{"id":1144,"date":"2025-08-09T17:56:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T17:56:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1144"},"modified":"2025-08-09T17:57:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T17:57:24","slug":"mistakes-made-by-new-nurses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Common Mistakes Made by New Nurses"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/div>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Mistake_1_Infection_Issues\" >Mistake #1: Infection Issues<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#How_to_Avoid\" >How to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Mistake_2_Errors_with_Medication\" >Mistake #2: Errors with Medication<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#How_to_Avoid-2\" >How to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Mistake_3_Improper_Documentation\" >Mistake #3: Improper Documentation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#How_to_Avoid-3\" >How to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Mistake_4_Patient_Falls\" >Mistake #4: Patient Falls<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#How_to_Avoid-4\" >How to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Mistake_5_Ignoring_Signs_of_Stress_and_Fatigue\" >Mistake #5: Ignoring Signs of Stress and Fatigue<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#How_to_Avoid-5\" >How to Avoid<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Steps_To_Take_After_Making_a_Mistake\" >Steps To Take After Making a Mistake<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Accept_your_mistake\" >Accept your mistake<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Fix_the_mistakes\" >Fix the mistakes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Dont_avoid_your_feelings\" >Don\u2019t avoid your feelings<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/mistakes-made-by-new-nurses\/#Final_Words\" >Final Words<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Perfection is essential in the healthcare sector. Because these people are dealing with the most precious commodity of all, which is life. In addition, this also includes the nursing profession.<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, we all strive for perfection. But at last, nurses are also humans and make mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>So, if you are also a nurse and have been through a similar situation, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n<p>What\u2019s more important is that you must recognize their mistakes and protect them from making them.<\/p>\n<p>So, in this guide, we will discuss the top six mistakes made by new nurses along with suggestions to fix them.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mistake_1_Infection_Issues\"><\/span>Mistake #1: Infection Issues<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Infection has been a major problem in hospitals for decades. As a nurse, you have to minimize the risk of infection by using your skills and knowledge you have learned from your training.<\/p>\n<p>Also, you have to provide the best assistance to patients and reduce the complaint rates of patients.<\/p>\n<p>According to the CDC, healthcare-acquired infections in U.S hospitals account for 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths associated each year (Source: American Hospital Association).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid\"><\/span>How to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The best way to avoid it is to pay attention to hygiene and good cleaning. Indeed, many infections often spread due to poor hygiene practices.<\/p>\n<p>Hence, consider the following:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Standard precautions<\/li>\n<li>Cleaning and disinfection<\/li>\n<li>Aseptic techniques<\/li>\n<li>Strategies to prevent infection<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mistake_2_Errors_with_Medication\"><\/span>Mistake #2: Errors with Medication<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nurses are responsible for creating prescriptions, giving the right amount of dosage, and administering issues.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a record of various situations when nurses have given wrong prescriptions, incorrect dosage, omission, and other mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>Also, whether you are a new nurse or a veteran who has been working for years, anyone can make these mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>For new nurses, the reason for creating these mistakes is often \u201cpresence of mind\u201d and \u201cpressure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For example, when completing a PICO question for evidence-based practice, even a slight error can mislead the entire approach. This is why many seek <a href=\"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/nursing-dissertation-help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nursing dissertation help UK<\/a> for accuracy and support. Similarly, in real-world scenarios, precision in medication is just as crucial.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid-2\"><\/span>How to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>To avoid making these mistakes, the best solution is to leave your personal life behind the doors of the hospital. In addition, this aids in improving your focus and staying in the moment.<\/p>\n<p>Below are some other tips to follow:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Check if the patient has any allergies before administering the medicine.<\/li>\n<li>Also, go through the report and cross-check the patient\u2019s details to ensure that it\u2019s the right one to give medication.<\/li>\n<li>In addition to that, check the patient\u2019s height and weight.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mistake_3_Improper_Documentation\"><\/span>Mistake #3: Improper Documentation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When someone is training to become a nurse, they often neglect the importance of the paperwork they will have to complete during their career. Hence, they have to record the paperwork and other documents of the patient. In this procedure, there are many mistakes made by the nurses.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid-3\"><\/span>How to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s important to keep yourself aware of all the circumstances. Besides that, below are the factors to consider when charting for patients:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Take notes on health and drug information<\/li>\n<li>Record medications that have been used<\/li>\n<li>Discontinued medication<\/li>\n<li>Record using the action<\/li>\n<li>Changes in the patient\u2019s health<\/li>\n<li>Record any orders given regarding the patient\u2019s health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mistake_4_Patient_Falls\"><\/span>Mistake #4: Patient Falls<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Another common incident that happens in hospitals is patient falls.<\/p>\n<p>According to AHRQ, between 700,000 to 1,000,000 people fall in US hospitals annually. Also, more than 250,000 patients are reported injured, while 11,000 lose their lives.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, most nurses try to avoid this from happening, but it still occurs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid-4\"><\/span>How to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Firstly, check on the patients regularly<\/li>\n<li>Accompanying those who need mobility assistance<\/li>\n<li>Put essential items close to patients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mistake_5_Ignoring_Signs_of_Stress_and_Fatigue\"><\/span>Mistake #5: Ignoring Signs of Stress and Fatigue<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Fatigue is common among nurses and healthcare providers. In addition, many hospitals structure a 12-hour shift for three days, and give off on the fourth day. But then you are already in a crisis mode when the mind struggles to rest and get out of work mode.<\/p>\n<p>Consequently, nurses with an extensive work schedule are more likely to go through burnout. In addition, some of the common symptoms of burnout are:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Emotional exhaustion<\/strong>: Feeling low or drained<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hard to work<\/strong>: the burnout makes it hard for nurses to collaborate with fellow colleagues and empathize with patients.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor performance<\/strong>: When you are emotionally and physically low, it becomes hard to perform well in your job. Hence, you make more errors and feel listless.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid-5\"><\/span>How to Avoid<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Nurses can avoid stress by prioritizing self-care, which includes regular exercise, a healthy diet, and enough sleep. In addition, it\u2019s suggested to practice mindfulness and yoga to manage stress.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Steps_To_Take_After_Making_a_Mistake\"><\/span>Steps To Take After Making a Mistake<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Some errors are so major and large that <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Nursing\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">nurses<\/a> often struggle to find a solution for them. Well, if you ever get stuck in a similar situation, then here\u2019s what you must do:<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Accept_your_mistake\"><\/span>Accept your mistake<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t ever try to blame others or shift the burden on someone else for your mistakes. Instead, take accountability and follow all the protocols to handle that situation.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fix_the_mistakes\"><\/span>Fix the mistakes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you make a mistake, don\u2019t feel discouraged or give up. In addition, there are many errors that are fixable. So, check up with your supervisor or a senior who can help you. Also, try to be a part of the solution.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Dont_avoid_your_feelings\"><\/span>Don\u2019t avoid your feelings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Mistakes are both slight and too serious. But make sure to never bury your feelings. Hence, give yourself the permission to feel remorse or anger. Also, discuss it with someone, and you can also journal your thoughts.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Words\"><\/span>Final Words<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>New nurses can avoid many mistakes by paying attention, asking questions, and staying calm under pressure. Recognizing common errors helps build confidence and improve patient care. Remember, mistakes are part of learning, but good habits prevent many issues. Keep learning, stay focused, and trust your training. Your effort makes a real difference in every patient\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Perfection is essential in the healthcare sector. Because these people are dealing with the most precious commodity of all, which is life. In addition, this also includes the nursing profession. Indeed, we all strive for perfection. But at last, nurses are also humans and make mistakes. So, if you are also a nurse and have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[197],"class_list":["post-1144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"authors":[{"term_id":197,"user_id":5,"is_guest":0,"slug":"halenabob","display_name":"Halena Bob","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/halena-bob.webp","url2x":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/halena-bob.webp"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1144"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1144\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1147,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1144\/revisions\/1147"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1144"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nursingassignmentwriters.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}