Nurses are a crucial part of patient care, often serving as the first defense in identifying potential complications. Mistakes such as medication errors, neglect in monitoring vital signs, or failure to communicate critical information to doctors can have severe consequences for patients. When nursing negligence leads to harm, patients and their families may face prolonged recovery times, additional medical expenses, and unnecessary suffering.
If nursing negligence has caused harm to you or a loved one, Foran & Foran, P.A. is ready to assist you. Our Prince George’s nurse malpractice lawyers will carefully examine the facts of your case and work to hold the responsible parties accountable. Contact us to discuss your options and begin the process of seeking compensation for your injuries.
Common Types of Nurse MalpracticeAccording to a study published in the Journal of Patient Safety, nursing malpractice cases often stem from diagnostic errors and failures to monitor patients properly. Nearly 800 medical malpractice claims were analyzed, and nurses were named as the primary responsible party in 139 of those cases. This study highlights how mistakes made by nurses can lead to serious harm, making it essential to hold negligent parties accountable for the damages caused.
Nurse malpractice can take many forms, and understanding these common errors is crucial when determining liability. The following are some of the most frequent types of nurse negligence:
Failure to Monitor Patients Properly
One of the key responsibilities of nurses is monitoring patients’ vital signs and overall condition. A failure to do so can lead to undetected changes in a patient’s health, which may result in preventable complications. For example, if a nurse fails to monitor a post-surgery patient’s vital signs and the patient experiences respiratory distress, the nurse’s negligence could lead to severe harm or even death.
Nurses are often responsible for administering medication, and any error in dosage or the type of drug given can cause serious side effects or worsen the patient’s condition. Common mistakes include administering the wrong dosage, giving the wrong medication, or failing to account for a patient’s known allergies.
Failure to Follow Doctor’s Orders
Nurses are required to follow the care plans set out by doctors. The patient's treatment may be compromised if they fail to do so, whether through misunderstanding or neglect. This can delay recovery or cause additional medical issues, leaving the patient in a worse condition than before.
Miscommunication Among Healthcare Staff
Effective communication between nurses, doctors, and other healthcare staff is essential for patient safety. When nurses fail to properly communicate changes in a patient’s condition or don’t report critical information, it can lead to delays in treatment or incorrect care decisions.
Patients harmed by nurse malpractice often face significant consequences, ranging from extended hospital stays to long-term disability. In the worst cases, nurse negligence can lead to a wrongful death claim.
Differences Between Physician Negligence and Nurse Negligence CasesWhile physician and nurse negligence cases fall under medical malpractice, there are distinct differences in how these cases are evaluated and litigated. Physician negligence generally involves errors in diagnosis, treatment, or surgical procedures, where the doctor fails to meet the standard of care expected within their medical specialty. In contrast, nurse negligence often revolves around patient care and monitoring issues, such as administering the wrong medication, failing to document important patient information, or not following up on a doctor’s orders. Nurses are also typically more involved in direct patient care on a day-to-day basis, making their role in malpractice cases more focused on lapses in attention or judgment during routine tasks.
Another significant difference lies in the standard of care. While doctors are held to the standards of their medical expertise, nurses are evaluated based on the reasonable actions expected from a nurse with similar training and experience. In both cases, expert testimony is crucial in demonstrating how the standard of care was breached, but the expectations for each professional differ. Understanding these distinctions is critical when pursuing a medical malpractice claim.
Have You or a Loved One Been Harmed by a Nurse’s Medical Negligence?At Foran & Foran, we proudly represent victims of medical malpractice in an effort to ensure that victims of nurse negligence are not left paying for the mistakes of others. With a history of seven-figure verdicts and over 85 years of combined experience, our team provides skilled and compassionate representation. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation today, give Foran & Foran's Prince George's County nurse malpractice lawyers a call at 301-441-2022. We proudly represent clients in Hyattsville, Bowie, Upper Marlboro, Waldorf, La Plata, Silver Spring, Rockville, and the surrounding areas.