Question

Identify examples of active and latent errors. Provide examples from a clinical experience, if possible. How can such errors be avoided to support better patient care?

Answer 1

Active errors are errors and violations having immediate negative result and usually caused by an individual.

Example of active errors are:

(A) Medication error like miscalculation of drug dosage and wrong drug administration, another case is charting or documentation errors and falling accidents involving patients. Medication error is the most common mistake nurses do maybe because sometimes they have so much things to do or a lot is going on in there mind or maybe just lack of focus. To avoid medication errors the nurse should focus fully on giving care to her patients and try to organize her work routine. Double or triple check doctors orders and always remember the rights of medication the (1)right patient, (2)right dose, (3)right route, (4) right drug, and (5) right time.

(B) Charting or documentation errors. To avoid making this errors first you need to understand your institutions policy and procedure of documentation. You should accurately document all major events and changes of patients condition in a timely manner.

(C) Falling accidents involving patients. As a nurse one of your most vital responsibility is to protect your patient. Make a list of preventive measures like assessing the patients gait when out of the bed and offer assistance, perform hourly rounds, be aware of medications that could cause patients drowsiness or dizziness and encourage patient to ask for help when needed.

(D) Equipment injuries. Nurses should have proper training on handling hospital equipments. Having the proper knowledge will reduce the likelihood of accidents. Before using the equipment inspect it first and check for lose and deffective parts.

Latent error are flaw in the design of the organization of healthcare delivery systems that could sometimes cause patients harm.

Examples of latent errors are:

(A) Lack of staff training/inexperience staff-unskilled medical staff could hurt the institution in a very big way. This staff are prone to committing medical malpractice and negligence.

(B) Understaffing-when nurses have fewer patients they are more likely to intercept and prevent errors, and when nurses have more time to advocate with physicians and other medical staff about the patient's care plan to make sure the patient gets everything she needs, patients are more likely to thrive.

(C) Faulty or Inadequate Equipments- maintenance policy for medical technology is important to the efficient running of the organisation, aiding therapeutic and diagnostic care of patients, and also to the volume of equipment required by the organisation.