As an LNC, you may have encountered the medical/legal issues that arise when a hospital’s chain of command isn’t clearly defined. These problems can especially affect a nurse who sees a problem with a medical or pharmaceutical order or with a patient’s condition and is unable to get anyone to address the situation.

For these and other reasons, a nursing administrator can be of tremendous assistance to an attorney trying to discern where a breakdown may have occurred that caused a potential malpractice issue. Lisa Ortega, experienced nursing administrator and LNC, shares these and other issues that can cause issues that are dangerous and may lead to liability.

A key issue in these pandemic times has to do with rises in drug abuse, domestic violence, and mental health conditions. Patients with psychiatric conditions have been increasingly injuring nurses. This danger causes the need for extra alertness on the part of hospital personnel.

Another medical liability issue has to do with the degree to which those in personnel check the employment records of staff. Lisa cites frequent job changes—or in the case of traveling nurses—agency changes as red-flag situations. She advocates that hospitals run the most thorough checks possible before hiring new employees. She also strongly urges that drug supplies be checked carefully.

Both LNCs and those in supervisory and administrative positions in hospitals will find Lisa’s podcast an invaluable source of information.