Mistakes are an inevitable part of learning and growth in healthcare, especially in nursing. Yet today, nursing errors are more common than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed frontline nurses to their limits. Although the initial crisis has subsided, many nurses are only now finding a moment to pause and process what they’ve endured – all while anticipating future surges.
In recent discussions with fellow nurse leaders, many described the extreme stress their units continue to face. Staff remain exhausted, worried about their health, overwhelmed by constant policy changes, and seeking leadership support. Some nurses are struggling to remember basic nursing care as they stay hyper-focused on evolving COVID protocols and manage staffing shortages, leading to an increase in preventable errors.
As someone who has participated in peer reviews for years, I can confidently say no nurse comes to work planning to make mistakes. However, time pressures, mental fatigue, and inadequate training consistently lead to errors that compromise patient safety.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common nursing mistakes, why they happen, and practical ways to prevent them. By returning to the basics and fostering a culture of learning and accountability, nurses can reduce errors and keep patients safe.
1. Rushing Through an Assessment
We all do it, even though we say we never will. We try to convince ourselves that we can listen to breath sounds and heart sounds simultaneously. When you feel that urge to omit portions of your assessment due to your superhuman abilities, ignore it! You will miss something. It may not happen immediately, but it will one day. And in the end, it’s your patient that will suffer.
To avoid this nursing mistake, take the time every shift to perform a thorough assessment. Use assessment checklists or items to ensure nothing is missed and to increase patient safety. Provide assistance to patients during transfers, especially when they attempt to move independently, such as getting out of bed or going to the bathroom, to prevent falls. Always check the bed and bathroom environment for safety hazards during your assessment. Take your patients’ socks off and look at their feet. Pay attention to their urine output. Remember to check all their pulses. And please review their vital signs. These simple steps take seconds and can literally save your patient’s life.
2. Not Verifying Information During Shift Report
Effective shift reports are essential for patient safety and continuity of care. At times, you may receive information during a report about medication administration or lab results that requires further clarification. For example, you might be told a medication was given or that all labs were normal, but later discover a dose was missed or a lab value was abnormal.
Taking a moment at the start of your shift to review the patient’s chart can help identify any discrepancies and ensure care is provided safely and accurately. While we trust the information shared by our colleagues, verifying key details such as medications and labs supports the entire care team and helps prevent nursing mistakes.
Clear communication combined with routine chart verification promotes teamwork, reduces the risk of errors, and ensures the highest quality of care for our patients. Double-checking is about protecting patients and supporting each other in delivering excellent care.
3. Not Preparing Your SBAR Report
Let’s face it – calling doctors is no one’s favorite activity. In fact, if I had to choose between calling a doctor and giving an enema, I would choose an enema, hands down, every time. In the early days, most of the calls were humiliating and usually ended with me wanting to cry in the clean utility closet. Then, I realized my mistake. I wasn’t preparing my SBAR. When I embraced the simplicity of SBAR, my life changed! Well not my entire life, but I became way more confident when I called doctors.
Take a few minutes before you call the doctor and get your thoughts in order. Summarize why you’re calling in 8-10 seconds (this is the Situation). Have all the necessary background information in front of you: lab results, vital signs, output, etc (this is the Background). Then quickly summarize your assessment findings and tell the doctor what you need (Assessment and Recommendations). Another thing I noticed when I started using SBAR is that my patients received better care. A systematic review published in 2018 found improved patient outcomes when SBAR was used, specifically in nurse-to-physician communication (Muller M, Jurgens J, Redaelli M, et al, 2018). The doctors trusted my assessments and agreed with my recommendations. And even if they didn’t, they would still order the extra lab I requested. In the end, my patients received better care and that’s really what matters.
4. Documentation Errors
Documentation errors are among the most common nursing mistakes, and they can have far-reaching effects on patient care. When a nurse fails to accurately document a patient’s medication, treatment, or medical history, it increases the chances of problems like administering the wrong medication or the wrong dose, missing important changes in a patient’s condition, or failing to follow up on critical orders from doctors. In busy clinical settings, it can be tempting to rush through documentation or rely on memory, but this is when more errors are likely to happen.
To avoid documentation errors, it’s essential to follow established procedures for recording patient information. Always take the time to read and verify orders, double-check forms, and ensure that every detail is correct before moving on to the next task. Being proactive and mindful during documentation not only helps prevent mistakes but also protects your professional reputation and supports the entire care team. Staying up-to-date with the latest standards and guidelines in nursing practice is another important step—regularly reviewing resources and participating in training can help you stay aware of best practices. By making documentation a priority, nurses play an important role in creating a safe, effective environment for their patients and colleagues.
Conclusion: Reducing Nursing Mistakes for Safer Patient Care
Nursing mistakes can happen in high-pressure environments, but we can reduce them by returning to the basics. Always perform thorough head-to-toe assessments and verify information received during shift reports rather than relying solely on colleagues. Prepare your SBAR before calling providers to communicate confidently and effectively. Prioritize accurate, timely documentation to keep the care team informed and protect your patients.
While no nurse comes to work planning to make an error, our diligence directly impacts patient safety. By staying focused, practicing clear communication, and continuously honing core skills, we can prevent many common nursing mistakes. Our patients depend on our vigilance and commitment to safe, high-quality care – let’s ensure we provide it every shift.
References:
Muller M, Jurgens J, Redaelli M, et al. Impact of the communication and patient hand-off tool SAR on patient safety: a systematic review. BMJ Open 2018;8:e022202. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022202