Over the past 5 years, the number of nurses’ malpractice cases had risen at an alarming rate. Nurses’ malpractice is one of the most serious problems in the medical profession today.

Nurses’ malpractice is simply defined as negligence by a nursing professional, which can result to serious physical (and also emotional) damages to the patient; and even deaths.

Most cases are not intentional but the law allows victims of nurses’ malpractice to hold all involved parties liable.

Here are some of the common forms of nurses’ malpractice:

• Mistakes in documentation
• Failed to get informed consent from the patient
• Wrong use of medical devices
• Failed to take note of any changes in patient’s condition
• Failed to report any changes in patient’s condition to the physician
• Negligence during child birth procedure

Victims of nurses’ malpractice may suffer from:

• Exorbitant medical costs
• Lost wages
• Lost jobs
• Physical pain
• Emotional anguish

Here are some of the common factors that cause nurse’ malpractice:

• Inadequacy
• Fatigue
• Lack of communication
• Failed to follow medical standard procedure and correct nursing practice
• Failed to obey the physician’s orders

Because there is a shortage of registered and licensed nurses, the hospitals and medical facilities are employing unlicensed and under-trained nurses to give vital health care to patients.

A 2004 study shows, nurses’ who work long shifts (usually longer than 12.5 hours) are 3 times more likely to commit fatal mistakes.

Victims should consult with medical lawyers as soon as possible; because the time for filing legal claims is limited by law.