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Nursing Malpractice
What Is Nursing Malpractice?
Nursing malpractice, a type of medical malpractice, is when nursing professionals fail to provide care consistent with the prevailing standard of care. By this, we mean that the nurse provides a level of care that is below the quality of care that a similarly trained professional, under the same circumstances, would have offered.
Nursing malpractice can involve various types of nurses, from hospital floor nurses to surgical nurses to nurse practitioners. To qualify as nursing malpractice, these medical professionals must act improperly or unsafely, fail to take appropriate actions or fail to anticipate problems a reasonably competent nurse would.
Examples of Nursing Malpractice and Negligence
Nurses are pivotal in the healthcare system, tasked with the diligent care and monitoring of patients. Despite stringent protocols, instances of nursing malpractice occur, often with detrimental effects on patient health. Here are some examples of nursing malpractice and negligence.
- Medication errors, a prevalent form of negligence in which a nurse administers an incorrect medication or dosage, sometimes intended for another patient, that can potentially lead to severe patient reactions or exacerbation of medical conditions.
- The improper use of medical equipment, such as incorrectly set infusion pumps or mismanaged ventilators, can result in critical patient injuries or fatalities.
- Acts of negligence in patient monitoring are a significant concern when nurses fail to recognize or act upon signs of patient distress. For instance, overlooking critical changes in vital signs or dismissing patient complaints can delay necessary medical interventions, leading to the worsening of the patient’s condition.
- Incorrect medical documentation that leads to improper care.
Such acts of negligence, whether due to oversight or inadequate training, underline the imperative need for vigilance and adherence to the standard of care in nursing practices.
Common Causes of Nursing Malpractice
Nursing malpractice can stem from a variety of factors, each contributing to the degradation of patient care quality. One of the causes of nursing malpractice is the overwhelming nurse-to-patient ratios in some hospitals or nursing homes, where nurses are assigned more patients than they can safely manage. This overextension can lead to fatigue, decreased vigilance, and inevitable errors in medication administration or patient monitoring.
Furthermore, insufficient training on the latest medical equipment or procedures can leave nurses ill-equipped to provide the requisite standard of care, potentially leading to mishandling of devices or misinterpretation of clinical data.
Communication breakdowns among healthcare team members also significantly contribute to nursing malpractice. Miscommunication during shift changes, inadequate handoff processes, or unclear documentation can result in critical information being overlooked, leading to errors in patient care.
Addressing these systemic issues requires concerted efforts from healthcare institutions to ensure adequate staffing, comprehensive training, and robust communication protocols. By tackling these underlying causes, the healthcare industry can enhance patient safety, and mitigate one of the common causes of nursing malpractice.
Legal Consequences of Nursing Malpractice
Beyond endangering patient health, there are legal consequences of nursing malpractice which can lead to malpractice suits. These medical malpractice lawsuits seek to hold the nurse and the healthcare facility accountable, often leading to extensive investigations into the nurse’s professional conduct and the institution’s operational protocols.
The ripple effect of nursing malpractice extends beyond an individual nurse to healthcare institutions, often leading to the responsibility of the facility. In addition to compensating the individual patient, such legal actions can prompt institutions to reevaluate their staffing policies, training programs, and patient safety protocols, aiming to mitigate risks and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. This legal framework underscores the paramount importance of maintaining a high standard of care and ensures that nursing professionals and healthcare institutions are held accountable for their responsibilities toward patient safety.
Protecting Yourself as a Patient
In navigating the complexities of healthcare, patients play a critical role in safeguarding against nursing malpractice. Being proactive and informed about one’s medical treatment is essential to protecting yourself as a patient. Some tips to significantly reduce the risk of errors and help avoid acts of negligence are:
- Actively engage with nurses and physicians, inquiring about the specifics of medications, treatment plans, and procedures being administered.
- Understand the purpose and potential side effects of medications and ensure clarity about the treatment plan.
- Maintain accurate and comprehensive health records; this is paramount. As a patient, ensure that your medical history, including prior treatments, allergies, and reactions is meticulously documented and readily accessible to healthcare professionals. This detailed documentation serves as a vital tool in ensuring continuity and coherence in care, especially in scenarios involving multiple providers or transitions between care settings.
- Have someone who will be your ears and advocate for you when necessary.
By being vigilant and informed, patients can significantly contribute to the prevention of nursing malpractice and advocate effectively for their own health and safety.
Contacting an Experienced Attorney
In the aftermath of nursing malpractice, contacting an experienced attorney who specializes in medical malpractice is pivotal. Navigating a malpractice lawsuit requires not only a deep understanding of the legal landscape but also a nuanced grasp of medical procedures and standards of care. An attorney specializing in medical malpractice brings this expertise to the table, assessing the validity of the claim, and formulating a compelling legal strategy. They critically analyze medical records, consult with medical experts, and meticulously build a case to demonstrate how the nurse’s actions deviated from the accepted practices.
Our lawyers have extensive experience handling these claims and can guide you through all stages of the legal process. Contact us today for help.
Medical Malpractice

Combining Extensive Legal and Medical Knowledge
In any injury claim, medical issues are of paramount importance. Therefore, your lawyer must have a strong understanding of how these matters relate to your lawsuit. One of our firm’s partners, Armand Leone, is a board-certified diagnostic radiologist, in addition to being a lawyer. His intensive medical knowledge is invaluable in the investigation and litigation stages of every case. Our attorneys will work closely with you throughout your case to develop a strategy that suits your needs.