In the health care field, the term malpractice originally encompassed only the negligent wrongs of a physician. In the past, a distinct division existed between a nurse and a physician. Rather than diagnose patients, treat symptoms, or prescribe medication, it was sufficient for the nurse to wait for and then simply implement a physician’s order. In years past it was virtually unprecedented for a nurse to criticize a physician’s order.
The role of the nurse, however, has changed. Today, nurses commonly assume functions previously performed only by the physician. In hospitals and clinics across the country, nurses have assumed the responsibilities such as the actual examination, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient, oftentimes without any direct supervision by a physician.
Medical malpractice is generally defined as negligence on the part of a physician, nurse, EMT, hospital or other health care professionals. Negligence is at part with failure to perform medical obligations under normal standard of care. The nurses are also involved when patients get injured either physically and/or mentally as results of medical malpractice.
Due to current shortage of nursing professionals, nurses on the job are inevitably overloaded with work and duties. Nurses are not getting enough rest that they need to stay alert at all times due to longer shifts. Inattentiveness often leads to medical mistakes that cause serious harm to patients.
Another root of the nurse malpractice is under qualification. Many practicing nurses lack training or did not complete the proper length of nursing education; thus medical malpractice sometimes occurs.
Even though nurses are less visible than doctors, nursing practitioners are not less significant whenever medical malpractice takes place. To avoid making fatal mistakes, nurses should always observe the following 'standards of care.