Nursing is a tough job, and mistakes can happen, but when they become malpractice, it can lead to severe harm to the patients and legal consequences for the home care agency. But not all nursing malpractice risks are obvious enough to fix instantly; some can be a mistake in a blink and can be overlooked, which can put patients and nurses at a lot of risk. So, the goal of this post will be to raise awareness about these common issues that can be easily ignored and become a malpractice case. This will be a perfect read for nurses, healthcare providers, and advocates for patient safety in Florida.
1. Medication errors
Medication errors are one of the most common things that can happen in the nursing world, and they may not be harmful immediately, but can prove to be much more harmful in the long run.
If the nurses confuse similar drug names and packaging, that can be lethal. Missed doses can also prove to be jeopardizing if the medicine is important, so every nurse should pay attention and keep a schedule of that, including a schedule of administered drugs, which can lead to repeat dosing.
2. Inadequate patient monitoring
If stressed or distracted, nurses can sometimes fail to notice vital signs such as heart rate change, blood pressure change, or oxygen level changes, and these can be fatal, so being awake and attentive is very necessary if the nurses give a delayed response to the distress signals or alarms by the patient that can also prove to be lethal.When shifts change, handoff communication should be good to ensure there are no missing details for the complete well-being of the patients. And in no case whatsoever, a symptom, even if minor, should be ignored by the caregiver.
3. Communication breakdown
Caregivers should always be very attentive and accurate with the information they relay to doctors and other home care staff so that there is no hidden information for any reason. If there are any language barriers, they should be eliminated because non-native language issues can create misunderstandings and have proven to be a liability in the past.
The caregivers should be instructed to hold no secrets, as omitting key details during shifts can be a very dangerous thing that can risk someone’s life. And they should also be taught that not everything is about de-escalation; sometimes issues have to be escalated and reported urgently if they require prompt supervision.
4. Improper use of medical equipment
If caregivers are going to be given duties regarding high-tech equipment, they should be instructed on how to use and set it up because misconfiguring devices like ventilators or IV pumps can pose a lot of danger to the patient. Cost-cutting, refusing training on complex equipment, can lead to these caregivers lacking proper skills and threatening lives.
But that is not all, electronic equipment is accurate but not immune to errors, so ignoring or not checking device errors can also be very risky if it is necessary for patient life support. Also, the maintenance of a sterile environment is very crucial when it comes to healthcare; risking infections or using non-sterilized tools can put your home care agency at risk of a lawsuit.
5. Failure to follow protocols
Every medical procedure has some protocol a person needs to follow in order to maintain a safe environment; if not followed, it can cause harm to patients. That is why there are double-check procedures for high-risk situations, and they should not be skipped, along with hospital or national standards.
Sanitation and hygiene are very important, and no staff in the in-home care agency should be slacking off on them. Handwashing stations should be nearby, and it should be a regular habit taught to caregivers. Infection control rules are there so that there are some easy guidelines a caregiver should follow to ensure they are not spreading infections.
Conclusion
The best thing you can take away from the above guide is to be aware of these nursing malpractice risks that can prevent any malpractice and also save lives when it comes to it. Nurses should always prioritize becoming better, communicating, and following protocols so that they do not bring harm to all parties involved.
