Like all medical professionals, nurses adhere to a high standard when it comes to providing safe and responsible patient care. From a legal point of view, guidelines governing nursing professional behavior are known as standards of care. These guidelines are set by the nursing board in each state, and all licensed nurses must follow these guidelines in order to practice nursing. When a nurse is suspected of violating the standard of care, he or he may be investigated by the state nursing board to determine if the nurse is guilty of violations, and if so, what disciplinary measures should be taken.
Types of violations
When a patient or other medical personnel suspect a nurse in violation of a standard violation, he or she may report the violation to the state nursing office that investigates license violations. As a rule, standard violations of care are divided into two different types of negligence:
- Carelessness: when a nurse puts a patient at an unreasonable risk that is not typical of the procedure, causing harm to the patient.
- Lack of informed consent: to prevent the patient from being fully informed about the details of the procedure, including its benefits and risks, before its implementation.
A single standard of security breach can have serious consequences for a nursing career. If the violation is considered serious enough, such a nurse may even lose her license to practice.
Protecting your case
Each nurse has the right to retain a lawyer and defend himself or herself in the investigation of a license violation. Because state nursing offices regularly monitor these types of investigations, they can quickly assume that the nurse is to blame without reviewing all the evidence. Keeping an experienced nursing attorney can help ensure that all proper procedures are followed throughout your investigation and can help you maximize your chances of defending your care license.
For more information
To learn more about patient care standards and what to do if you are accused of violating the terms of your nursing license, visit the Texas Nursing Lawyers Lawyers in Leichter.
