Can Nurses Be Held Accountable For Errors?
When nurses are fully engaged in their work, do not suffer from fatigue and have adequate support in job performance, hospital patients receive better care. Unfortunately, many hospitals are dealing with a labor shortage, inadequate training time, inconsistent supervision and patients suffer the consequences.
At Winckler, Harvey & McConnell, LLP, our Austin nurse error attorneys represent individuals who have been injured due to medical malpractice in private medical care facilities. Our lawyers bring more than 100 years of combined legal experience and dedication to personal injury law to cases throughout Texas.
If you have been injured due to a nursing or staffing error, reach our Austin office online or by telephone at 512-593-7399 (toll free us) to schedule a free initial consultation.
Texas Attorneys Handling Nurse Staffing Errors and Hospital Negligence
Hospitals may argue that a shortage in qualified nurses is what leads to understaffing or overworked nurses. In many cases, however, nurses choose to leave the profession due to high levels of stress and demands at work that feel impossible to meet.
When nurses fail to meet the standard of care for their patients, they could be liable for negligence and injuries caused by:
- Failure to monitor patient vital signs and condition
- Failure to relay patient information to doctor or fellow nurses
- Errors in administration of medication or anesthesia
- Performing procedures improperly
- Failure to diagnose impending disorders or illnesses
- Failure to treat existing illnesses or infections
- Bedsores
- Falls
Medical negligence claims can be filed against the individual medical practitioner or against the facility that employs the negligent employee, depending on the cause of negligence. For example, if an unqualified nurse was hired and the hospital failed to recognize an administrative issue that caused errors, the claim could be filed against the nurse, the supervisors in charge and/or the hospital facility.
Every case must be built on sound documentation and substantial evidence of the negligence that occurred.
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