Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at WMCHealth Safety Week 2026

SPS is celebrating Patient and Employee Safety Week on March 8-14! In celebration of #SPSsafetyweek2026, we’re highlighting the awesome patient and employee safety improvement work within our organizations! Next up is Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at WMCHealth!

At Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at WMCHealth, patient safety is strengthened every day by clinicians who pause, question, and speak up. During Safety Week, we’re proud to spotlight a pediatric oncology nurse whose attentiveness and clinical judgment prevented a potentially serious medication error.

While preparing to administer a medication, the nurse noticed that the volume in the syringe seemed too large based on the patient’s size. On the surface, everything appeared correct — the medication had been labeled properly and would have scanned appropriately through standard medication administration procedures. Still, something didn’t feel right.

Instead of proceeding, the nurse slowed down, questioned the dose, and spoke up. That decision proved critical. Further review revealed that administering the medication as prepared would have resulted in double the intended dose, potentially causing significant side effects for the patient.

Even when systems, labels, and technology align, human vigilance remains essential. In this case, the nurse’s willingness to trust their instincts and act as a last line of defense protected the patient from harm.

During Safety Week, we’re proud to recognize this nurse for demonstrating the courage, professionalism, and commitment that define a strong culture of safety. Their actions are a powerful reminder that safety lives not only in processes and protocols, but in the mindful decisions made at the bedside every day.