Assignment task:
A healthy boy age 13 who underwent a routine surgical procedure in a regional healthcare facility. The procedure took place on a Friday and by Sunday the child had died as a result of rapid organ failure. His decline was attributed to a medical resident who prescribed an adult dose of a post-surgical medication.
The mother of the child describes a situation where the resident and the "young and well-intentioned nurses" did not recognize the incorrect dosage of the medication, were afraid to call the attending physician who was off during the weekend, and kept denying that there was a problem. She identified that even hours before her son's death when his heart was failing, the nurses attributed the lack of measurable blood pressure to faulty blood pressure machines and kept trying different machines.
Using what you have learned from your experience and what you learned in this class, explain how leaders and managers in this situation could create a just culture by answering the following questions.
Reflect on how nursing staff can create a culture where they feel comfortable questioning decisions or speaking up when something seems wrong. What role does nursing leadership play in fostering an environment where staff are encouraged to challenge authority, especially when patient safety is at risk? Need Assignment Help?
To what extent is individual accountability (i.e., the actions of the resident and nurses) a factor in this tragedy, and to what extent is systemic accountability (i.e., communication protocols, error reporting systems) at fault? How can a Just Culture help balance individual accountability with a focus on systemic improvements?