A nurse is an integral part of a healthcare team in New Jersey. They are responsible for the care of patients and often have direct contact with them. Therefore, a nurse’s mistake, whether knowingly or unintentionally, can have devastating consequences.
Common causes of nursing errors
The causes of nursing errors can be broadly categorized into two forms: those caused by negligence and those caused by errors in judgment. When a nurse fails to give the required standard of care that another professional would provide under similar circumstances, it is considered negligence. It is important to note that negligence is not always intentional. Sometimes, it may be due to overwork, inexperience or simply being human.
Errors in judgment, on the other hand, are more difficult to pin down. They can result from various factors, including poor communication with other health care team members, lack of knowledge about a particular patient’s condition or failure to follow protocol.
Consequences of nursing mistakes
Oftentimes, patients may suffer from an infection or other complications due to a nurse’s negligence. In other cases, patients may be given the wrong medication or dosage, which can lead to serious side effects or even death.
What to do when you or your loved one is a victim of a nursing error
Given the seriousness of a nurse’s mistake, you may need to file a medical malpractice claim with the New Jersey Board of Nursing. This is a formal process whereby you can file a complaint against the nurse or the health care facility where the error occurred.
There are five elements that you will need to prove to be successful in your suit:
• The nurse owed you a duty of care
• The nurse breached that duty of care
• You or your loved one suffered an injury as a result of the breach
• The injury was caused by the nurse’s negligence or error in judgment
• You or your loved one has incurred damages as a result of the injury
Bear in mind that there is a statute of limitations that will have to be strictly complied with.