Sunday, May 27, 2012

A Background On Legal Issues In Nursing

By Flora Vinson


Legal issues in nursing is a matter nurses should know about to be able to protect themselves as well as their patients. In instances when a nurse is not mindful, he could find himself in a position in which his license and his profession could possibly be on the line due to both negligence or medical malpractice. If these issues occur, a nurse or sometimes an institution may find themselves in the middle of a lawsuit.

Negligence occurs when a nurse is unable to perform his obligation according to existing rules agreed upon by the board of nurses or by a health care establishment. For instance, neglecting to monitor a patient who has just recently regained consciousness from sedation. This may result in a patient's vital signs becoming erratic and may result in a serious condition like affected individual losing consciousness or even a drop in his oxygen levels.

Even if you do not plan to commit carelessness, you're still liable because you did not perform your duties in accordance with policy. Neglecting to do a thing is equally as negative performing a task the wrong way. Since the nursing profession is all about person's lives, neglecting to do a function could be dangerous and may cause harm to a individual's well being or may even cost them loss of life.

Faults in drugs is also a legal issue which can come to attention. As a result of busy atmosphere in a health care facility, a health care worker has to be vigilant in preparation and giving medications due to the fact several mistakes may arise in relation to this particular matter.

Sometimes, you could give the incorrect medicine to a patient. Or even the correct drug but via the incorrect route. Or perhaps the wrong dose of the correct medication.

These errors may be avoided by being vigilant and triple checking medication orders before giving them. Taking the extra time and effort to do this may save lives and prevent you from losing your license and your job.




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