A Nurse Shouldn’t Make Mistakes

The goal of a nurse is to provide quality health care to patients. They promote, prevent and restore health. Despite of the enhanced measures to reduce mistakes, some unfortunate occurrences still happen. The incidence of medication error is a major problem in the field of nursing. Medical errors are frequent, costly, and a leading cause of death in the United States (Kohn, Corrigan, & Donaldson, 1999; Makary & Daniel, 2016; Treiber, & Jones, 2018). An alarming reality that needs to be addressed to prevent it from happening and improve patient’s safety.

Nurses were taught of the rights of safe medication administration. This framework is a globally accepted guide for safe medication administration practice. It is meant to ensure that the right patient receives the right drug at the right time in the right dose and by the right route (Sullivan, 1991; Institute for Safe Medication Practices, 2007; Martyn, Paliadelis, & Perry, 2019). Base on the case presented, one of the rights was violated, the right medication.

Although not mentioned, it is also a patient’s right to be informed whether or not an injury had happen.

The State Board of Nursing is under the administrative law agency which functions to provide and ensure safety to the public. Each State board is specific for each state that it oversees. They set the rules for the practice of nursing. Standards of nursing care are delineated through Nurse Practice Acts established as benchmarks for safe nursing practice (Halpern, McKinnon, Okolo, Sanzio, & Dolan, 2016). They are responsible for the issuance and revocation of licenses.

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Moreover, they enforce disciplinary actions filed against nurses which may result in probation or suspension of license.

Complaints submitted to the Board are thoroughly reviewed and investigated. The nurses duly informed of the complaint and the board may request for a written response from them. They have the right to remain silent and consult a lawyer prior to responding. The nurse has a constitutional right called “due process” during the administrative process. Due process ensures that nurses receive a hearing where they have the right to be heard and defend any charges brought against them before the board can terminate a “liberty” e.g., the practice of nursing, (Westrick, Essentials of Nursing Law and Ethics).

Once a disciplinary action has been made, whether it may be revocation, suspension, a letter of reprimand or admonishment, probation or imposition of a fine, the State Board will report to different agencies such as National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) Nursys database which holds all the disciplinary actions the board has made from all state members and the territories it governs. The Board can also report to the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General which places the nurse on a disqualified or excluded provider list. Generally, a nurse can appeal the findings from the State Board through the state court appellate process but it should have substantial reason for it to be reviewed such as the board acted beyond its scope of authority, it was unconstitutional, lack of substantial evidence or the decision was capricious (Westrick, Essentials of Nursing Law and Ethics).

The incidence of medication errors pose is still an issue to this day. All medical health workers should be accountable to their actions. It is important to always take precaution and make certain that you have gathered the right medication. And always be familiar with rules and laws that govern your practice.