I had a meeting with a newly licensed RN today who was reported to a Board of Nursing for unsafe nursing practice. What is unsafe nursing practice? At one point does a violation(s) of an employer's policy & procedure turn into unsafe nursing practice? Is one medication error unsafe nursing practice? Is a pattern of medication errors unsafe nursing practice? Are newly licensed RNs more prone to practice deficiencies than RNs practicing for 5,10,15, or 20+ years?
Should issues related to practice deficiencies and unsafe nursing practice be dealt with "in-house" meaning inside the facility with a corrective action plan, monitoring, and supervision prior to being reported to the Board of Nursing? Where does mentoring and socializing the newly licensed RN into the professional practice of nursing fit into the equation? Should a newly licensed RN work with one, two, or more preceptors on a particular unit/floor/shift/area for orientation and competency assessment and evaluation purposes?
If you haven't done so already, read the Notes From The Field section in the December 2005 issue of Nursing Management (www.nursingmanagement.com); the article is titled Is Employee Discipline the Solution for Patient Safety?
How did you make the transition from student to professional nurse? Was it easy? How much time did it take for you to feel proficient?
Comments