How Can Nurses Prevent Malpractice?

A nurse’s job is very tasking and requires a high level of caution while at it. The patient is considered a top priority in the healthcare sector. 

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The healthcare sector is guided by several conducts and standards, which may differ from private and public medical organizations. In this article, you’ll get to know how to navigate your field without hitches. 

What Are The Elements Of Malpractice?

Malpractice among nurses and other medical personnel may include the following components. 

1. Breach Of Duty

This entails that a nurse has violated the conduct and standards guiding the job description in an organization. 

This can be due to the act of negligence. 

2. Damages

The end effect of negligence or breach of duty always results in casualties or damages to the patient or the organization. 

3. Causation

This is a link between the act of negligence and the resultant effect. If a nurse fails to administer a drug to a patient at the right time as prescribed by the doctor, there may be negative side effects. 

Nursing malpractice claims generally fall under the following. 

• The inability to follow medical standards of care
• Failure to assess and monitor patient responsiveness
• Failure to professionally use medical equipment
• Failure to communicate with the doctor and also the patient
• Failure to document records and information
• Failure to obey physicians’ orders 

How Can Nurses Prevent Malpractice?

1. Being Observant About The

Patient’s Responsiveness

Every patient demands the best level of care while undergoing treatment. A nurse may be assigned to more than one patient and is expected to meet the needs of each patient. 

The nurse’s job is to ensure that each patient gets utmost care and respect to make them feel homely and responsive to treatment. 

2. Provide Clear Information To Patients As Regards Their Data

The data of every patient is to be kept confidential, which is normally the demand of every patient. 

A nurse must ensure each patient’s data is kept discrete. 

Also, not all patients know the content of their medication and the severity of their ailment. 

As a nurse, you are expected to educate your patient wherever they need clarity over any matter. 

3. Upgrade Your Knowledge And Certificate

Acquiring knowledge never ends with getting a bachelor’s degree in nursing. The medical field is not static, and there are so many discoveries and inventions you need to get acquainted with. 

Obtain a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a specialized area of your field. Attend training that will keep you updated with the changing phase of nursing. 

Additionally, getting continuing education in malpractice prevention is necessary. 

4. Document Every Activity

One act of negligence is failure to properly document every activity in the ward and about the patient. As a nurse, be deliberate about documentation and do not leave the hospital without going through the record in case of omission. 

The resultant effect of improper or lack of documentation can be devastating. 

Proper documentation can arrive at a diagnosis or medical decision by the doctor. 

Bottom Line

Aspiring nurses now have the privilege of receiving education on how to avoid malpractice in the hospital. This can only reduce the rate of malpractice among nurses.