. An alibi that won't shield you from a malpractice lawsuit is claiming that another nurse said a procedure was acceptable. Always adhere to official policies and procedures when in doubt.
Check each patient's individual procedures two or three times.
One of the simplest ways to prevent medication errors in nursing is to do this. In order to ensure that each patient's medication is noted and accurately recorded on the physician's order and the medication administration record, it is customarily necessary to have another nurse review all new medication orders. Be sure to adhere to any similar protocols that may already be in place at some hospitals.
Proper documentation
Proper documentation includes legible documentation on charts or records of medication administration as well as properly labeled medications.
An error may occur due to inadequate documentation. For instance, if a nurse fails to record the dosage of an as-needed medication, another nurse may have to administer the medication because there is no record of the initial dosage.
Observe facility protocol at all times.
There might be a time when someone wants to take a shortcut when they are working in a demanding and quick-paced environment. It's possible that you will be asked to take a step that is against the rules and regulations of your facility.
Refuse if you think what is being asked of you is against the rules set forth by the nursing board in your state. It is always your responsibility to make sure your behavior complies with the law, the ethical standards of your profession, and the rules of your workplace. Additionally, it is your responsibility to become familiar with any position-specific protocols at your facility. A policy's ignorance is never a valid excuse.
Ensure the privacy of your social media accounts.
Although it is perfectly acceptable for nurses to have social media accounts, you must keep in mind that everything you post online speaks to you as a person and a professional. Your position and license could be adversely affected by aspects of your personal life. As a result, limit who you interact with on social media to friends and family, and be selective about what you post. A comment, tweet, picture, or video should be kept offline if you are unsure of how your coworkers or superiors will react to it.
Nobody wants to constantly be watching their back. However, there is a lot of regulation in nursing, and state boards quickly suspend or revoke licenses. It is up to you to make sure your conduct is honorable. You have a constant reminder to finish your tasks on your own, adhere to protocol, and interact with your coworkers if you assume that everyone will be watching and judging everything you do at work.
1NURSE Mobile App
Educational and Entertainment Topics for Nurses
