The physical and mental health of nurses is connected to preventable clinical errors, according to researchers, who warned that a reduction in the former was linked to a rise in the latter. A US study, led by the Ohio State University College of Nursing, found critical care nurses in poor physical and mental health reported significantly more clinical errors than nurses in good health. “System problems that contribute to burnout and poor health need to be fixed” Bernadette Melnyk Published in the American Journal of Critical Care, the study found those who reported worse health and wellbeing had almost a third to two thirds (31-62%) higher likelihood of making mistakes.