Zero tolerance policies

[scarecrow]

I wanted to throw this out for discussion. I can appreciate how the hospitals we work for want to protect the institution but are zero tolerance policies the answer.? . A mistake is a mistake, no one wants to endanger a patient but because of zero tolerance what would rated a lecture now could get a experienced RN fired. What is everyones opinion?

[Teeituptom]

Zero tolerance policies show a very significantno tolerance and are to narrow minded.

[Marie_LPN]

Depends on what the offense is, to me.

[AmandaWIRN]

I agree with Marie- depends on the offense. If we are talking about med errors, I do not think there should be punishment. Punishing nurses for making med errors is only going to make them less likely to report errors. If we expect nurses to report errors, we can't punish them for doing so. Now, if a nurse is continually making errors, that's another story....

[cali510]

I also agree that it would depend upon the offense. I worked at a place, actually my first real licensed job, where the other nurses told me not to report med errors unless significant, just tell the other nurse about them. There was one nurse there who liked to make up med errors for other nurses and write up incident reports to give to the DON. Obviously she was not well regarded.