When it comes to never events and nursing, “prevention is key,” explains Janet Thomas MS, RN-BC. As our manager of continuing education accreditation and compliance, Thomas recognizes the vital role nurses play against medical errors that should never occur. 

“Never events are costly to the organization you work in and can have a major impact on its reputation,” she says.  In 2008, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a non-reimbursement policy for certain medical incidents in an effort to improve patient safety. These occurrences are considered “reasonably preventable,” through the use of evidenced-based principles. When a never event occurs, the event is publicly reported, meaning that the public is made of aware of the preventable, and sometimes fatal, mistake.

As nurses, you are the frontline of defense for your patients. “You really want to learn how to keep these incidents from occurring in the first place,” explains Thomas. Lippincott NursingCenter and CEConnection have created a series of Never Events Collections to help you maximize your patient’s safety and keep these incidents from happening in your workplace.  You will also be able to meet your continuing education needs, as CE is included in these collections.

Never Events: Manifestations of poor glycemic control
8.0 contact hours - $24.99

Never Events: Air embolism
6.7 contact hours - $19.99

Never Events: Foreign objects unintentionally retained after surgery
6.0 contact hours - $19.99

Never Events: Pressure ulcers, stage III & IV
7.2 contact hours - $34.99

Never Events: Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
7.7 contact hours - $19.99

Never Events: DVT & PE associated with knee and hip replacements
8.6 contact hours - $24.99

Never Events: Falls and Trauma
7.0 contact hours - $19.99

Never Events:  Surgical site infections
6.5 contact hours - $19.99

Never Events: Preventing central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)
6.8 contact hours - $34.95

Never Events: Administration of incompatible blood
6.3 contact hours - $19.99

How have never events affected your care? What steps are you taking to prevent them from happening? Share your story in the comments below.