The Importance Of Negligence In Nursing

Nursing is a profession which focuses on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may achieve, preserve and improve the best possible health and quality of life. Over centuries, nurse’s education is being enhanced day by day. Nurses are being educated throughout their professional lives. The responsibilities of nurses are many and diverse. For instance, they are accountable for the treatment and recovery of patients’ health maintenance, education, counseling, advocatingand caring them. They often manage the work of others involved in patient care and communicate with the patient's family. According to Hanks, (2014)“Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities; prevention of illness and injury;

“The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) defines the concept of “medical error” as an inappropriate and unethical act or inadequate and negligent behavior of a professional health care provider” (Croke, 2003). Staff mal practice and negligent behavior causes many injuries that lead to death every year. Medical negligence often involves complex issues regarding emergency department care, surgical care, intensive care, labor and delivery and medication errors. The concept of negligence is not restricted to the behavior of doctors, but it also applies on nurses, anesthesiologists, health care facilities, pharmaceutical companies, and others that provide health care service. The failure to monitor a patient in hospital is also one of the negligent behaviors and can lead to significant complications if the patient’s condition deteriorates. According to Reising & Allen, (2007) “Frequent monitoring of patients should be considered important during the hospital stay and, if the medical team fails in this responsibility, it may be considered negligent medical care”. The above Scenario shows the negligent behavior from doctors and nurses. The patient should be considered serious from the beginning. His treatment should be started immediately at the time of his arrival which could prevent him from further consequences. It is not only doctor’s responsibility but as nurses, we should advocate and raise our voices for the improvement of our patients’health.We are at front line of care and we should initiate to asses and discuss the condition of patient. Advocacy is the heart and soul of nursing practice, then why we nurses give little importance to this role? Looking after a patient and giving medications isnot only a role of a nurse. Advocacy is considered as an extraordinary effort made for the