Nurses play an essential role in patient care in the hospital setting. From monitoring patients’ vital signs to administering patients’ medications, nurses are responsible for many of the tasks that help ensure patients’ health and wellbeing while undergoing procedures or receiving inpatient care.
This makes it vital for nurses to do their jobs with the skill and professionalism they demand.
When nurses do not do their jobs with the skill and professionalism they demand, this can have serious (and, in some cases, fatal) consequences. When nurses in hospitals make mistakes that cause patients harm, patients and their families can often sue to hold the hospital accountable.
Just like doctors, nurses in Illinois are held to a standard of care. Nurses must consistently meet this standard of care when assisting and treating patients, as even minor deviations can potentially have serious (or fatal) consequences.
Unfortunately, deviations from the nursing standard of care are not uncommon. In fact, the data show that nursing negligence is far more common than it should be—and it is becoming increasingly common. Some all-too-common examples of nursing home negligence in Illinois hospitals include:
Monitoring patients during treatment and recovery is a key aspect of nursing practice. If a nurse fails to monitor a patient during treatment or recovery, any complications or other medical issues that should have been prevented can provide clear grounds to sue the hospital.
Along with failure to monitor, a nurse’s negligent monitoring can provide clear grounds to sue the hospital as well. For example, if a nurse misreads a patient’s vital signs or fails to take appropriate action in response to a potential medical emergency, both of these could warrant legal action.
Effective communication is essential to quality patient care in hospitals. If a nurse misconstrues a doctor’s instructions or fails to communicate effectively about a patient’s condition, these are both examples of nursing negligence that can provide grounds for legal action as well.
Medication errors are alarmingly common, and they can be extremely dangerous. Failing to administer a patient’s medications, administering the wrong medications, overdosing and underdosing, and improperly administering medications can all lead to health issues that could—and should—have been avoided.
Misuse of medical equipment and medical devices is a common issue as well. This includes everything from improperly inserting IVs and catheters to misusing durable medical equipment (DME) such as monitoring machines, pumps, patient lifts, and nebulizers.
These issues, among many others, can provide clear grounds to sue a hospital for medical malpractice. Nurses are hospital employees in most cases, and employers can be held liable for their employees’ negligence on the job. This means that if a nurse makes a mistake that harms a patient, the hospital can be held fully accountable for the consequences of the mistake—whether the mistake results in an infection, an injury, any other serious complication, or a patient’s death.
Lawsuits against hospitals and other healthcare providers are subject to special requirements under Illinois law, and this makes it essential for patients and families to have an experienced lawyer on their side. If you have a claim for nursing negligence in Illinois, an experienced lawyer will be able to:
Hiring a lawyer to sue a hospital for nursing negligence does not cost anything out-of-pocket. In these cases, our lawyers represent patients and families on a contingency-fee basis. This means that our clients only pay legal fees if we help them recover just compensation. If you have a claim, the first step is to schedule a free consultation, and it is important that you do so as soon as possible.
If you or someone you love suffered harm because of a nurse’s mistake, you are right to ask questions—and you may have the right to take legal action. Hospitals are responsible for the care their staff provides, and when that care falls below accepted standards, the consequences can be life-changing. You should not be left dealing with medical bills, lost income, or lasting complications caused by preventable errors.
At Coplan + Crane, you get more than legal representation, you get a team that understands what you are going through and knows how to fight for meaningful results. You pay nothing upfront, and there is no risk in getting answers about your situation.
Contact Coplan + Crane today online or at (312) 982-0588 for a FREE case evaluation. Our experienced nursing negligence lawyers proudly serve clients across Illinois, including Chicago, Oak Park, Rockford, and other areas.
