Nursing Malpractice

Term Paper # 116845

Law
Medical and Health > Nursing

Nursing Malpractice

A look at medical malpractice cases that relate to nursing.

1,452 words () | 7 sources | APA | 2009 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper defines medical malpractice and refers to nationally recognized nursing standards of care as well as the groundbreaking case "Pike v. Honsinger" where the New York State Court of Appeals formally set the standard for judging medical liabilities. The paper discusses four specific areas of patient safety for which nurses can be held at legal risk for possible malpractice and looks at the instances when a healthcare provider and other rescue workers can be protected from malpractice. The four key elements of medical malpractice cases that relate to nursing are explained as well as the value process that helps nurses to better understand what is truly important with their profession. The paper emphasizes that nurses can support patient advocacy by following simple procedures to ensure the best possible care.

From the Paper:

"The need for qualified registered nurses (RNs) has risen considerably in recent years, and failure to document patients correctly and medication errors has also risen significantly in the past five years. Patients expect nursing care to be performed by a competent staff member when they are admitted to a hospital or seeking various types of medical treatment. Nursing care is comprised of various duties of monitoring patients, accurately recording patient care and progress, completing nursing interventions, documentation of patient's care, and communicating with appropriate staff members when there is a change in the patient's condition."

Sample of Sources Used:

Burkhardt, Margaret A., Nathaniel, Alvita (2007). Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing. CENGAGE Delmar Learning (3rd edition).
DeLaune, Sue C., Ladner, Patricia K. (2002). Fundamentals of Nursing: Standards and Practice. New York: Thomsom Delmar Learning.
Hogan, Neal C. (2003). Unhealed Wounds: Medical Malpractice in the Twentieth Century. Law and Society. New York: LFB Scholarly.
Larry King Law (2000). Nursing Malpractice. Retrieved February 27, 2008, from http://www.larrykinglaw.com/nursingmal.htm
Lippincotts, Williams & Wilkins (2002). Nursing Malpractice: Sidestepping Legal Minefields. Lippincotts, Williams & Wilkins (1st edition).