Human Error Theory By Gerry Armitage

In the article, “Human error theory: relevance to nurse management,” Gerry Armitage discuss the human errors in nursing and how one can make a simple medical error. This summary will identify the main idea of the article, why the researcher chooses this topic to research, and the human errors in daily nursing management and analyze them according to the human error theory. It has long been recognized that human performance at the workplace would not be perfect all the time. Human error is inescapable: “to err is human”, yet we blame the operator instead of fixing the problem.

Human error can be defined as wrongdoing but not intentional by the individual, in most workplaces accidents occur because of human error. A worker does not follow the proper safety procedures can be human accidents cause, for example not placing use needles in a sharp container. To accomplish a task without the proper equipment can also be human/ workplace accidents causes, example a bed with no bed rails.

Secondly, problems that may occur when planning or activating of performances. The researchers have classified human performance based on three categories skilled based, rule-based and knowledge-based. Skilled based performance is controlled by sub-conscious behavior and stored patterns of behavior, errors usually errors of execution. Whereas rule-based performance applies to familiar situations, errors involve recognizing the salient features of the situation. Furthermore, knowledge-based performance occurs in unique and familiar situations, errors result from inadequate analysis or decision