Lessons That Stick in Your Mind

We can all learn from the mistakes of our colleagues. Here is a sampling of explanations offered by health care providers who visited the emergency department for needle stick wounds:

"When I was closing the safety tip on an arterial blood gas needle, the needle flipped out of the syringe and landed on my finger."

"I didn't look closely at the sharps box, and there was a needle sticking out."

"The patient moved when I was inserting a central line. I should have used soft restraints."

"I was suturing and a nurse came in and asked me a question. When I looked away, I poked myself."

- D. Brady Pregerson, MD
   Los Angeles

More Practical Pointers >>