Nurses are human—we all make mistakes. But knowing how to deal with mistakes is what will make you a better nurse. Despite what your fears tell you, it is possible to live through, and benefit from, a mistake. Here’s how:

Avoid mistakes in the first place.
This is a statement of the obvious, but it’s better to avoid mistakes than to learn how to deal with them. So stay focused and don’t rush. Remember the basics you learned in nursing school; you’re better prepared than you think. Trust your instincts and use common sense. Ask for help when you need it. Get over your fear of looking stupid if you ask a question—because it’s smart. Especially during your first few years, you need to double- and triple-check everything.

Don’t cover it up.
If you do make a mistake, very simply, don’t cover it up. Immediately report it to your preceptor or supervisor – and rectify it. If someone tells you what you should have done or reprimands you, don’t get defensive. You’ll benefit from listening. If you can learn from the situation, you’ll know how to avoid letting the same thing happen again. But don’t be too hard on yourself. Everybody’s human.

Also, keep in mind that the patient is your first priority. If you cover up a mistake, you could be jeopardizing patient care and safety—and even your employer’s reputation. There could be legal issues involved, as well.

Don’t blame others.
When someone in authority comes in and asks who made the mistake, it’s easy for a nurse to blame another nurse. Shifting blame is a classic defense mechanism that humans use when they feel threatened. But you have to own your mistakes, learn from them, and move forward. That’s how you grow and become a better person. Each of us should be a work of art in progress.

On the other end, if a nurse is ever falsely blamed, he should stand up for himself.

Talk it out.
I know a nurse who made a mistake at work. It did not result in harm to the patient, but she had a great deal of difficulty getting over it. She carried a huge amount of guilt around with her. I recommended that she speak to some competent, experienced nurses about it--people she could trust and who would be able to reassure her.

Sometimes you really have to talk to another nurse. Your spouse or a friend might say, “Oh, don’t worry about it.” They mean well, but they don’t really understand what could have happened. Nurses have a unique understanding of other nurses. That’s why so many nurses forge such close relationships with each other. You speak the same language. They might even say, “You know, the same thing happened to me once.” And that helps to put things into perspective—nurses need to know they’re not alone.

Also, don’t rule out professional help. It’s not common for nurses to need it, but sometimes people have trouble keeping things in perspective. If something happens and you can’t work through something, there’s nothing wrong with getting help.

Mistakes happen, but don’t make the mistake of not learning from your goof-up. Accept critique, grow from it, and share your experience with others. You might help others avoid the same pitfalls.