Nursing and Patient Safety
Safe care starts with nursing.
“Medical errors can and do happen, even among skilled, well-meaning, and vigilant nurses and health care professionals.”
“Leaders, regulators and administrators have a responsibility to nurses and patients to put in place and sustain organizational structures that support a just culture, which includes recognizing that mistakes happen and systems fail.”
“Nurses too often find themselves working under conditions that increase the likelihood of adverse outcomes from tragic mistakes.”
Nursing is an essential element of any patient safety improvement effort. Clear communication, documentation, and teamwork all contribute to a safer care environment.
This page provides a starting point for a variety of content related to nursing. Find podcasts, case studies, FAQs, articles and more.
CRICO Covers Nurses & APPs
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A surgical ICU registered nurse at MGH was sued in a case involving an air embolism resulting in neurological damage to a patient. Her case took 7 years to resolve. This defendant found it extremely difficult hearing the allegations of negligence. She didn’t ask for, or accept help, but in retrospect wishes she had. As time has passed, she now realizes that this event doesn’t define her as a nurse.
“This does not define who you are as a health care provider.”
In the wake of medical errors, just cultures are critical
Icing the Patient Safety Movement
APP Malpractice Cases
Findings showed Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) were rarely involved in the care or event that prompted a claim and were much less likely than physicians (MDs) to be named as defendants in medical professional liability (MPL) cases.
Are APPs at Risk?
A Sea Change in U.S. Care Delivery: An Analysis of Advanced Practice Provider and Physician Malpractice Risk
PAs and NPs represent a growing proportion of clinicians, but not malpractice cases.
CRICO Nursing Coverage
Criminal Prosecution is Rare
CRICO’s response to the risk of criminal prosecution of nurses and other health care workers.
CRICO Keeps You Safe
