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Communication

After a mistake: how to talk about it

What to say, who to tell, and how to cope

Updated November 5, 2026 · Facts checked against the sources listed below

After a mistake: how to talk about it. What to say, who to tell, and how to cope
The patient comes first. Make sure your patient is safe: Assess and act right away. Get help if you need it: Call the provider or rapid response per policy. Then breathe: Panic helps no one

FIRST

1. The patient comes first

  • Make sure your patient is safeAssess and act right away
  • Get help if you need itCall the provider or rapid response per policy
  • Then breathePanic helps no one
Don't carry it alone. Tell your charge nurse right away: Hiding it makes everything worse. Stick to the facts: What happened, when, and what you did. Follow your facility's policy: Every hospital has a process

TELL SOMEONE

2. Don't carry it alone

  • Tell your charge nurse right awayHiding it makes everything worse
  • Stick to the factsWhat happened, when, and what you did
  • Follow your facility's policyEvery hospital has a process
Reporting is how systems get safer. Use your safety event report system: Most errors involve system gaps. Describe, don't blame: Yourself or anyone else. Reporting protects future patients: That's the point

REPORT IT

3. Reporting is how systems get safer

  • Use your safety event report systemMost errors involve system gaps
  • Describe, don't blameYourself or anyone else
  • Reporting protects future patientsThat's the point
Honesty is part of good care. Disclosure is usually a team process: Your manager and provider lead it. Prompt, honest communication matters: AHRQ's CANDOR approach supports it. Don't guess or speculate: Share facts as they're known

TALKING WITH PATIENTS

4. Honesty is part of good care

  • Disclosure is usually a team processYour manager and provider lead it
  • Prompt, honest communication mattersAHRQ's CANDOR approach supports it
  • Don't guess or speculateShare facts as they're known

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Policies vary by employer.

You're a person too. Feeling shaken is normal: AHRQ calls it the 'second victim' effect. Talk to someone you trust: A mentor, peer support or your EAP. One mistake doesn't define you: Learning from it does

TAKE CARE OF YOU

5. You're a person too

  • Feeling shaken is normalAHRQ calls it the 'second victim' effect
  • Talk to someone you trustA mentor, peer support or your EAP
  • One mistake doesn't define youLearning from it does

Source: AHRQ Patient Safety Network.

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