Nurses’ Mistakes Cause Thousands of Deaths

C H I C A G O, Sept. 10 -- Poorly trained or overwhelmed nurses areresponsible for thousands of deaths and injuries each year in thenation’s hospitals, according to a Chicago Tribune investigation.

Since 1995, at least 1,720 hospital patients have beenaccidentally killed and 9,548 others injured from mistakes made byregistered nurses across the country, the Tribune’s analysis of 3million state and federal computer records shows.

“I wake up every day and hope I don’t kill someone today,” said registered nurse Kathy Cloninger. “Every day I pray: God protect me. Let me make it out of there with my patients alive.”

Mandatory overtime and 16-hour shifts have led to fewer nurseswho are willing to work at the University of Illinois at ChicagoMedical Center, where she has worked for seven years.

Last year, Cloninger accidentally over-infused an infant withliquid nutrients while rushing to reach another premature newbornin need of care. The baby, who received a 24-hour dose of nutrientsin less than 30 minutes, suffered no permanent injuries.

Nursing Staffs Hurt by Cutbacks

The Tribune’s investigation found cases where patients weregiven overdoses of medication or vital care was delayed, sometimesfor hours. It also found hospitals increasingly use part-timenurses from temporary agencies, who lack patient familiarity andtraining within specialties.

Nursing staffs have been the first target for cutbacks athospitals where profits have been squeezed by managed care programsand falling federal Medicaid reimbursements, said Rick Wade, seniorvice president for communications at the American HospitalAssociation.

The Tribune found that, since 1995, at least 119 patients havebeen killed and 564 others injured by unlicensed, unregulatednurses aides.

Aides, who earn an average of $9 an hour, are used to augmentstaffing but sometimes supplant higher-paid registered nurses.Under a cost-saving program in at least two Chicago hospitals,housekeeping staff assigned to clean rooms are pressed into duty asaides to dispense medicine.