Picking up the pieces after you make a mistake

All nurses dread making an error, but if it does happen, there are things you can do to rebuild your confidence and reduce the risk of future mistakes

Irrespective of whether a patient has or could be harmed by your error, the first thing to do is be honest and admit what’s happened. Not only is this professionally the correct thing to do, but if you try to cover up a mistake or keep it a secret, the event will snowball in your mind. This will only add to the anxiety you are feeling and could put you at greater risk of making further errors.

Usually you will have to report the incident to your ward manager, but you may also have to