The 9 Most Common Examples of Nursing Malpractice
When we visit a hospital or any other medical establishment to treat our medical condition, we trust that we’ll be in safe hands. After all, no one visits the doctor or undergoes surgery with the expectation that they’ll be more injured than they were originally. Unfortunately, acts of negligence are common, most particularly those that are caused as a result of nursing negligence. Continue reading to find out what the most common acts of negligence by a nurse include and how an experienced medical malpractice attorney can help you file a claim for nursing malpractice.
Read more: Medical Malpractice And Post-Operative Care
What is Nursing Negligence?
Nursing negligence occurs when a nurse, whether employed at a doctor’s office, hospital or home health care facility fails to adequately uphold the standard of care he or she owes to the patient and causes them harm.
All medical professionals are held to a standard of acting in a way that another professional of similar training and experience would under similar circumstances. So, for example, if a nurse failed to verify a patient’s name and allergies and gave them a medication they had an allergic reaction to, a jury would determine whether or not a nurse of the same training and experience would have done the same thing under those circumstances. Since verifying patient information is such an important part of being a nurse, they would more than likely be held responsible for medical malpractice since it’s not something another nurse would have likely done.
Read more: When Is A Pennsylvania Hospital Liable For Injuries?
What Are the Most Common Examples of Nursing Malpractice?
In addition to medication errors listed above, the most common examples of nursing malpractice include:
- Failing to properly monitor a patient and missing a change in their vital signs
- Failing to respond to a patient in a timely manner
- Failing to call a physician for assistance, when needed
- Failing to update a patient’s chart with any changes in his or her progress
- Using incorrect abbreviations on a patient’s chart
- Failing to accurately record a patient’s condition in their chart
- Failing to feed a patient
- Failing to ensure that all medical equipment is working properly
- Purposely making an error during routine care such as when drawing blood or taking a patient’s blood pressure
How Long Do I Have to File a Medical Malpractice Claim in Pennsylvania?
If you believe you were injured as a result of nursing malpractice, you have two years from the date the injury occurred to file a medical malpractice claim. This time frame is known as the statute of limitations and once it closes, so does your ability to collect compensation.
Read more: What Do I Need To File A Medical Malpractice Lawsuit?
Contact a Pittsburgh Medical Malpractice Attorney for a Consultation About Your Nursing Malpractice Case in Pennsylvania
Were you or a loved one injured due to nursing negligence in Pennsylvania? Then you need to talk to an experienced medical malpractice lawyer as soon as possible for guidance on how to proceed. The Pittsburgh medical malpractice attorneys at Berger & Lagnese, LLC are prepared to assist you with your legal claim. We represent victims of negligent surgeons, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists throughout Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh, Erie, Butler, Cranberry Township, Indiana. Call us today at (412) 471-4300 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation. Our main office is located at 310 Grant Street, Suite 720, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.