Nurses and professional negligence

Article Abstract:

Professional negligence in nursing means that there is a duty of care but the standard of care given falls below that which was expected and, in doing so, the nurse must realise that the action would cause foreseeable damage to the patient. Simply being careless or incompetent does not mean the damage was foreseeable. Damage can relate to property as well as the person. Negligence cases can be defended by claiming a lack of resources, such as time, but good patient records must be available to justify this. A nurse in this situation should write to senior management explaining their argument.

Analysis, Nurses, Negligence, Professional ethics

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Confidentiality and the law

Article Abstract:

Nurses have a duty to ensure that information about patients remains confidential and they can only disclose it if they have the patient's permission, or if it is required by law, or it is in the public interest. Failure to maintain such confidential information may result in being struck off the professional register, having to pay compensation or dismissal. Information about terrorism has to be given to the police, as does anything which may help to find a driver involved in a traffic accident. Nurses who are unsure about what to do should get advice.

Confidential communications

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