School nurse questions whether ‘ill’ student should drive home from school
A school nurse asked how she should respond to high school students, who drive to school and ask to be dismissed because they don't feel well.
Learn some valuable lessons from this defamation case
This defamation case can show you how to avoid being on either side of a lawsuit. When a patient or fellow staff members say or write negative things about your nursing practice, it can be devastating to your personal and professional reputation. Especially if what is being said or written is not true. As I
Malpractice suit questions whether RN followed standards of practice
Standards of practice serve as the basis for your overall legal standard of care, which could be called into question in a lawsuit.
HIPAA violation compromises a patient and lands a nurse in hot water
A reader was reprimanded for a HIPAA violation because she threw a document with Protected Health Information into a regular trash container.
Nursing students face unexpected lessons during pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had affected all aspects of life. Nursing students, you are all too familiar with the impact this virus has had on your education.
Nurse abuse by patients can’t be tolerated or go unaddressed
A nurse says she faces harassment and verbal abuse by patients every day. She stated her nurse manager does nothing to stop the nurse abuse and wonders how she can continue working in this facility if she is faced with this treatment on a regular basis.
Nursing documentation saves nurse in wrong-site surgery claim
Over the years, I have discussed the importance of accurate and complete nursing documentation of your patient care. Here's another case that illustrates the power of nursing documentation in getting a case dismissed and keeping your license safe.
Nurse’s patient and family education is under question in lawsuit
Effective patient and family education is essential in helping the patient recover, maintain health and avoid potential risks if instructions are not followed. In the following case — Mason v. Amed-Health Inc. — not providing adequate patient and family education resulted in serious injury and property damage. The patient, a smoker, had myriad health problems, including PTSD,
What are your options for repaying nursing student loans?
A reader completed her baccalaureate program and graduated without any debt. But she's wondering what to do about the nursing student loans she took out for a family nurse practitioner program she did not complete.
This year, make your voice heard on a healthcare bill
In the new year, one aspect of advocacy is sorely needed: your involvement with the legislative process, such as showing support or opposition to a healthcare bill. It is important to know what is happening in Congress, as many bills make their way through the legislative process.