Staff shortage and negligence

[Antoanyinah]

Hi,

Can a nurse be accused of malpractice or negligence after working on a ward with inadequate staffing if he/she filed a written complaint indicating he/she views the assignment and shift unsafe if any untoward incident happens on the ward.

Background: I worked as charge nurse for the Adult Male ward in a facility in Ghana. I realized the staff is very inadequate for the month of August, (only 1 nurse per shift in the ward without any personnel, the ward can take a maximum of 14 patients). I requested for additional nurses from the nurse manager but I did not receive any response). I then had a meeting with my staff and we decided to file a a complaint whenever any of them attend the ward alone. I then wrote a memo to the nurse manager of our decision.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

I don't think that very many of us would know the laws and policies that apply to nurses in Ghana.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The answer to your question depends on the laws in Ghana. You will have to talk with experts on the Ghana nursing laws to get an answer.

In the United States, the fact that staffing is low does not protect us from being held accountable if we make poor judgments and mistakes in our patient care. However, a jury might be a little more lenient if a nurse was doing her best under very challenging circumstances. Our standard is: "What would a prudent nurse do in that situation?" That is the standard we must meet and it is up to a jury to decide if we have met that standard or not.

[Antoanyinah]

Thanks very much

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

The answer to your question depends on the laws in Ghana. You will have to talk with experts on the Ghana nursing laws to get an answer.

In the United States, the fact that staffing is low does not protect us from being held accountable if we make poor judgments and mistakes in our patient care. However, a jury might be a little more lenient if a nurse was doing her best under very challenging circumstances. Our standard is: "What would a prudent nurse do in that situation?" That is the standard we must meet and it is up to a jury to decide if we have met that standard or not.

Of course you would be held to YOUR board's standards. I think filing a complaint with management each and every time.. is a smart idea. It gives you much needed back up, if any issues arise.