Can you provide an example of a mistake you made in your nursing career and how you handled it?

One mistake I made in my nursing career was forgetting to double-check a patient's medication dosage before administering it. It was a busy day in the hospital, and I was attending to multiple patients at once. Unfortunately, I accidentally administered an incorrect dosage of medication to one patient. As soon as I realized my mistake, I immediately informed the charge nurse and the patient's physician. We closely monitored the patient and fortunately, there were no adverse effects. I took responsibility for my mistake, apologized to the patient and their family, and assured them that I would be more vigilant in the future. I also used this experience as an opportunity to reflect on the importance of double-checking medication dosages and implemented a personal checklist to ensure this doesn't happen again.

In my nursing career, I once made a mistake in calculating a patient's medication dosage. The patient had a complex medical condition, and the prescribed dosage required careful attention. Unfortunately, I miscalculated and administered a higher dosage than intended. Immediately realizing my error, I stopped the administration and informed the charge nurse and the patient's physician. We assessed the patient's condition and closely monitored their vital signs. Thankfully, there were no immediate adverse effects. To prevent any further harm, I collaborated with the healthcare team to create and implement a new system for double-checking medication dosages. This involved using technology tools to ensure accurate calculations and involving a second nurse to verify the dosage before administration. I also took this opportunity to enhance my knowledge and attended a continuing education course on medication safety. This experience further reinforced the importance of attention to detail and effective communication in a high-stress environment like nursing.

The solid answer provides more specific details about the mistake made in calculating the medication dosage and how it was handled. It highlights the candidate's critical thinking and problem-solving skills by describing the collaborative effort to create a new system for medication dosage verification. Additionally, it emphasizes the candidate's ability to work effectively in a high-stress environment by mentioning their proactive steps in enhancing their knowledge and attending a continuing education course on medication safety. However, the answer could be improved by elaborating on the specific technology tools used for accurate calculations.

During my nursing career, I encountered a challenging situation where I made a mistake in administering a medication to a patient with a severe allergy. The patient was prescribed a new medication, and although the allergy was documented in their medical chart, I failed to notice it. As I administered the medication, the patient immediately exhibited an allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing and swelling. Recognizing the severity of the situation, I immediately called for emergency assistance and initiated the appropriate protocol for managing anaphylaxis. The patient was stabilized, and I reported the incident to the charge nurse and the healthcare team. Taking ownership of my mistake, I actively participated in a performance improvement initiative related to medication safety. This involved collaborating with the pharmacy department to implement a barcode scanning system that would flag any medication allergies and provide real-time alerts to healthcare providers. I also used this experience as an opportunity for self-reflection and enrolled in an advanced pharmacology course to enhance my knowledge and awareness of medication interactions and contraindications. This experience has made me even more vigilant and reinforced the importance of thorough assessment and attention to detail in nursing practice.

The exceptional answer provides a detailed and specific example of a mistake made in administering medication to a patient with a severe allergy. It demonstrates the candidate's ability to handle high-stress situations by promptly recognizing and managing anaphylaxis. The answer also showcases the candidate's problem-solving skills by describing their active participation in a performance improvement initiative, involving the implementation of a barcode scanning system for medication safety. Additionally, the answer highlights the candidate's commitment to professional development by enrolling in an advanced pharmacology course to further enhance their knowledge. Overall, the exceptional answer effectively addresses the evaluation areas and provides a comprehensive response.