Survey: Do you believe the nursing shortage is contributing to medication errors?

1. Here are the results of last months survey question
   Have you ever consulted with your facility's ethics committee about a patient? :
   
   
   
   Please feel free to read and post any comments that you have right here in this discussion thread by clicking the "Post Reply" button.
   
   Thanks

   Last edit by brian on Mar 3, '03

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2. 

   About Brian, ADN

   Joined: Mar '98; Posts: 15,431; Likes: 16,403
   allnurses.com founder; from US
   Specialty: 18+ year(s) of experience in CCU, Geriatrics, Critical Care, Tele

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   47 Comments

   Topic Closed

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3. 
   Feb 1, '03

   Yes, absolutely.
   
   Too many patients, too little time, feeling rushed, and being too distracted are all things that happen when understaffed--and each of those conditions contributes to med errors.
4. 
   Feb 1, '03

   WITHOUT A DOUBT!.....
5. 
   Feb 1, '03

   How could anyone NOT think so?
   
   Of course TPTB would probably "create" med techs to "take some burden off the nurses...." (lower salary of course)
   
   Then they'd authorize more assistive personnel "to take some burden off the nurses..."(lower salary of course)
   
   Pretty soon the thought will be my goodness these nurses don't have enough to do.....so they'll..........
6. 
   Feb 2, '03

   Definitely!
7. 
   Feb 2, '03

   Haste makes waste.
   
   Not enough time = increased mistakes in every area.
8. 
   Feb 2, '03

   P_RN makes a good point. I would like to add one thing. They always need a few licensed personel around so there is someone to pin the blame on when mistakes are made.
9. 
   Feb 2, '03

   Yes, I believe the shortage is one contributing factor in errors that are being made.
10. 
    Feb 2, '03

    There is NO DOUBT in my mind that haste makes mistakes over and over and over again.
11. 
    Feb 2, '03

    Well................. DUH!
12. 
    Feb 2, '03

    Yep, and more on-the-job injuries, needlesticks,patient falls,etc. This year alone, I have sustained 2 on-the-job injuries (never had any before), my first needlestick (after a PPD placement, thank God), and my first med error in 4 years. All were on "critically staffed" nights.
13. 
    Feb 2, '03

    no doubt about it, when you get rushed errors not only can but do happen!!!
14. 
    Feb 2, '03

    I believe it!

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