Mistake made...tell or not?

nrsang97, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

Was a nurse the cause of the mistake? What kind of mistake? Something simple like wrong diet ordered, or more serious like a med error that harmed the patient?

If it was a MD mistake, then no nursing is not responsible to tell the family, the MD is responsible.

patoyia · Nov 4, 2008

It would be a nursing mistake, not sure how severe but am thinking for the debate that it doesn't matter. I guess the question it, it the pt isn't hurt by it do you admit the mistake to the family??

htrn · Nov 4, 2008

IMHO - if a nurse makes a mistake she needs to notify the charge nurse and complete any incident reports required. Then discuss with the charge nurse and/or nurse manager whether or not to discuss the mistake with the patient/family. Unfortunatly, for Risk Management reasons, the facility may prefer to have a manager or charge nurse discuss the mistake with the patient or family - esp if there is harm to the patient.

Nurses do need to always be honest about mistakes that they make. Often our mistakes are only partially our fault and the entire process needs to be evaluated and revamped inorder to prevent errors like that recurring. I was unfortunately involved in a huge error that resulted in a complete change in process - resulting in improved care for all patients in the hospital. I felt horrible for the mistake, but grateful something good came out of it.

NursKris82 · Nov 4, 2008

If it's a med error, but no one was harmed, it doesn't meant their couldn't be issue down the road. I did read something once that said that management, not the nurse making the error, should inform the family, for damage control mainly.

pielęgniarka, RN · Nov 4, 2008

Yep absolutely, patient should be notified (if cognizant) and family (if they are the POA) no matter if harm occurred or not. I have seen lots of errors some bad -- some with no harm-- either way our protocol says: begin incident report, notify DON, notify MD, notify family. C.Y.A. I like to believe that this routine helps to keep down med errors somewhat.

Trauma Columnist · Nov 4, 2008

Yes, owning up to one's mistakes, whether or not they caused harm is what integrity is all about:

http://www.acpinternist.org/archives/2003/11/mistakes.htm

Ehics of medicine:

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2951.htm

CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

If it was me, my mom, dad, kids etc....yeah, I'd want to know.

It isn't easy when that happens, but life ain't easy.

chevyv, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2008

Met a couple at a Chldren's Hospital the same time my infant was there. They both had heart defects and were in surgery the same day. About a week later, mom was looking over the chart (at the time they were in alcoves outside the rooms) and she noticed her infant had gotten a bolus of narcotics when someone bumped the pump in surgery. They managed to stabalize the baby, but not a word was said to the family. We left after 5.5 weeks and they were there until week 11. Not saying it had anything to do with the bump, but who knows? I sure would like to know if a mistake was made.

Flare, ASN, BSN · Nov 4, 2008

despite the fact that we live in a very letigious society, often times, if you are up front with people, admit your mistake and apologize people are happy with that - especially in a case where no real harm was done. if you try to cover it up, they wonder what else you are tying to hide from them.

CorgiMom · Nov 4, 2008

The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses provision 3.5 states: "...when errors do occur nurses are expected to follow institutional guidelines in reporting errors...and for assuring responsible disclosure of errors to patients."

To withhold information about errors from the patient or family is an ethical issue. By all means, disclose the error.