A mistake can be critical for a nurse, and they do happen. It can end a career; however, this is rare. The fact is as long as nurses remain human, errors will occasionally occur. We must face them, and they get over them to continue on in their career. Common Errors As one might suspect, the most common nursing error involves dispensing the wrong medication. One way this can happen is by administering it to the wrong patient. Nurses are often pressed for time, and may have multiple patients they are caring for. It’s not terribly surprising that on occasion a medication is given to the wrong patient. A nurse at a large hospital had an impeccable reputation. She had been a nurse for 20 years, and was named nurse of the year on more than one occasion. She worked in ICU one night when it was very busy and understaffed. The nurse had two patients in room’s right next to one another. One was a 55-year-old with pneumonia, while the other was a 58-year-old with a heart condition
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