688 – Avoiding Medical Errors: Communication Lessons from the Obstetrical Nursing Frontlines – Jaclyn Recker

In this episode of the Legal Nurse Podcast, Pat Iyer welcomes Jaclyn Recker, an experienced obstetrical nurse and expert witness, to talk about the critical subject of communication and its impact on patient outcomes in healthcare. Jaclyn Recker shares a powerful real-life case illustrating how miscommunication, coupled with bias and assumptions, can lead to devastating consequences for patients, highlighting the loss of fertility from a preventable delay in intervention. Throughout their discussion, Pat Iyer and Jaclyn Recker explore the multi-layered influences on communication in healthcare. They examine factors such as experience level, cultural norms, institutional hierarchies, and the importance of constructive teamwork between nurses and physicians. Real-life examples illustrate how these dynamics play out sometimes productively when cultures are open and collaborative, and sometimes destructively when hierarchies or burnout interfere. The conversation also covers the downstream effects of poor communication, including increased medical errors, harm to patient safety, and the challenges faced during case reviews or malpractice litigation. Jaclyn Recker emphasizes the need for thorough debriefing after adverse outcomes, explains the value of audit trails in uncovering the truth, and advocates for ongoing education to improve healthcare communication in and across departments What You’ll Learn in This Episode on Avoiding Medical Errors: Communication Lessons from the Obstetrical Nursing Frontlines Here are 5 discussion questions answered in the podcast: How did communication bias contribute to the delayed response in the obstetrical case described by Jaclyn Recker? Why is miscommunication considered the number one reason for medical errors by The Joint Commission, and how is this particularly dangerous in obstetrics? What are some ways nurses can overcome bias when handing off patients to ensure accurate information transfer? How does experience level affect a nurse’s communication skills, and what role should seasoned nurses play in supporting newer staff? In what ways does workplace culture impact the willingness of medical professionals to speak up or challenge authority? Listen to our podcasts or watch them using our app, Expert.edu, available at legalnursebusiness.com/expertedu. Get the free transcripts and also learn about other ways to subscribe. Go to Legal Nurse Podcasts subscribe options by using this short link: http://LNC.tips/subscribepodcast. Grow Your LNC Business 13th LNC SUCCESS® ONLINE CONFERENCE April 23, 24, and 25, 2026 Skills, Strategy, Results Gain deposition mastery, marketing confidence, and clinical–legal insight from industry leaders you can apply to your next case and client call. Build a Practice Attorneys Remember Learn exactly how to showcase expertise, attract referrals, and turn complex medical records into clear, defensible stories that win trust. Learn From the Best—Then Ask Them Anything Get step-by-step training, live “hot seat” solutions, and exclusive VIP Q&A time with Pat Iyer to accelerate your LNC growth. Register now- Limited spots available https://youtu.be/stsEvVspKTs Your Presenter for Avoiding Medical Errors: Communication Lessons from the Obstetrical Nursing Frontlines Pat Iyer Pat Iyer is a seasoned legal nurse consultant and business coach, renowned for her expertise in guiding new legal nurse consultants to successfully break into the field. As the host of the Legal Nurse Podcast, Pat addresses critical challenges that legal nurse consultants face, such as difficulty in landing clients and a lack of response from attorneys. Through her insightful episodes, she emphasizes the importance of effectively communicating one's value to potential clients. With a wealth of experience, Pat has empowered countless consultants to overcome these hurdles and thrive in their careers. Connect with Pat Iyer by email at [email protected] Jaclyn Recker Jaclyn Recker is a nurse, expert witness, and educator with more than 14 years of experience caring for mothers and babies in high-risk labor and delivery. She holds national certifications in Inpatient Obstetrics, Antepartum, and Electronic Fetal Monitoring, and through her company, Claddagh Counsel LLC, she helps attorneys understand the nursing standard of care in birth injury cases. When she’s not on this podcast or working as a nurse, she’s bringing ideas to life through her custom design business, TorchHill Design, coaching girls' basketball and volleyball, or spending quiet weekends at her family’s cottage in northern Michigan. Connect with Jaclyn Recker by email at [email protected]