The nurse mistakenly administered a long-acting benzodiazepine to the patient with end-stage liver disease, a drug that was not ordered. As a result, the patient had to remain in the hospital an extra night. The nurse wants to apologize to the patient for the mistake. Which of the following is most accurate?

Apologizing should occur after the nurse speaks with the nurse manager. When a nurse makes a mistake while providing care, the nurse should be transparent with the patient; however, the nurse manager (and likely the Risk Management department) should be informed first. The act of apologizing does not change the legal consequences of the act, since the action is documented. Studies have shown that most patients appreciate this candor and are even less likely to sue for malpractice when they receive a prompt and heartfelt apology. Transparency both to the nurse manager and to the patient is the ethically responsible act.

The nurse mistakenly administered a long-acting benzodiazepi...

Category: Management of Care
Difficulty: 4

Topics: Communication & Documentation Health Care Ethics, Law, and Policy Health Care Quality

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