The nurse in the emergency department administers an adult dose of an antibiotic to a 3-month-old baby. As a result, the baby suffers permanent brain damage. What best describes the effect of this error on the health care facility?
1. The professional license of the nurse will be lost.
2. The morale of the staff involved will be depleted.
3. The reputation of the health care facility will suffer.
4. The health care facility will pay a very large settlement.
Correct Answer: 2
Rationale: Medication errors that result in permanent damage increase self-doubt and destroy the morale of all staff involved; some may choose to leave the nursing profession. Payment of a large settlement is not the primary concern; staff morale is the concern. The professional license of the nurse may or may not be lost depending on the circumstances of the case. The reputation of the facility will probably suffer, but this is not as important as the staff morale.
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