Other items related to #Patient Safety

School Nurse Case Study: Alleged failure to identify an emergent medical condition

Medical malpractice claims may be asserted against any healthcare provider, including school nurses. The insured in this case, presented by NSO and CNA, was a registered nurse (RN) who was employed by a private school for adolescents with behavioral health conditions.

What to Do in an Active Shooter Situation

Does your workplace have a plan in place for how to handle an active shooter? Would you know how to react to protect yourself and your patients or clients?

Reducing readmissions through discharge communication

One of the most important transitions in the continuum of care is patient discharge. Unfortunately, many patients across the country will leave hospitals, clinics, and healthcare provider offices unsure about what medications to take, when to make a follow-up appointment, and other critical details about their care.

Create effective anti-bullying policies

Workplace bullying contributes to decreased team cohesion, burnout, retention issues, and absenteeism. This article will help managers and other nurses influence policy development with suggestions on crafting usable and effective anti-bullying policies.

Protect Your Professional License, Protect Your Livelihood

When you purchase your own professional liability insurance policy through Nurses Service Organization (NSO), you have peace of mind knowing that you have the resources available to protect your license and your right to practice.

Overcoming the pitfalls of medication reconciliation

Any time there’s a hand-off in patient care, there’s an increased risk for a medication error. Medication reconciliation has been used to help bridge this hand-off communication on admission, between transfers in the hospital, and at discharge.

When to Refuse a Nursing Assignment

Being assigned to an unfamiliar clinical area is one thing, but what if you are ordered to perform an unfamiliar procedure or a task that’s outside the scope of nursing practice? When should you refuse an assignment?

End of Life Care: Responsibilities and Risks

Nurses can make a major contribution in easing the transition from aggressive treatment to palliative care, regardless of the setting. To do so, they must be prepared to make ethical and humane decisions while also avoiding professional liability exposures.

The Ins and Outs of Patient Abandonment

What is patient abandonment, and why do nursing students need to know about it? 

Social Media Etiquette for Nursing Professionals

Social media is a powerful tool that almost everyone uses, but it’s important to remember that what’s shared on social media can have negative effects on your life and career.   

Do Not Let “Depo-” Medications Be a Depot for Mistakes

NSO and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have teamed up to help you practice safe medication use and keep patients safe. The following is an ISMP Medication Safety Alert from the May 2017 NSO Risk Advisor.

Dispensing Alert! Dial, Set, and Lock that Dose

NSO and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) have teamed up to help you practice safe medication use and keep patients safe. The following is an ISMP Medication Safety Alert from the August 2017 NSO Risk Advisor.

Hospital Workplace Violence and Safety Response

Healthcare workers, and in particular hospital workers, are at high risk for workplace violence. Yet many hospitals don’t have safety protocols in place, and those that do often haven’t examined protocol adherence or efficacy.

A Solution to Sitters That Won’t Fall Short

Patient falls continue to be a leading cause of preventable injury in U.S. hospitals1.

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to monitor; failure to complete documentation in a timely manner

The patient (plaintiff) in this case was a 50-year-old male who first came to our insured nurse practitioner (NP) after researching his symptoms on the internet.

Nurse Case Study: Failure to monitor and report changes in the patient’s medical condition to practitioner

A 38 ½ weeks pregnant patient arrived at the emergency department (ED) at 8:29p.m. with complaints of abdominal pain and decreased fetal movement. 

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to follow the standard of care

This case study involves a nurse practitioner working in a medical clinical environment. 

Nurse Case Study: Failure to follow Physician orders

A 23-year old woman with no significant prior medical history presented to the emergency room with complaints of generalized body ache of two weeks duration and a fever of 102.6.  

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to ensure that essential monitoring of vital signs, fluid intake and urine output were performed and documented

The patient was a 59-year old female who had undergone inpatient bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy three days before being discharged to home care. Discharge orders included a home care referral for wound care and assessment of perceived changes in the patient’s mental status. 

Nurse Case Study: Failure to monitor; failure to properly recognize drug overdose; failure to call for emergency services

This case involves an independently contracted registered nurse who provided nursing consultation to a residential facility that cared for adults with mild to moderate mental health issues (besides substance abuse).

Nurse Practitioners Case Study: Failure to utilize ethical principles to advocate for access and parity of services for mental health problems

This case study involves a nurse practitioner in an in-patient alcohol/drug treatment setting.

Nurse Case Study: Negligent performance of sclerotherapy, negligent wound care management

This case involves a registered nurse providing services for a vascular surgeon. 

Nurse Case Study: Failure to maintain appropriate professional education

This case study involves a registered nurse working in an operating room setting, who treated a 70-year-old male who presented for a cystoscopy and transurethral resection of the prostate procedure due to urinary retention and benign prostate hyperplasia.

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to monitor patient receiving testosterone injections

This case study involves a nurse practitioner in an office setting.

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to timely address behavioral health condition/complication

This case study involves a nurse practitioner in an office setting.

Nurse Case Study: Failure to follow policies and procedures on skin integrity

This case study involves registered nurse working in an operating room setting and adult surgical unit.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist - Improper Technique When Performing a Peribulbar and/or Retrobulbar Block

Failure to perform a post-operative assessment, failure to accurately document anesthesia complications in a medical record, and failure to complete a proper informed consent.

Nurse Case Study: Medication Administration Error and Failure to Monitor

This case study involves a nurse working in an intensive care unit. Allegations included failure to monitor, failure to utilize the nursing chain of command, and medication administration error.

Creating Inclusiveness for Transgender Patients

As a nursing professional, being attuned to the needs of transgender patients helps you ensure their health needs are met and reduces the risk of legal liability.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Case Study: Failure to conduct anesthetic of a patient during a procedure

This case study involves a CRNA working in an outpatient endoscopy center.

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: Failure to properly obtain/perform a complete patient history; improper prescribing of controlled drugs

This case study involves a family nurse practitioner working in a pain management clinic.

Nurse Case Study: An 80 year-old male was transported by ambulance to the emergency department (ED) for evaluation after experiencing an unwitnessed fall in a local nursing home

Medical malpractice claims may be asserted against any healthcare practitioner, including nurses. This case study involves a nurse working in an emergency department (ED).

Nurse Case Study: Failure to perform an appropriate assessment on a patient that had undergone extensive surgery

Failure to perform an appropriate assessment on a patient that had undergone extensive surgery; Failure to properly evaluate and monitor a patient that had undergone extensive surgery; Failure to recognize a known risk of liposuction with abdominoplasty procedures; Failure to take the appropriate measures to assure that a patient received timely medical intervention.

Nurse Case Study: Alleged failure to properly assess and monitor the impaired, restrained patient

The patient was intoxicated and aggressive when brought to the ED, and had to be restrained. Shortly after an assessment check, the patient attempted to burn off his restraints with a cigarette lighter. He suffered severe burns over 25 percent of his body, resulting in permanent disability.

Nurse Case Study: Medication administration error at long-term facility the cause of elderly woman's death.

An elderly woman living in a long-term care facility passes away; autopsy reveals the cause of death to be an overdose of morphine. Indemnity Settlement Payment: In excess of $390,000.

Nurse Practitioner Case Study: The case of a pediatric patient at a walk-in clinic with leg laceration and subsequent infection.

The pediatric patient was a 12-year-old male brought into a walk-in clinic by his parents shortly after falling and lacerating his knee. The patient sustained a six centimeter elliptical laceration above his right knee.

Nurse Case Study: Malfunctioning hospital bed blamed for strangulation death of man.

Malfunctioning hospital bed blamed for strangulation death of man – $1 million settlement in Texas with some parties – confidential settlement with others. 

Nurse Case Study: Failure to prevent and properly treat decubitus ulcer.

Failure to prevent and properly treat decubitus ulcer – continues to Stage IV – defense verdict. 

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist - Improper Technique When Performing a Peribulbar and/or Retrobulbar Block

Failure to perform a post-operative assessment, failure to accurately document anesthesia complications in a medical record, and failure to complete a proper informed consent.