for whos benefit?

My hospital just had a medication inservice. During the meeting they went into 'incident reports' and how there is a low amount of reports filed for medication errors, and an expected number of reports filed for falls and so on. They believe reports are not filed as often as they should be, they stressed the fact that "they are used to see how our system can be improved--not to find out who is doing what wrong......" and so on. They are basically encouraging us to file incident reports

A nurse I work with filed a report, last night, that involved a med being given wrong because it was written wrong on the MAR. (Ampho B MW....(MW meaning mouth wash)....nurse wrote it to be given only on M,W (M,W meaning Monday,Wednesday)

But, I'm like you, I have not written anyone up. Although I'll go to them, if needed, and explain what should have been done.

Anyway, according to my hospital: incidence reports are to help examine the hospital's system and find where improvement/alterations are needed.

YOU CANNOT CURSE AT WORK THAT IS NOT PROFESSIONAL.....LOL I can understand you getting written up for that type of conduct, although I understand your frustration but I guess you will have to handle it differently next time. Write ups are a joke to me. Most of the time nurses writing up other nurses are just a bunch of I am mad at you because I cannot control you.......some of them are legitimate. When I get called in on a stupid write up I just will not sign it and I will put in writing my comment on the situation and leave it. But something serious then I will accept that and re evaluate how I can handle a situation differently for the next time.

Is this true? You are written up by fellow nurses?
I've never ever heared of something like that!
I know about a quarterly or yearly report by my supervisors, but that 's it.
Well, when there are complaints, you go to her and try to find a solution.
But never, would that mean getting sacked or getting less pay.
( Well, unless I kill a patient or really harm him of course)
Wow, I am stunned!

I don't think I would ever rat out a fellow nurse, I have no problem bringing something to their attention, quietly and confidentially. We need to stick together especially since Administrators are constantly looking at ways to cut staff funding on the floors in an effort to increase their salaries and profit margins. My motto is "keep the talent happy" which means the last person you want to alienate is a fellow nurse.

There is a clear and distinct difference between documenting an occurence for which the institution might become liable and documentation of nurse behavior that is used for management sanctions. Documentation of medication errors, patient incidents, etc all are designed to provide advance warning to the hospital that litigation "could or might" occur and is a way of tracking adverse events for patients. "Writing someone up" for trivial events without apparent consequences to the patient or the facility is a euphemism for tattling in my view and demonstrates an inability of the nurse to communicate appropriately and effectively. So, which type of documentation are we addressing here?
best
chas

WELL...I need to add my 2 cents on this subject. The only reason I would ever fill out an incident report is if and when there is a med error,a sentinel event,an AMA who will not sign the appropriate papers or any other cicumstance where there may be a possibility of liability on someone's part. I have worked several hospitals and have heard stories of nurses "writing up" one another and have never been able to see the logic behind such behavior. What is the point????? perhaps this sort of thing is related to continuing "classroom monitor " reporting of those who speak when the teacher is out of the room.
I must agree with Charles on this one...this is just tattling and is childish. This is as ridiculous as threatening someone with "it will go into your personnel file" ...if the "writers" are not mature enough to discuss/confront another with any complaints, I suggest they go to the sandbox and play...I have no time to waste reading their silly "write-ups". Written whine-o-rhea.
Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh......
One last question...do they waste patient care time to create these documents????? If they do,it is a sad comment on their ability to prioritize. And if they create the document when at home,my suggestion is for them to get a life.
We are in the midst of a nursing shortage and a national crisis,
there are many other things to occupy our minds and our hands.
And in case no one has told any of you today...I appreciate all that you do even if you do use the *F* word...geesh...sometimes it's the only word that can describe a situation. Dabnabbit just doesn't cut it...neither does heck or fudge or shoot or shucks...LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Our facility has an incident report form for med errors and other things pertainingn to direct patient care. There is another form called "generic screen" for tattling. Things like failure to empty sharps containers, unprofessional conduct, etc. go on that form. All can be used against you in evaluations but only one can be used against you in court.