When You’re a Good Nurse Who Made One Mistake

“I’m a good nurse, but I made a mistake and now I’m worried about keeping my license.” If you’ve found your way to this blog, you might be saying exactly this. Maybe you’ve made an error in a patient’s chart, or you gave a patient the wrong medication, or you fumbled any one of the million precision tasks you perform on every shift. After a career of excellent patient care and the highest level of professionalism, you’re now terrified you could lose your license. 

That kind of pressure can cause anxiety to spiral: you might be sick to your stomach, you can’t sleep at night, and you can hardly carry on a conversation. You want to understand your situation, which is why you’re online now, searching for answers.

We hope this article provides them. But first, please remember that you’re hardly the first nurse to make a mistake, and that mistakes on the job don’t always end in the worst-case scenario. The Professional License Defense Team at the LLF National Law Firm has helped hundreds of talented, dedicated nurses just like yourself when their license is at risk. We can help you, too. Call our offices at 888-535-3686 or send us a message online.

How Do Good Nurses Make Mistakes?

Nurses often work under tremendous pressure. Shifts are long, facilities are understaffed, and workloads are unrelenting. It’s a testament to your training and commitment that mistakes aren’t made more often.

What Should a Nurse Do After They Make a Mistake?

There’s that moment you realize you’ve made a mistake: You’re replaying the scene, assessing the damage, and wondering if you’ll be reported to your licensing board for the error. 

Keep in mind that not all mistakes rise to the level of seriousness that anyone would bother to report them; if someone does report them, it’s possible the board won’t even consider them worth investigating.

But maybe your mistake does rise to that level. In that case, take a moment to weigh the pros and cons of reporting it yourself rather than waiting for a patient, coworker, or supervisor to do it. In many cases, the way the nurse conducts themselves in the aftermath of a mistake tells board investigators more about their professionalism than the mistake itself.

How Should a Nurse Handle a Licensing Board Investigation?

Whether you self-report or someone else files a complaint with your licensing board, keep these pointers in mind during the investigation:

• Document everything about the event and its context, thoroughly, accurately, objectively, and in detail.

• Don’t discuss the matter with anyone but your family and most trusted advisors. DO NOT talk about it on social media.

• Check your insurance policy to see if the company requires you to notify them if someone has filed a complaint against you.

• Never try to hide anything. But if investigators are asking you questions, say nothing until you’ve consulted with the LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Defense Team.

Above all, always, always keep your cool. Demonstrating through your conduct and your attitude that you’re a clear-headed, capable professional will speak volumes to your licensing board.

Who Helps Nurses Protect Their Licenses?

The LLF National Law Firm’s Professional License Team knows that one mistake shouldn’t define a good nurse’s entire career. We’re ready to guide you through this difficult process and see that you achieve the best possible outcome in your case. Send us a message online and tell us about your case, or call us directly at 888-535-3686.