Mistakes new nurses are likely to make

Nurses in Florida and throughout the country are vulnerable to making mistakes. This can be especially true for those who don’t have a lot of experience in their field. For instance, they may not realize how weak a patient may be, which could lead to an individual falling and getting hurt. Ideally, a nurse will keep everything a patient needs within reach and offer assistance with tasks such as getting dressed or showering.

Nurses should practice good hygiene whenever they are on the job, and they should know how to clean and sterilize a room. Doing so could prevent some of the 99,000 deaths that occur annually because of infections in hospital settings. Medication errors are another common reason why patients are injured or killed. Nurses should make sure that the person who receives a medication is the person who is supposed to receive it.

They should also make sure that they are aware of any possible side effects that could occur. Nurses may have to ask a doctor for help when treating a patient. It is important to have as much information as possible before asking for assistance. Generally speaking, it is good to have a patient’s diagnosis, a list of medications that he or she is taking and recent lab results before speaking with a physician.

While it may not be possible to avoid medical mistakes completely, patients generally have the right to take legal action when they occur. A patient might be entitled to compensation for medical bills and lost wages related to the error. The nurse or doctor who made the mistake as well as the hospital where it occurred may be named as defendants in a lawsuit. Medical malpractice cases might also be resolved through a negotiated settlement outside of court.