Would you take a bullet for your colleague?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

So what if your fellow nurse made a mistake and it was blamed on you, would you just let it roll and be the fall person?Or would you go, "Hang on a sec, now this person did this, not I"....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Army Medic.

Absolutely not, people need to be held accountable for their mistakes - period.

In any situation like that, I would speak up for myself on the spot.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

No way. If I made a mistake, I'll take responsibility for it. I expect the same from my colleagues.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psychiatry.

No, I would not. Period.

Nor would I expect my colleague/friend to take take bullet for me.

I can't think of anyone that is worth risking my license for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg Nursing.

No I would not. There isn't anybody I work with who is worth putting my license on the line.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nope, why would anyone do that?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.

In other, less critical life situations, I am sometimes willing to take the fall. But when it comes to a license, (sometimes unseen) potential for lawsuits, employment, and patient safety, no way! Are you kidding me!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.

Evidently, this falls into what I like to call always take care of your back by charting every procedure you do for a patient. Therefore, when something like this arises you can always state, "where is my signature?" I strongly believe in, if it's not charted it didn't happen. In other words, if you commit to this policy no one will accuse you of any wrong doing, because they are aware of your practice. Moreover, if you're wrongly accused, stand up for yourself and do not admit to someone's fault, keep in mind there's a license involve here. Having said that, make it a daily routine to chart everything you do during your shift :cool:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

absolutely not. i own my practice, as should everyone else.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Assuming this is something Pt related and not just forgetting to put the coffee urn under the dripping water, then I would make it plain that I didn't make this mistake.

If you take the blame for this, how will your colleague get educated on how to avoid this mistake again?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

No. I would not.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med Surg; OB.

Of course not!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment