Nurses in Pennsylvania and throughout the country take pride in doing their job without making mistakes. However, they will eventually make an error, and that error could have negative consequences for a patient. Each year, 1.5 million Americans are harmed by medication errors, and medication is generally given to a patient by a nurse. To avoid such a mistake, a nurse should confirm a patient’s identity and physical characteristics before administering a drug.

Falls are also a common danger in medical facilities as there is a chance that a patient will have a hard time standing or walking on their own. Those who have just come out of surgery or are weak for any reason could be at a higher risk of falling. Nurses should make sure that anything a patient needs is accessible without having to stand or walk. They should also let patients know that nurses can help them walk to the bathroom or complete other tasks.

Annually, 99,000 people die from infections in a hospital setting. Therefore, it is important to prevent the spread of infection from patient to patient. For instance, nurses should be sure to wash their hands or understand best practices for disinfecting a room. Performing these tasks may help to keep rooms sterile and nurses free from germs that could harm anyone near them.

While everyone makes mistakes, a medical error could rise to the level of malpractice. This may be true if the mistake was caused by improperly administering a medication or failing to clean a room properly. An attorney may use a patient’s medical records and other evidence to show that an error could have been avoided. If a claim is successful, a victim might be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages.