Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.
allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

Protection for nurses by state

When I was in CNA school, my RN instructor told us there are certain states who have certain levels of protection for RNs. For example, Nevada has POOR protection for nurses. If a patient wants to file a lawsuit against an RN for some reason, chances are the RN could face some kind of penalty. California on the other hand, according to my instructor, has EXCELLENT protection for RNs. They protect their RNs within reason. If a patient files a lawsuit against an RN for some reason, chances are the RN will most likely win the suit. Is anyone knowledgeable about this? Are there certain states to stay away from? I've seen some articles like "top 5 states to work at as an RN". If this is true, I'd like to use this information for future use whenever I can get into nursing school and graduate. I think he might have said it in leu of how much hospitals budget can manage a good attorney level for their employees against the attorneys of the patients side. I know in Nevada, the BON motto is "to protect the public".

  • Quote

    • Featured Replies

    • Experts

    A nurse can be personally sued in any state. No protections exist to shield nurses from litigation in any state.

    Nonetheless, California is the only state with legally mandated nurse/patient ratios for acute care facilities. No other state has the protection of nurse/patient ratios.

  • Quote

    Are you planning on doing something to get you sued? Because if you are, no state can help you regardless of protection laws. Follow your facility 's policy, do some good charting and hopefully you will have less to worry about.

    Most people choose where to work not based on who provides the best lawyer, rather, who pays well, treats staff with respect, have adequate staffing, good location, or even the first place that will offer them a job.

    Hope this helps.

  • Quote
    • Admin

    Each state indeed has protections for nurses: they're called the Nurse Practice Acts (or whatever lingo the state chooses to use). Follow that NPA and facility policy, and the chance of a lawsuit against a nurse succeeding drop. When I was in nursing school, my state's NPA was required reading. If you ask me, every school should have this requirement. Know your NPA, know what is in and what is beyond your scope of practice, follow facility policy, and you should be just fine.

  • Quote
    • Author
    Are you planning on doing something to get you sued?

    Not an opportunist. I mean anybody trying to get into nursing school, stressing "will I get in? I hope I'll get in" and going through what students have to go through while in nursing school, why would I want to do something that would get me sued? Lol

  • Quote
    Not an opportunist. I mean anybody trying to get into nursing school, stressing "will I get in? I hope I'll get in" and going through what students have to go through while in nursing school, why would I want to do something that would get me sued? Lol

    So why ask the question?

  • Quote

    • Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

    Guest
    Add a Comment
    Go to topic listing

    Currently Reading 0

    • No registered users viewing this page.

    Account

    Navigation

    Search

    Search

    Configure browser push notifications
    Chrome (Android)
    1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
    2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
    3. Adjust your preference.
    Chrome (Desktop)
    1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
    2. Select Site settings.
    3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.