Risk of Patient Death Spikes When Nurses are Overworked

Nurses are an essential part of the medical system and typically have more patient contact than physicians. The job nurses do can often be exhausting and high stress. For years, studies have been published indicating a correlation between patient care and nurse to patient ratios. A recent medical study conducted in Finland showed that when nurses were overworked, the rate of patient mortality rose by a striking 40%.

With medical mistakes being the 3rd leading cause of fatalities in the United States, the risks presented to patients from overworked nurses are frightening. Many of Parker Waichman LLP’s clients feel that the care or lack of care they received from a medical facility had a negative impact on their health. Our attorneys believe that patients who suffer at the hands of the medical professionals who are tasked with caring for them deserve justice and to be compensated for their injuries. For decades, we have fought for the rights of injured plaintiffs and obtained settlements and verdicts that help our clients find peace and move on from the harm that was caused to them.

Nursing Errors and Patient Mortality

The study, which was conducted by BMJ Open, was the first to look at the daily workload faced by nurses and the outcomes of their patients. The study indicated that when a nurse’s workload went above the level considered “optimal,” incidents having a negative impact on patient safety went up by anywhere from 8 to 32 percent. Even more compelling, the risk of a patient dying increased by 43 percent when nurses were working more than the recommended amount.

The Finnish study differed from previous studies which focused just on the ratio between nurses and patients and the risk of injuries to patients.

Risks are imposed on patients, and nurses are faced with stress because of the fact that nurses are often overworked, and facilities are understaffed. Currently, California is the only state that has instituted mandatory staffing ratios. The California law took effect in 2004 after years of lobbying by that state’s nursing association. No other states have taken this action but proposed federal legislation has been instituted in acknowledgment of the serious risks faced by patients in the United States because of the many poorly staffed medical facilities.

Medical Malpractice Lawsuits

Patients who sustain harm as the result of medical malpractice often face high medical bills, lost time at work, and debilitating injuries. A medical malpractice lawsuit can compensate an injured patient for the financial losses, pain and emotional distress caused by the inadequate medical treatment they received. Additionally, holding the facility and practitioners responsible for their actions offers victims a chance at justice.

Medical Malpractice Litigation

These types of lawsuits involve intricate evidentiary matters and require testimony from expert medical witnesses. At Parker Waichman LLP, our attorneys have experience litigating complex medical malpractice cases and have obtained billions of dollars for our clients.

Statute of Limitations

If you believe that you have been injured as the result of a negligent medical care provider or facility, it is essential to speak with an attorney as soon as possible. Every state has a statute of limitations, which is a law that limits the amount of time a person has in order to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations typically starts to run once you know or should have known that your personal injury was the result of the medical care you received.

Free Case Review

If you have been injured or harmed because of inadequate medical care or nursing errors, contact Parker Waichman LLP today at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) for a free consultation from one of our experienced medical malpractice attorneys.

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