How many lawsuits have you been involved in

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Mar 10, 2008

In 25 years, I was named in one lawsuit. The lawyers named everyone whose name appeared in the chart. It was dropped pretty quickly, apparently they couldn't prove the "injury" that was claimed.

I worked float and had had the patient for exactly one 8-hour shift, months before. I never could recall anything about the patient.

It was still unnerving to even get the letter from the hospital attorney. I'd prefer to never go through even that much again.

Agnus · Mar 10, 2008

The truth. The vast majority of nurses are never involved is a law suite. There are certain specialties that are at a much higher risk for litigation than others. OB is the number one area where you run a high risk of being named in a suite.

Burnt Out, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2008

None in my almost 11 years of nursing, thank God! *knocking on wood*

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Mar 10, 2008

I've been an LVN for only 2 years, and have not been involved in any lawsuits. However, I have heard many lawsuit threats from disenchanted family members.

However, I have spent much of my short career in nursing homes, and families love to sue nursing homes and other LTCFs. I can think of an unexpected death that might cause me to be hauled into court later on down the line, because the family was threatening to sue the facility after the incident occurred.

Dixielee, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2008

None in 34 years, thank goodness! I think it is going to get worse though with the computer charting we have to do in the ER. I am looking for a "safer" area of nursing to work the waning years of my career. Unstable patients, titrating drips, vital signs every 2-3 minutes and then having to put it all on the computer???

The patient gets taken care of, but everything cannot get charted if I do a good job with the patient, so the charting gets the short end, and you know the mantra, "if it is not charted, it is not done", so in court it would look like I didn't do it. Too much pressure, can't take care of the patient and a finicky piece of electronics.

Sorry to rant on and on about computers and drift too far off subject, but I think nursing is heading in the wrong direction and we can expect more mistakes, not less. Don't even get me started on staffing issues!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2008

Three, none were suing me or the hospital, but other parties.

Altra, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2008

I've been subpoenaed twice so far in my 3-year career ... not for lawsuits alleging some harm to a patient but because my patients had been involved in some way in some criminal activity - either victim or perpetrator.

Simplepleasures · Mar 11, 2008

One , I am suing my ex-employer, still in litigation.

Nursebarebari · Mar 11, 2008

I have heard "I'm going to sue" at least 20 times, but no real law suit after 4 yrs as an RN.

THANKS TO THE ALMIGHTY

bethin · Mar 11, 2008

Not a nurse, but an aide and I've been involved in one.

Miami NightNurse · Mar 11, 2008

Thank you all for answering my question. I was just curious. I know I had a good time with the Prosecuting Attorney in the case I was involved in. He was such a Donkey. I'm not allowed to use bad words. He wanted to know why we didn't leave the patient restrained while his family was visiting. I told him it was a hospital not a prison and when he continued to ramble about it I offered to tie him up, I thought the hospital attorney was going to fall out of his chair laughing. Guess you had to be there. Alright I thanked everyone for posting and for the people that post after this Thank You.

husker_rn, RN · Mar 11, 2008

Almost 17 years, no lawsuits. Did have to testify once when a drug dependent resident tried to stab me. That was years ago.