What is Nursing Medical Malpractice?

Doctors are not the only healthcare providers that can be held liable for negligence. A registered nurse’s failure to act, or act improperly, can result in patient injury, including death. There are four criteria in which we must prove negligence in nursing malpractice:

1. Duty. Duty refers to the ability to follow the treating physician’s medical orders, performing them correctly, as well as creating a safe environment for the patient.
2. Breach of Duty. Failure to properly follow physician orders and creating a space where the patient stays safe. Failure to administer drugs falls into this category.
3. Damages. The patient must be injured or harmed. If a nurse fails to raise a bedrail and a patient falls out of bed, but is not injured, damages do not occur.
4. Causation. There must be a direct correlation between the nurse’s negligence and the injury. For example, raising the bed rail would have prevented the patient from falling, therefore the injury would not have happened.

If you or a loved one believe your injuries are the result of nursing malpractice, contact McEnery Price Messey & Sullivan’s nurse/attorney Gayle Sullivan immediately.