Updated
Jan 28, 2008 at 10:29 AM by sirI
The areas of nursing most vulnerable today are anesthesia and midwifery. RNs in OB (L and D), those working solely in
monitoring capacities (fetal heart, telemetry, etc.), and medication administration are also included in highly litigious areas.
Of course, the Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) other than CRNA and CNM are subject to increased litigation, but the latter two more so. And, nurses in general can be and often are, at risk. Major reasons why more lawsuits are being made against nurses: - Our responsibilities have increased in complexity
- Higher levels of Standards of Care (SOC)
- Increased patient expectations
- Pressure to increase productivity and increased patient load
- Society has become highly litigious
Most common issues: - Failure to follow the SOC
- Failure to document, including lack of documentation, altered documentation, missing or "lost" documentation, incomplete documentation
- Failure to recognize change in patient condition
- Failure to appreciate the change in patient condition
- Failure to report change in patient condition
- Failure to communicate across the healthcare provider spectrum
- Failure to monitor
- Failure to act as patient advocate
- Failure to provide a safe environment
We all need to know our individual Nurse Practice Act (NPA), adhere diligently within our SOP, know the SOC for our specialty area(s), question authority, educate ourselves, and make sound, safe, and practical nursing judgments for all our patients. And, I realize that we all strive to provide the best possible care for our patients. Finally, a kind word and non-defensive attitude with a patient turns away many a lawsuit.
Litigious Areas of Nursing and the Nurse's Liability
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