Summary Of Josie's Sentinel Moment

The emotional rollercoaster experienced due to a loss of such magnitude is unfathomable. As a future nurse, reading about Josie’s “sentinel event” and, finding out about the thousands of individuals who parish due to medical errors is quite disturbing. During the time Sorrel King spent educating medical students, doctors and nurses, another child suffered the same fate as Josie at another distinguished hospital. On the second anniversary of Josie’s death, Jessica Santillan a seventeen year old girl, died at Duke University Medical Center. While undergoing a heart and lung transplant, Jessica received organs from a donor with a different blood type. Once the surgery was almost completed, a lead surgeon realized that a mistake was made but it

After all, nurses are at the forefront of patient care, spending more time with patients than any other health care members. Nurses have numerous roles and responsibilities, and are a vital component of health care facilities. A nurse is not just someone who monitors vital signs, and administers medications. Nurses are the checks and balances of medical care; they are leaders, advocates for patients, care coordinators, teachers and friends. Before reading Josie’s story I never thought about support services available for medical professionals. I have never thought about situations like these and never brought it up to my instructors. Many individuals seem to suffer in silence and, having support services available may ease their suffering, and make it easier to cope and understand their feelings. Now that I am aware of these issues, I will inquire about any services available, and will definitely speak to my capstone instructor about this matter. I was quite impressed to read that although Sorrel was dealing with her own sadness and anguish, she recognized the need for services for medical team members. She found a way to look beyond her anger, and developed Care for the Caregiver which offers support for doctors and nurses involved in medical errors. After reading the letter from the pain management doctor Sorrel King realized

Josie died of dehydration and wrongly administered medication in one of the most prominent hospitals in the United States. I found it a little strange that the severe nursing shortage in our hospitals was never addressed in this book. The nurse who administered the deadly dose was a travel nurse, who may not have been familiar with the doctors, staff or facility protocols. There were many other factors that contributed to Josie’s death, such as the team’s failure to document the verbal orders regarding the suspension of methadone into the computer system. Also, the nurse’s assessment techniques would have picked up on the physiologic cues of dehydration if done properly. By listening to Sorrel King’s intuitive cries for help, paying attention to labs and trends and communicating effectively with team members Josie’s death could have been avoided. Sorrel King managed to transform her daughter’s untimely passing and her family’s unfortunate heartbreak into an industry changing approach to health care delivery and