When a nurse accepts report and responsibility for the care of a patient a duty to the patient is also accepted. In this case, a post-op abdominal aneurysm repair patient was injured after falling from his bed to the floor. When a lawsuit was filed the court initially mistook expert testimony to imply the role of the nurse includes a guarantee of safety. Downey v. Mobile Infirmary Med. Nursing Duty and Responsibility Questioned.
Patient noncompliance can present serious challenges to nurses and physicians providing care.
In this case, a patient after having a coronary artery bypass grafting developed a sternal infection. When advised by a nurse to return for treatment, the patient refused. Kind v. State Ex Rel. As the elderly population continues to increase, more and more families are faced with the decision to place loved ones in nursing homes . When a family member is placed in a facility , a certain standard of care is expected.