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Nurse License Protection Case Study: Failure to accept only those nursing assignments that are commensurate with the nurse’s education, experience, knowledge, and abilities

A State Board of Nursing (SBON) complaint may be filed against a nurse by a patient, a patient’s family member, colleague, employer, and/or other regulatory agency, such as the Department of Health. Complaints are subsequently investigated by the SBON to ensure that licensed nursing professionals are practicing safely, professionally, and ethically. SBON investigations may lead to outcomes ranging from no action against the nurse to revocation of the nurse’s license to practice. Therefore, when a complaint is asserted against a nurse to the SBON, the nurse must be equipped with the resources to adequately defend the matter. Being unprepared may represent the difference between a nurse retaining or losing their license. This case study involves a registered nurse (RN) who had been working as a private-duty home health nurse for approximately eight months at the time of the incident.

Avoiding diagnostic errors: Strategies for nurse practitioners

Diagnosis is an essential part of the nurse practitioner (NP) role. An accurate diagnosis serves as the basis for treatment and achieving optimal patient outcomes. Unfortunately, making a diagnosis can be a complicated process that can lead to errors. An inaccurate or missed diagnosis can result in an NP being named in a lawsuit, which can have professional (loss of job) and personal (loss of income) consequences. In fact, NSO and CNA’s 2022 report, Nurse Practitioner Professional Liability Exposure Claim Report: 5th Edition, notes that diagnosis-related malpractice claims topped the list of reasons for allegations against NPs at 37.1 percent of claims in the report dataset. But by understanding potential sources of error during the diagnostic process, NPs can help ensure patients receive optimal care and reduce their risk of legal liability.

A systematic approach to ethical decision-making for nurses

Throughout their careers, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other nursing professionals will encounter challenging situations at work that present ethical dilemmas. Deciding what to do in these situations can cause significant stress, as the appropriate course of action can vary depending on each unique set of circumstances. This article reviews a model that nursing professionals can use as a guide to help them gain a better understanding of conflicting issues and navigate ethical dilemmas.

Nurse Case Study: Alleged failure to notify physician of patient’s emergency medical condition resulting in death

Nurse and Medical Malpractice Case Study with Risk Management Strategies
Presented by NSO and CNA

Medical Malpractice 101: An Infographic for Nurses

Medical malpractice lawsuits are a reality for nursing professionals. Our infographic outlines what the most common injuries are that lead to a malpractice lawsuit against nurses and what the average payout is by injury. It also highlights the 3 year discount we offer to new graduates.

Check out the infographic below or download it!
 

Medical Malpractice 101: An Infographic for Nurses

Medical malpractice lawsuits are a reality for nursing professionals. Our infographic outlines what the most common injuries are that lead to a malpractice lawsuit against nurses and what the average payout is by injury.

Check out the infographic below or download it!
 

How nurses can counter health misinformation

Although recent issues involving health misinformation have emerged related to the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation has been a problem in many other areas related to wellness and healthcare. Misinformation isn’t a new issue, but the internet and social media have supercharged the ability for it to spread. This article helps explain the nature of the problem, why people may be inclined to believe information that is not grounded in science, and what nurses and nurse practitioners can do to counteract misinformation.

Protecting your Nursing License

Understanding the process and how to protect your license is critical to maintaining your career. Our infographic outlines why it is important to protect your nursing license and what it takes to defend it.

Check out the infographic below or download it!
 

Recruitment Tips for Meeting the Nurse Staffing Challenge

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for healthcare and nursing leaders to shift their approach to nurse recruitment and retention, as the exodus of nurses takes its toll on remaining staff and, in some cases, quality of care. This article, the first in a two-part series on nursing recruitment and retention, will address recruitment strategies that leaders can utilize to help attract new nurses to their organization.

Meeting the Nurse Staffing Challenge: Retention Tips

Ensuring appropriate nurse staffing levels is key to the financial health of healthcare organizations like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. High quality nursing care helps to reduce the likelihood of patients safety events and costly medical malpractice lawsuits related to missed errors. The second of a two-part series, this article addresses effective retention strategies that leaders can utilize to help reduce turnover of nursing staff.

Nurse Case Study: Alleged failure to appropriately resuscitate a PACU patient after a complex cosmetic surgery

Medical malpractice claims may be asserted against any healthcare provider, including nurses. This medical malpractice case study and risk management strategies, presented by NSO and CNA, involves a registered nurse (RN) who held a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.  At the time of this incident, the insured RN was working as an independent contractor for an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) specializing in cosmetic procedures. The facility was licensed and accredited by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The involved plastic surgeon was board certified. For 10 years prior to this incident, the RN had been a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) nurse and worked primarily in post-anesthesia care.

PACU Nurse Case Study: Failure to follow accepted nursing standards when calculating a patient’s discharge score

This medical malpractice case study and risk management strategies, presented by NSO and CNA, involves an insured registered nurse (RN) who was employed in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) for an outpatient surgery center.

Liability considerations as nurse practitioners’ scope of practice expands

The authors of the report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine state that allowing NPs to practice to the full extent of their education and training will improve access to care and health equity. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity, released May 2021, calls for eliminating restrictions on the scope of practice of nurse practitioners (NPs).

Recruitment Tips for Meeting the Nurse Staffing Challenge

The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for healthcare and nursing leaders to shift their approach to nurse recruitment and retention, as the exodus of nurses takes its toll on remaining staff and, in some cases, quality of care. This article, the first in a two-part series on nursing recruitment and retention, will address recruitment strategies that leaders can utilize to help attract new nurses to their organization.

Exploring the World of Travel Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic has exasperated ongoing challenges with bedside nurse staffing. As a result, many organizations are struggling to fill their job openings, leading to a boom in the use of travel nurses. This article provides an overview of what nurses need to know; how to get started, be successful when on assignment, and help protect themselves from legal liability.

Meeting the Nurse Staffing Challenge: Retention Tips

Ensuring appropriate nurse staffing levels is key to the financial health of healthcare organizations like hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. High quality nursing care helps to reduce the likelihood of patients safety events and costly medical malpractice lawsuits related to missed errors. The second of a two-part series, this article addresses effective retention strategies that leaders can utilize to help reduce turnover of nursing staff.

Think like an expert witness to avoid falls liability

An 88-year-old patient slips on the floor, falling and breaking his hip. Your immediate concern is getting him the help he needs, but you also wonder if you could be legally liable for what happened. By thinking like an expert witness, you can help determine if this concern is valid and whether you could have taken steps to avoid the situation in the first place. But first, you need to understand some background information.

Meeting the nurse staffing challenge: Recruitment tips

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted nurses to rethink their careers and reinforced the need for healthcare and nursing leaders to shift their approach to nurse recruitment and retention. A 2021 survey by the American Nurses Foundation found that 18 percent of 22,316 respondents planned to leave their current position in the next 6 months. When the data are sorted by nurses working in hospitals (8,524), that percentage rises to 21 percent. These pandemic-related staffing problems are intensified by factors that existed before COVID-19 and that still plague leaders. For example, hospitals in rural areas continue to struggle more with nurse staffing than those in urban locations. Generational differences also exist, with Generation Zers and Millennials more likely to leave positions compared to Generation Xers and Baby Boomers. The exodus of bedside nurses takes its toll on remaining staff and, in some cases, quality of care.

How nurses can counter health misinformation

Although recent issues involving health misinformation have emerged related to the COVID-19 pandemic, misinformation has been a problem in many other areas related to wellness and healthcare. Misinformation isn’t a new issue, but the internet and social media have supercharged the ability for it to spread. This article helps explain the nature of the problem, why people may be inclined to believe information that is not grounded in science, and what nurses and nurse practitioners can do to counteract misinformation.

Exploring the World of Travel Nursing

The COVID-19 pandemic has exasperated ongoing challenges with bedside nurse staffing. As a result, many organizations are struggling to fill their job openings, leading to a boom in the use of travel nurses. This article provides an overview of what nurses need to know; how to get started, be successful when on assignment, and help protect themselves from legal liability.

Advancing your career – and minimizing risk

You just landed your first leadership role as a nurse manager. Or perhaps you’re shifting your career from bedside, hospital-based nursing to home care nursing because you’re ready for a new challenge. Congratulations! Advancing your career, whether by taking a leadership position or exploring a new specialty, can lead to enhanced job satisfaction and a bigger paycheck.

Advancing your career – and minimizing risk

You just landed your first leadership role as a nurse manager. Or perhaps you’re shifting your career from bedside, hospital-based nursing to home care nursing because you’re ready for a new challenge. Congratulations! Advancing your career, whether by taking a leadership position or exploring a new specialty, can lead to enhanced job satisfaction and a bigger paycheck.

A systematic approach to ethical decision-making for nurses

This is sponsored content provided by Nurses Service Organization (NSO). Through AORN’s partnership with NSO, AORN members can save 10% on nurses’ malpractice insurance for three consecutive years with NSO’s Risk Management Discount. Receive a quick quote today.