Medical malpractice is a serious issue that often leads to serious lawsuits, high personal injury settlements, and even medical license revocation. Nursing malpractice is a subset of medical malpractice that specifically involves nurses.
What kind of medical errors do nurses make?
One of the most common errors is a medication error. This can involve anything from administering the wrong medication to giving a patient the wrong dosage of medication. Another common type of nursing error is a medical charting error. This occurs when a nurse fails to properly document a patient’s medical history or condition, leading to a misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis.
Thirdly, nurses may sometimes make errors in judgment when it comes to patient care. This can occur if a nurse fails to properly assess a patient’s condition or medical history, leading them to provide substandard care. Lastly, nurses may also commit errors in technique when performing medical procedures. This could involve anything from failing to properly sterilize equipment to using the wrong medical procedure for a patient’s condition.
Consequences of nursing errors
The consequences of nursing errors can be serious, and even life-threatening. Patients who receive the wrong medication or dosage may experience severe side effects, including organ damage or death. In addition, patients who get misdiagnosed or have their diagnosis delayed may suffer from worsened medical conditions or even death. Finally, patients who receive substandard care may also experience worsened medical conditions or death.
It’s important to note that not all medical errors are considered medical malpractice. In order for a medical error to be considered malpractice, it must meet certain criteria. First, the error must have caused harm to the patient. Second, there must have been a breach of the standard of care. This means that the medical error must have been committed by a medical professional who failed to meet the acceptable standard of care for their profession.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, it’s important to report it to the hospital or medical facility where the error occurred. You may also want to contact your state’s medical board or the American Nurses Association to file a complaint.