Depressed nurses are more likely to make medical errors, suggest the findings from a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
For the study, researchers analyzed the results from a nationally representative survey of 1,790 nurses conducted by the American Academy of Nursing. The survey consisted of 53 questions and included assessments of health and wellness. Analysis revealed nurses who reported poorer health were 26 to 71 percent more likely to self-report making medical errors. Specifically, depression was listed as a key concern among respondents and was revealed to be a strong predictor of medical errors.
"When you're not in optimal health, you're not going to be on top of your game,” said lead author Bernadette Melnyk, PhD, RN, dean of The Ohio State University's College of Nursing in Columbus. "Hospital administrators should build a culture of well-being and implement strategies to better support good physical and mental health in their employees. It's good for nurses, and it’s good for their patients."
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