What You Should Know about Nursing Laws
Nursing is considered as one of the most admired and dedicated course in the medical field. The individual who would like to become a nurse should not only have the mental capacity to tackle the course but must also have a big and caring heart to serve sick people. Just like in any profession, a nurse carries a responsibility too in performing his or her actions or work. It is therefore necessary that a nurse should be aware of the legal aspects in association with the caring and helping people in the health industry. There were several negligence cases in the past that unfortunately would turn off the desire of some people to get into the health care field for fear of suits and other legal aspects as a consequence. It can be noted that the first nursing law was yet in 1903 and has only evolved into a thick book that people taking up nursing will have to study.
Most nurses are familiar with the Tort Law, which provided the legal aspects of the profession. In this law, it stated the various malpractices and negligence cases which the law has guidelines, and this is what the nurses have to study and learn inside out since these cases are the biggest fears in their medical community. Whether an action was intentional or unintentional, if it produces harm, it is considered a wrongful act or a Tort. When the standards of care are not met, it is cited as a malpractice and this is a specific type of Tort. Malpractice is considered as the most common and familiar law among nurses and doctors of which they must all be familiar with to continue their caring profession efficiently.
Every time nurses will conduct their daily shifts, they must take precautions so that they will be protected from malpractice suits. To make sure you are on the right track with your patients, there should be recording, documenting and reporting of the routines and decisions done with the patient concern. In school, nurses are taught, and this nurses have to learn, that proper caring of patients does not only mean making the right decisions, but also to make medical reports of the patients in an organized and efficient manner. A nurse therefore who will not be able to provide a written proof of his or her decision and the reasons why, will be concluded without a doubt a case of negligence and being charged as such will be called in court.
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It is important therefore for a nurse not only to have the nursing degree, but also to know the legal aspects of nursing to protect oneself during employment.The 10 Best Resources For Options
