Nurses work long hours and play a critical role in keeping patients healthy. Many nurses feel that fatigue “comes with the territory” of such a high-stress, high-impact job. But what’s really at risk when a nurse is fatigued?
Good documentation can help nurses defend themselves in a malpractice lawsuit, and keep them out of court in the first place.
There is no quick and effective antidote to malpractice allegations. Prevention, however, is necessary.
In most states, a patient can wait several years to file a lawsuit and then it can take years before the suit goes to court.
Whether you are an experienced nurse or recent grad, documentation can be challenging. Here is some information that can assist with improving your charting and reducing liability risks:
There are numerous variations to charting by exception. Virtually every facility that uses such a system does it differently.
The confusing or opinionated words you choose in charting today could come back to haunt you tomorrow.
Trying to save time by using abbreviations? Make sure that you aren't putting yourself or your patients in jeopardy.
Accurate and complete patient information is essential to providing the highest possible standard of care. Here is simple guidance to keep charting at its best, protect patients from treatment error and prevent potential malpractice liability.
A male patient in his mid-teens arrived at his pediatrician at 5:11 p.m. with complaints of difficulty breathing.
A female in her late 70s was a long-term patient of our insured nurse practitioner (NP) and of the family practice where the NP worked.
Medical malpractice claims may be asserted against any healthcare practitioner, including nurses. This case involves a registered nurse working as a director of nursing in a rehabilitation/skilled nursing facility setting.
A State Board of Nursing (SBON) complaint can be filed against a nurse by a patient, resident, colleague, employer, and/or regulatory agency.
This case involves a family nurse practitioner (NP), her business (a women’s health clinic), and employees that specialized in gynecology and hormone therapy.