We've each been trained by education and experience to recognize potential health emergencies. In this case, a patient's symptoms of chest pain were described. Instructions were given and followed with almost predictable results. Starkey v. St. Rita's Med. Nurse Advocates for Patient Care, Nurse Fired, Nurse Appeals .
Nurses have a duty by law and by conscience to act as patient advocates.
Carl v. Children's Hosp. Patient allergies can be as simple as hay fever or as complex as anaphylactic reactions to medications . It's critical that they be noted and recorded conspicuously in the patient's chart. In this case, the patient's allergies were not clearly documented . A physician prescribed medications and the patient reacted.