| In the last five years, the number of cases related to | | | | thus medical malpractice sometimes occurs. |
| nursing malpractice has risen considerably. According | | | | Even though nurses are less visible than doctors, |
| to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, | | | | nursing practitioners are not less significant whenever |
| RNs or Registered Nurses are now being held liable | | | | medical malpractice takes place. To avoid making fatal |
| for negligence and malpractice; such as, errors on | | | | mistakes, nurses should always observe the following |
| documentation, failure to assess or intervene, and | | | | 'standards of care': |
| medication errors. | | | | * Proper documentation |
| Medical malpractice is generally defined as negligence | | | | * Administer treatment at once |
| on the part of a physician, nurse, EMT, hospital or | | | | * Proper use of medical device |
| other health care professionals. Negligence is at par | | | | * Report the changes in patient's condition at once |
| with failure to perform medical obligations under | | | | * Obtain patient consent |
| normal standard of care. The nurses are also involved | | | | * Follow correct medical procedure |
| when patients get injured either physically and/or | | | | Depending on the circumstances, victims of nurse |
| mentally as results of medical malpractice. | | | | malpractice may be entitled to compensation for such |
| Due to current shortage of nursing professionals in | | | | things as medical costs, pain and suffering, lost |
| the US, nurses on the job are inevitably overloaded | | | | wages and benefits, and other losses. When the |
| with work and duties. Nurses are not getting enough | | | | medical malpractice results in death, members of the |
| rest that they need to stay alert at all times due to | | | | family may file a claim for funeral expenses, loss of |
| longer shifts. Inattentiveness often leads to medical | | | | companionship, and loss of support, to name a few. |
| mistakes that cause serious harm to patients. | | | | There are strict legal deadlines in nurse malpractice |
| Another root of the nurse malpractice is under | | | | cases, so it's important to have your case evaluated |
| qualification. Many practicing nurses lack training or did | | | | by an experienced medical lawyer if you believe |
| not complete the proper length of nursing education; | | | | malpractice has occurred. |