title: Two models of mistake-making in professional practice: moving out of the closet.
abstract: Nurses make mistakes in practice despite the culturally based expectation of perfection. Such a disparity between reality and expectation calls members of the profession to question the current attitudes toward mistakes in practice. Two explanatory models of the origin of mistakes are presented. The Perfectibility Model holds that any error or harm is caused by an individual practitioner's lack of knowledge or motivation. The Faulty Systems Model offers a broader explanation of human error. I conclude that a Faulty Systems Model is more comprehensive and more effective for managing mistakes. Integrating the Faulty Systems Model into practice and education can result in more ethically fitting responses to errors and ultimately better outcomes for nurses, institutions and patients.
authors.affiliation: William Jewell College, Liberty, MO 64068, USA. criggern@william.jewell.edu
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Crigger
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011361:Professional Competence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D013597:Systems Analysis