Health News Blog
Overworked Interns
Monday, July 2, 2007
Email Page
When I hear the phrase “overworked interns,” the first thing that comes to my mind is…Grey’s Anatomy of course!
Remember the episode where “overworked” Meredith poked a hole in her glove and nicked a patient’s heart? Or when it was discovered that Dr. Burke left a towel inside a patient’s lung for 5 years? Oh, the drama!
Although this sure is entertaining on TV, I doubt any of us would want to be in a similar, real-life situation. Which leads us to thinking, does this happen in real life?
Well, a U.S. study of over 2,700 interns stated that “interns who worked five or more extended duration shifts in a month were seven times more likely to report at least one fatigue-related significant medical error that harmed a patient”. Not so entertaining now, is it?
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
Remember the episode where “overworked” Meredith poked a hole in her glove and nicked a patient’s heart? Or when it was discovered that Dr. Burke left a towel inside a patient’s lung for 5 years? Oh, the drama!
Although this sure is entertaining on TV, I doubt any of us would want to be in a similar, real-life situation. Which leads us to thinking, does this happen in real life?
Well, a U.S. study of over 2,700 interns stated that “interns who worked five or more extended duration shifts in a month were seven times more likely to report at least one fatigue-related significant medical error that harmed a patient”. Not so entertaining now, is it?
Eunice, DTR, CPT-ACE
Nutrition Specialist
“There are no shortcuts to any place worth going”
Labels: work
0 Comments - Health News Blog: Overworked Interns
Go to next article: What’s in your cheese? »
RSS/XML
