Apologies

Please discuss whether an apology works to avoid litigation and more importantly, is it the right thing to do when an error has occurred? (Feel free to share in nursing we respond to grievance all the time etc. )

Have you had the opportunity to apologize and did you do so or not?

Yes there was time when I was a charge nurse and a patient was getting discharged to sub acute rehab and his room mate who has vision impairment and has dementia was accidentally picked up and not his roommate. The nurse was on break and the nurse covering for her did not follow the correct process in ensuring the right patient was getting picked up. Patient immediately was brought back safely. I had to call patient’s son apologize and ensure that his father was okay and even stated that he enjoyed his trip (since he’s been wanting to go out). Patient son laughed and was thankful for informing him about the situation. —Please make improvements on these wording of the story.

If so, what was the response from the patient? If you did not do so, why not?

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