If you are a nurse, you have likely dealt with interruptions and distractions while on the job. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that nurses deal with more interruptions than all other health care professionals.
Interruptions can place your patients’ safety in jeopardy, as well as your nursing license if something goes wrong. So how should you respond to these situations, and how can you minimize the number of interruptions as much as possible?
Know your limits
The NCBI reported that a high workload accounts for 18.6% of nursing interruptions. There is plenty of work that you have to do, but whenever you have a choice, you should know when to say no. Cramming your schedule and juggling too many things can lead to significant issues. It is good to be confident, but you must be realistic about how much you can handle at once.
Know how to address non-medical issues
Non-medical issues may not seem important, but some of these concerns are critical for your patients and their families. For example, according to the American Journal of Managed Care, questions about medical insurance are one of the most common sources of interruptions. It is important to not let these types of questions throw you off; either let the person know that you will get back to him or her later, or tell the person who to go to for help.
No matter how good you are at your job, interruptions can blindside anyone. If something has caused you to make a mistake and you fear you will lose your license because of it, you should consult with the Law Offices of Brian E. Quinn as soon as possible.