Nurses Should Take Precautions to Avoid Malpractice Suits

June 4, 2009

Lawsuits that involve problematic intravenous lines are the third most common cause of medical malpractice in the United States. For this reason, nurses who are put in charge of maintaining IVs must take special care to ensure that their patients are taken care of. It is recommended that nurses check their patients’ IVs at least once every four hours.

This constant checking allows nurses to constantly monitor the type and amount of drugs that each patient is receiving. Also, they can more easily spot allergic reactions. If a complication is observed, a nurse can report it to a doctor quickly to avoid any serious problems.

Many hospitals have a set rule that each nurse must check each of his or her patients’ IVs twice in a shift. However, nursing shifts often last up to 12 hours. This means that each patient is only being checked once every six hours. During this time, he or she can have a serious reaction to the drugs or may actually run out of the needed fluids.

If a patient becomes ill, sustains an injury or dies while in the care of a nurse or physician, he or she or his or her family members has the option of taking the hospital or medical professional to court. They can be sued for physical and emotional damages, as well as lost wages from work and the cost of corrective medical expenses.