Liability issues for occupational health nurses: an overview.
Occupational health nurses need to be familiar with the Nurse Practice Act within their states. Most malpractice suits against nurses are based on negligence. The occupational health nurse should also be aware of potential liability for intentional torts, such as assault and battery, breach of patient confidentiality, and informed consent. The elements of a malpractice case are: a) the duty to conform to standard of care (which is usually established by expert testimony); b) breach of that duty, or the failure to conform to the standard of care; c) a causal connection between the breach of duty and the resulting injuries; and d) actual damages suffered by the patient-plaintiff.
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D006801:Humans; D007351:Insurance, Liability; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009785:Occupational Health Nursing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States