Student Response to "Court Subpoena"

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

I just read the article about the member here that is getting subpoenaed.

As a student, I remember briefly going over legal issues the first semester of school. After reading that, I guess I don't feel legally prepared even though I've been in school for three semesters now. I vaguely remember the material.

What would you all suggest a new grad or future nurse do to be prepared to provide "legal care."

I guess another thought I have is our world and society is incredibly "sue happy" and it's unfortunate that one has to be darn near paranoid all the time about this. It's really unfortunate. It seems like one more issue to worry about. As if we don't have enough already.

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Specializes in Neuroscience/Brain and Stroke.

Get insurance!

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.
Get insurance!

I guess I was looking for a little more about how to provide "legal care." How to be prepared to do so? I don't think so but are you implying that by getting insurance, I'll be good. That I don't need to worry about the legalities of nursing care. I highly doubt it.

I guess I'm concerned that I don't feel legally prepared and the 2 hour lecture I've received in school didn't prepare me very well.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Can you clarify what you mean by "legal care"?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Take a documentation class, this helps keep you safe as well as know what, when and how to chart to show you did all the "right" things. Your documentation is what will save or hurt you in a legal case.

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Maybe you should check out your state's statutes regarding the legalities of nursing. I agree that having insurance is always a good idea because like you said, society is sue happy! :)

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.

Absolutely.

I am aware that there are laws, statues, and general legal forces that I'm supposed to abide by as a Registered Nurse. We have covered Nurse Practice Acts in lecture. However, I'm concerned that a short lecture doesn't prepare me for the workplace. I don't think it's feasible to memorize nurse practice acts. If you've ever read statutes, you'll understand what I mean. They are long and confusing to say the least.

I mean "legal care" in that how does a nurse provide care that is accordance with all laws. Do I review state laws regularly? What about federal laws that dictate nursing care? Do I review those as well?

The reason why I ask is because I want to make sure that I'm following the rules. I don't want to be in a situation someday in which I'm subpoenaed and I didn't care for a patient to the best of my ability as well as legally.

I'm sure this a complex topic. I bet there are classes devoted to nursing related laws. I don't really know where to begin in an attempt to understand this subject matter.

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.
Take a documentation class, this helps keep you safe as well as know what, when and how to chart to show you did all the "right" things. Your documentation is what will save or hurt you in a legal case.

Are these offered at hospitals or at various colleges geared for nursing?

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Specializes in Trauma Surgical ICU.

Yes, but you can also contact the BON, they will have a listing.

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You provide "legal care" by asking "What would a prudent nurse do in this situation."

Practice nursing to the best of your scope of practice, practicing due diligence, staying current on education and evidence based practice and being that "prudent" nurse is the best thing to provide sound care to your patients.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Maintain at all time.

Learn to document meticulously.

Know and adhere to your state's NPA at all time, and stay within your scope of practice.

Know and adhere to your facility's P&P at all times...EXCEPT if in doing so you'd violate your state's NPA. You can always get another job; you can't always get another nursing license.

And ambugirl2nurse is spot on with her "what would a prudent nurse do in this situation?" because that is what you will be judged by.

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Specializes in Progressive, Intermediate Care, and Stepdown.
Maintain malpractice insurance at all time.

Learn to document meticulously.

Know and adhere to your state's NPA at all time, and stay within your scope of practice.

Know and adhere to your facility's P&P at all times...EXCEPT if in doing so you'd violate your state's NPA. You can always get another job; you can't always get another nursing license.

And ambgirl2nurse is spot on with her "what would a prudent nurse do in this situation?" because that is what you will be judged by.

I'm sorry but I'm not familiar with "P&P." I'm still a student as I don't know all acronyms.

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