The Importance of Understanding Nursing Malpractice

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“Nursing Accidents Unleash Silent Killers”, according to the article titled “A Wake-up Call” (Marilyn S. Fetter 2011). Mistakes or errors implemented by nurses nationwide not only kill but injure thousands. This perception of practicing nurses continuously causing errors and mistakes can be changed and something can be done about it. Although, rare cases of nursing malpractice are still on the rise. Malpractice is a serious case in which can be avoided completely by a skilled nurse who in which follows standards and safety precautions to accurately and correctly care for each and every patient. The nurse’s role in healthcare continues to expand throughout the years. For example, with the new Healthcare Reform Act taking affect the roles of the health care nurse expands even more increasing the demands placed on them for the care and treatment of every patient. This has also lead to an expansion of legal liability for malpractice. The nurse upholds a close and professional relationship with the patient and has the best advantage to impact the patient. The nurse holds the utmost responsibility in continuing to be well informed about malpractice, as well as how to avoid a malpractice case or negligence by presenting outstanding patient care; in addition to malpractice insurance to protect yourself from an undesirable outcome. Generally speaking, negligence, error, incompetence, these are the words commonly associated with malpractice yet many have no idea what the true definition states. Malpractice can be defined according to the legal nurse consultant of Independent Medical Evaluations Inc., Jan Parrish (2010), “as a violation of professional duty or a failure to meet a standard of care or failure to use the skills and knowl... ... middle of paper ... ... Health Collection. 16 Mar. 2014 Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ Fetter, M. S. Nursing mistakes: a Call for unity. MedSurg Nursing June 2011: 111. Nursing and Allied Health Collection. 12 Mar. 2014. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ Giordano, K. (2010). Examining nursing malpractice: a defense attorney's perspective. (Legal Counsel). Critical Care Nurse 23.2 104(4). Nursing Resource Center. Gale. 12 Mar. 2014. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ Larson, K., & Rowena, E. (2010) The emotional impact of malpractice.(Continuing Nursing Education)(Report). Nephrology Nursing Journal 37.2 (March-April 2010): 153(4). 12 Mar. 2014 . Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ Parrish, J. (2010). Elements of negligence in nursing malpractice. Independent Medical Evaluations Inc. 12 Mar 2014. Retrieved from http://www.imei.com/connections/elements.html

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