Nurses play an essential role in the New York healthcare system and are often on the front lines of patient care. While nurses are highly trained professionals, they can still be at risk for medical malpractice claims. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional breaches their duty of care to a patient, resulting in harm or injury.
Standard of care
Nurses have a duty to provide a certain standard of care to their patients. This means that they must provide care that is consistent with the accepted practices in their profession. If a nurse fails to meet this standard of care, they may be liable for medical malpractice.
Types of claims
Medical malpractice claims against nurses can take many forms. Some common claims include medication errors, failure to monitor a patient’s condition, failure to report changes in a patient’s condition and failure to follow a physician’s orders.
Contributing factors
Factors contributing to medical malpractice claims may include poor communication with other healthcare providers, inadequate training or supervision and understaffing or overwork. Furthermore, failing to keep accurate and complete medical records can negatively affect patients’ health.
Prevention
Nurses can take steps to prevent malpractice. This includes following established protocols and procedures, providing thorough and accurate documentation, communicating effectively with other healthcare providers, and continuing education and training to stay up-to-date with their field’s latest practices and standards.
Liability insurance
Nurses may consider obtaining liability insurance to protect themselves from malpractice claims. Liability insurance can help cover legal fees and damages awarded in the event of a claim.
Reducing risk of liability
While nurses receive extensive training, they can still be subject to medical malpractice claims. Nurses need to understand their duty of care so that by following best practices and taking steps to prevent errors, they can provide high-quality patient care while reducing their liability risk.