Toward a theory of self-reconciliation following mistakes in nursing practice.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore nurses' responses to making mistakes in hospital-based practice in the US. METHODS: A grounded theory approach was used to explore the process that occurs after nurses perceive that they have made mistakes in practice. Theoretical sampling was used and data were collected until saturation occurred. Ten participants, who were registered nurses, described 17 personal mistakes. The mistakes they described occurred in hospitals. All participants were practicing nursing either in hospitals or in other work settings. FINDINGS: A process of "Self-Reconciliation After Making Mistakes in Hospital Practice" was identified, with four distinct categories: reality hitting, weighing in..