Connecticut Nursing Malpractice Can Affect Patient Care

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Thirteen Connecticut nurses recently had their licenses placed on probation by the Nursing Board of Examiners. Nearly all 13 nurses were abusing drugs or alcohol that affected their ability to practice.

Nurses, like physicians, are held to a standard of care and are expected to not place their patients in harm’s way. Nursing malpractice can take many forms including:

• Duty: Nurses are required to follow the physician’s/surgeon’s medical orders, perform them correctly and make the patient feel comfortable.
• Breach of Duty: Failure to follow physician/surgeon instructions or perform them properly. Failure to administer drugs as prescribed fall into this category.
• Damages: The patient must be permanently injured as a result of the nurse’s negligence. If a bedrail is not lowered and the patient falls out of bed, but they recover, there are no damages to collect.
• Causation: There must be a direct link to the negligent behavior and the injury. For example, if the bedrail were raised, the patient would not have fallen out of bed and been injured.

Nursing malpractice is serious and can have serious consequences for the patient. If you are questioning the level of nursing care you or a loved one received, find out if you have a medical malpractice case.