[Bala Shark]

Hi, I am a new grad and working in a nursing home...It finally hit me that lawsuits can be flying everywhere..I guess that is the drawback of the job..Do you know someone who got sued before or are you scared that it might happen to you?

[MIA-RN1]

I am scared I will be sued. We work with too many patients and the orientation is good but not great. I worry all the time because I care for newborns. We are short staffed and I can't always get the help I need.
I have NSO insurance just in case.

[nuangel1]

i do think about the possibility .but i don't worry about it .i am careful in my actions deeds and charting.but i do have my own malpractice ins.just in case.

[augigi]

I've thought about it, since I had to testify in coroner's court as a new grad. I am careful with documentation, but the threat here is nothing like that in the US.

[ERNP]

If I had a nickel for everytime I said, "OH that? It's for the attorney." I would be a rich woman. Which of course would make me an even better target for a lawsuit.

[Sheri257]

This link gives you a good idea of what nurses get sued for although, it also mentions cases that were won, not just lost.

Nursing medical malpractice / professional liability insurance, newsletter, articles, continuing education, and legal case study for RN, LPN, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist

OB seems to be the highest risk for lawsuits especially because the damages can be much higher than with elderly patients.

And, in my state, a child can sue for damages once they reach 18 if the parents fail to sue.

[teeituptom]

I never worry about it. I am too old to worry about it.

[UKRNinUSA]

That's what malpractice insurance is for -why worry when I can pay someone else $90 a year to do the worrying for me.

[santhony44]

I've been named once. It was a "fishing expedition" type suit that was quickly dropped when the hospital didn't fold immediately. Everyone whose name was in the chart was named in the suit.

Still a traumatic event.

Document, document, document. Just understand that you could be named in a suit no matter what you do, but document in a manner you'd be comfortable explaining.

BTW, the suit I mentioned was filed a couple of years after the "event" and I took care of the patient for one shift. Never have been able to remember him!

[Lacie]

It's not only patients and families that you need to be concerned about. Be aware of what you do regarding daily work place also. Co-workers with grudges or someone that doesnt see things just the same as you.....for instance in providing restraint to a combative patient as an example. Many nurses are reported to the BON's for things that should never have happened nor are even guilty of. Yet they end up in the web of dealing with defending themselves. In the world of nursing you are found to be guilty unless you are able to prove yourself innocent unlike the legal system offered to criminals. You may have given pain meds more than another nurse on the unit, forgot to write that order for mylanta, what ever. You would be surprised how many there are fighting for the most minute reasons. Most nurses have no clue of just how fragile thier licensure can be. Many dont see the need to carry liabilty insurance thinking they wont be sued. Granted you may not be sued but you may need that liability insurance to deal with fighting for your licensure with the boards if a co-worker, family member, nieghbor, or anyone wants to make any type of complaint to the boards. There are several threads on this forum in itself showing very good example of these type situations.