Nursing errors are typically not mentioned as much as other types of medical malpractice, however the instances in which they occur are steadily on the rise. In fact, since 1995 more than 9,500 patients have been injured as a result of errors made by nurses. 1,700 have died. These numbers are alarming, certainly warranting a closer look at what causes nursing errors and their consequences.
If you look at the job listings in most any area of the country, you are bound to see an abundance of openings for nursing positions. The truth is there is a severe shortage of qualified nurses across the US. This inevitably means that those who are employed are taking on a workload that is often much larger than it should be. Many hospitals require their nurses to work mandatory overtime, adding insult to injury. The result of this is a nursing staff that is overworked and exhausted.
Additionally, to make up for the shortage, many hospitals hire temps who are under qualified to lessen the load. This dangerous combination can, and often does result in nursing errors.
As with any other type of medical mistakes, the consequences of nursing errors can range anywhere from simple to life threatening. A few of the more common types of nursing errors include but are not limited to:
- Improper medication dosage
- Medication dispensed to wrong patient
- Failure to report changes in patient condition to a physician
- Failure to properly note changes in patient condition on charts
- Improper use of medical devise
- Failure to perform vital care in a timely manner
- Performing tasks that are beyond the scope of their training
Any of these errors can result in injury or even death to the patient. Victims of nursing errors are encouraged to discuss their situation with a medical lawyer who is experienced in dealing with these types of medical malpractice claims.
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