Admitting you are wrong

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a educator and quality assurance person for my company, I work with a large amount of staff covering 17 facilities. This means I am the 'expert' and the go to person for policies and procedures.

It is impossible to know every P & P off the top of your head, most times you have a general idea but often I have to refer to the P&P link on the intranet!

Last week I firmly stated a P&P to a staff member who questioned it! I encourage everybody to challenge me because I am not perfect, so I rushed off to the intranet pulled up the P & P and found to my horror that I was wrong and the other staff member was correct. I have to say this is a rare occurrence for me as I am a stickler for accuracy.

So with cap in hand I informed the staff member who laughed hard, made sure i announced i was wrong to everybody who was working and then proceeded to mark the calendar with the date I was wrong!

The morale of the story is question anybody in nursing if you think they are providing incorrect information! The morale of my story is to check P & P before opening my mouth!!!!

Specializes in Transitional Nursing.

I hate being wrong! I always apologize, but I usually tuck my tail between my legs first!

Specializes in ER.

One thing about Smartphones is the fun of proving someone wrong! Back in the old days, when encountering the person who thought he was always right, it was a big hassle to find the right answer.

Nowadays, when the fellow who's always right spouts an incorrect factoid, it's so easy to find out the truth! :yes:

But, if you're the one proven wrong, ya gotta fess up.

Whether you are a professional or a lamen, we are all humans. It is commendable to admit if you are wrong. Everyone puts there pants on one foot at a time. We all make mistakes. Again, that's what makes us human

I do the same thing when people ask are you sure and I'm not 100% positive. I do it sometimes even when I am. There is no way all this stuff can coexist in my head all at once it seems and so I have my go to resources when I need them: ipod apps (epocrates and lexidrugs), uptodate, and a bunch of nursing e-books. I think being wrong sometimes is human, but that owning up to it and taking accountability is part of what makes you professional.

Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I doff my now obsolete cap to you, Madwife! To me the ability to admit you are wrong is a sign of good leadership. :up:

Specializes in Medical Surgical & Nursing Manaagement.

Here's a quote from a very wise man............my Dad

I may not always be right......but.....I'm never wrong! Love & Miss you Dad :)

Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.

I have never been wrong in my life!!! There was this time when I tought I was wrong about something but then realized I was wrong about being wrong LOL.

Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Gawd it is hard, but I have learned to do it. Feels better than not doing it.

Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

I've only been wrong once ..........that was thinking I was wrong.

Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

As their practice is dependent on me giving them the right education I had to admit that I was wrong!

I do create an atmosphere where I allow the Techs and Nurses to question me! It is so healthy to question, I love it when they challenge me

I don't think I am WRONG, per se, just need a few minutes to passionately debate why the P&P could be mis-interpreted....

Ok, KIDDING......

Specializes in Hospice.
Here's a quote from a very wise man............my Dad

I may not always be right......but.....I'm never wrong! Love & Miss you Dad :)

My dad always said that too!

I hate being wrong, but on occasion I have had to tuck my tail between my legs and bow out gracefully, well actually ungracefully.

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