Reference no: EM133551924

Case Study: In the case of the "Nebraska Hepatitis C Outbreak," Gerri Means, a registered nurse, displayed professionalism by reporting concerns about Dr. Javed's cancer clinic. However, she needed to follow established laws and standards by not reporting the issues to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Dr. Koerber promised to address the complaints but did not report them to OSHA. The nurse trained by Dr. Javed was inexperienced in chemotherapy infusion and needed to follow infection control procedures. Gerri, being the hospital's infection control practitioner, had an obligation to report to OSHA due to safety and hazards of infection control but failed to do so (McKnight & Bennington, 2014).

In the case of Gerri's experiences, she could have utilized the OSHA whistleblower program to report the incidents and receive protection under the OSHA Whistleblower Protection Program (Derango, 2013). Neglecting to report accidents to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) goes against ethical and nursing standards. The dangers outlined in this passage involve non-adherence to regulations, departure from established protocols and norms, and insufficient vigilance, all of which could result in the proliferation of epidemics, infections, pathogens, and physical injuries. Non-compliance with regulations, violation of established norms, and lack of attentiveness pose risks that can lead to epidemics, infections, pathogen dissemination, and bodily harm. These risks can have severe outcomes, such as fatalities or enduring health complications. Organizations should establish compliance measures, comprehensive training programs, and business rules and procedures to mitigate these risks. Ensure that staff members thoroughly understand the quality control norms and guidelines. Provide annual formal retraining and compulsory seminars for newly hired personnel, encouraging transparency in operations and regulations. As a physician assistant and clinical director, I understand the importance of leadership and ensuring staff members are knowledgeable about organizational dangers and potentially perilous circumstances. By implementing these measures, we can uphold the safety of both patients and personnel.

Question:

Mistakes are made frequently in healthcare, and many (dare I say most?) are not reported. In fact, some are even covered up. Could this error be just chalked up to a new nurse and the outcome be more training for that nurse, and then just let it go? Why or why not?