A nurse administered the wrong dose of insulin to an assigned patient after bypassing the facility policy to have insulin doses double checked.The patient's blood glucose level remained within normal limits afterward, and the physician was notified per protocol.The patient and family were extremely upset and demanded to be moved to another floor.Later, the patient filed a malpractice suit against the hospital.The nurse lawyer reviewing the case would conclude that:

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The four elements of malpractice are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.Because this patient did not have damages, as evidenced by normal blood glucose levels afterward, a case of malpractice would likely not prevail.The four elements of malpractice are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.Emotional distress might be a type of nonpecuniary damage, but the patient would have to prove the nurse caused it.However, because there were no physical damages, it would be difficult to win a case based solely on emotional distress.The four elements of malpractice are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.The nurse clearly breached the duty by not following policy to double-check insulin.However, the patient did not suffer any damages, so a malpractice claim would likely not prevail.The four elements of malpractice are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages.Even if it is common practice to sidestep policy, the nurse still has the duty to follow it.However, the patient had no damages, so a case of malpractice would likely not prevail.

A Nurse Administered the Wrong Dose of Insulin to an Assigned