Woodstock Nursing Error Attorneys
Seeking Justice for Injured Individuals For Over 20 Years
While many people think of medical malpractice as referring only to doctors’ mistakes, this is not the case. In fact, other medical professionals and staff, including nurses, nurses’ assistants and even technicians can - and do - commit medical negligence. If a nurse's error can be proven as negligent, that nurse can be sued for medical malpractice.
Some of the finest people in our community are nurses who have chosen a calling of service through medical care. Many of us have nurses in our family. Nurses are often the ones helping busy doctors remember to do important things. It’s hard for us to think of a situation where a nurse might make a mistake resulting in harm to us or a loved one. It happens, but it is very rare. And when it does, the nurse and their employer, usually a hospital, must be held accountable.
At The Dickinson Law Firm, our Woodstock nursing error lawyers have been helping victims of medical negligence throughout Northern Georgia for decades, and we’re ready to do the same for you.
Call our Woodstock Nursing Error attorneys at (770) 766-7739 to request a free and confidential consultation today.
Recognized Nursing Errors and Negligence
Nurses, like doctors, are required to provide care at the same or higher level than all other nurses provide. This is called the nursing standard of care. When nurses fail to meet this standard of care, and when patients suffer harm as a result, there must be accountability.
Some examples of recognized nursing errors include:
- Failure to collaborate with doctors and other medical professionals
- Poor communication with patients/patients’ loved ones
- Medication errors, including wrong dosage or wrong medication
- Errors due to fatigue, often due to under staffing and/or excessive overtime hours
- Failure to ask for or offer assistance to other medical staff
- Failure to properly evaluate a patient as a fall risk
- Failure to take precautions for a patient who is a fall risk
- Failure to follow and assure doctors’ orders are completed
- Failure to contact the supervising nurse when a patient is not receiving proper care
To request a free, no-obligation consultation, call (770) 766-7739 or contact us online.
Medication Errors in Nursing
Administering medication is a complex, multi-step process. If not executed properly at every juncture, it can result in errors that negatively affect a patient’s health and wellbeing. In its totality, the process involves prescribing the medication, transcribing the transaction, dispensing the prescription, administering the drug, and monitoring the patient’s response.
Nurses are primarily responsible for the role of administering the medication and, according to the official journal of the American Nurses Association, administration errors account for as many as 26% to 32% of all medication errors.
As identified by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), there are 10 key elements of medication use that require strict oversight. Preventing weaknesses in these areas is the best way to avoid medication errors among nursing staff.
- Correct drug information
- Correct patient information
- Safe drug packaging/labeling
- Proper drug device acquisition and monitoring
- Continuing staff education to ensure competency
- Adequate communication among healthcare providers
- Proper medication storage, standardization, and distribution
- Quality processes and risk management strategies within the facility
- Adequate environmental factors, i.e. lighting, clean workspaces, etc.
- Sufficient patient education to ensure they understand details about the drug they’re taking
If the nurse who administered your medication did not follow “best practices” during your treatment, he/she may be subjected to disciplinary action by the state board of nursing, termination, possible civil or criminal charges, and legal recourse.
How to Know if My Nurse Was Negligent
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Did the nurse properly verify my patient information (name, age, date of birth, weight) to confirm they were treating the correct patient?
- Did the nurse ask if I was allergic to any medications before administering the new drug?
- Did the nurse check my vitals before administering the medication?
- Did the nurse review my most recent lab results before administering the medication?
- Did the nurse make it clear that I had the right to refuse the medication if I so chose?
If you answered ‘no’ to one or more of these questions, you may have been the victim of a nursing error. We urge you to discuss the matter with an attorney to determine if you have a case. The negligent nursing professional can and should be held responsible for any undue harms caused to you—we’re here to make sure that happens.
Our Woodstock Nursing Error Attorneys Can Help
Sadly, many instances of nursing errors lead to catastrophic injury or even death. At The Dickinson Law Firm, we believe that negligent medical professionals, including nurses, should be held accountable.
Our Woodstock nursing error attorneys are prepared to help you evaluate the strength of your case and fight for you.
