Nursing malpractice

Full Answer Section

   

• Failure to intervene when necessary. In both cases, the nurses failed to intervene when they saw that something was wrong. In the first case, the nurse did not intervene when the patient's vital signs began to deteriorate. In the second case, the nurse did not intervene when the patient indicated that the surgery was being performed on the wrong hand.

The nurses in both cases played a significant role in causing harm to their patients. They failed to meet the standard of care by failing to assess the patient's condition, following the physician's orders, and intervening when necessary. In addition to the primary problems listed above, there were other factors that contributed to the malpractice suits. These included:

• Communication problems. In both cases, there was a breakdown in communication between the nurse and the physician. This led to errors and delays in treatment.
• Lack of training and experience. The nurses in both cases were relatively inexperienced. They may not have had the training and experience necessary to handle the complex situations they faced.
• Systemic problems. The hospital where both cases occurred may have had systemic problems that contributed to the malpractice suits. For example, there may have been a shortage of nurses or inadequate training programs.

2000-Word Paper In a 2000-word paper on the malpractice suits discussed by Croke (2006), you could expand on the above information by:

• Providing a more detailed discussion of the primary problems that led to the malpractice suits.
• Discussing the role that the nurse played in each case and what the nurse did wrong.
• Discussing the other factors that contributed to the malpractice suits, such as communication problems, lack of training and experience, and systemic problems.
• Discussing the implications of these cases for nursing practice and patient safety.
• Discussing strategies for preventing malpractice suits in the future.

You could also include a case study to illustrate how the lessons learned from these cases can be applied to other situations. Conclusion The malpractice suits discussed by Croke (2006) are a reminder of the importance of nursing care. Nurses have a responsibility to their patients to provide competent and compassionate care. By understanding the factors that contribute to malpractice suits, nurses can take steps to prevent them from happening in the first place.  

Sample Answer

   

• Failure to assess the patient's condition and inform the physician. In the first case, the patient had a cardiac condition that was not assessed or communicated to the physician. This led to a delay in treatment and the patient's death.
• Failure to follow the physician's orders. In the second case, the patient was scheduled to have surgery on the left hand. The nurse failed to verify this with the patient and updated the patient's chart incorrectly. As a result, surgery was performed on the wrong hand.