Nursing care is a vital part of our medical system, and quality nursing care is closely associated with vastly improved health outcomes. Further, negligent nursing care can result in serious harm, which supports medical malpractice claims. If you or someone you care about has suffered legal damages as a result of a dangerous nursing error, you shouldn’t hesitate to discuss your unique situation with an experienced Harrisburg medical malpractice attorney at Marzella & Associates.
Like Other Professionals, Nurses Are Not Immune to Making Mistakes
Simply making a mistake in one’s job as a nurse does not qualify as medical malpractice. Ultimately, people in all professions are only human and are, therefore, susceptible to making mistakes. Even an error that harms a patient is not necessarily medical malpractice. In the end, the nurse in question must have failed to reach the applicable professional standard of care for their actions to be considered malpractice.
The Professional Standard of Care for Nursing Professionals Varies
Nurses must meet the standard of care expected of others at their level in similar situations. There are different professional levels in nursing, including:
- Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) who manage essential care for patients
- Registered nurses (RNs) are licensed to assess patient needs, create care plans, administer medication, and perform complex clinical procedures.
- Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), such as nurse practitioners, receive graduate-level education and are qualified to provide advanced diagnostic and treatment services, sometimes independently or in coordination with physicians.
For medical malpractice to apply, the nurse must have failed to meet the standard of care for their role. For example, a CNA and an LPN are held to different requirements.
Is It Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice by nursing staff occurs when a nurse takes an action that other nurses at their level of expertise would not have taken under the specific circumstances. Failing to take a necessary action that their nursing peers would have also taken meets the requirement.
Building a Strong Medical Malpractice Claim
Building a strong medical malpractice claim based on nursing negligence involves proving that the nursing professional failed to meet the required standard of care. This generally comes down to evidence like the following:
- The related medical records, which are foundational to virtually every medical malpractice claim
- Any photographic evidence that backs up the claim
- The expert testimony of medical professionals who are qualified to address the standard of care that applies
- The eyewitness testimony of others who witnessed the negligence, such as any other attending medical professionals
You Need an Experienced Harrisburg Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Your Corner
At Marzella & Associates, our Harrisburg medical malpractice attorneys have resolved challenging nursing negligence claims. Contact us at 717-876-8681 for a free consultation today.