In a large teaching hospital, Nurse Manager Laura Anderson oversees a team of dedicated nurses in the general surgery unit. Among her staff is Sarah Thompson, a competent and generally meticulous staff nurse with three years of experience. Recently, Sarah was involved in a critical incident where she inadvertently administered the wrong medication to a 47-year-old male patient, Mr. Johnson, who was recovering from a minor surgical procedure. The medication error led to a severe allergic reaction, causing anaphylaxis and subsequently necessitating an emergency surgical intervention to address complications arising from the reaction.
Sarah had correctly checked the patient's identity and reviewed his medication chart, but in a moment of distraction, picked up and administered a medication intended for another patient with a similar name.
Upon realizing her mistake, Sarah immediately reported the error to her superiors and was instrumental in the prompt initiation of corrective measures. However, the incident deeply affected her, leading to feelings of guilt and anxiety about her professional competence.
In the aftermath of the incident, Nurse Manager Laura Anderson is closely monitoring Sarah’s well-being and performance, understanding that such an event can have significant emotional and professional repercussions. Laura anticipates that Sarah may experience a range of reactions:
Given the situation, what type of reaction does the nurse manager expect Sarah Thompson to experience following the medication error that led to a patient requiring surgery?