Featured Course: Legal Issues with Charting

Learn how to protect yourself professionally by checking out the Legal Issues with Charting Course.

One thing nurse practitioners are not taught in school is how to protect themselves in regards to a potential malpractice cause. It is true that sometimes nurse practitioners can be sued for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sometimes a patient will present with an abnormal signs or symptoms of a disease. Sometimes a patient is just more likely to sue the nurse practitioner. Or sometimes there is a negative situation that is out of the control of the nurse practitioner.

While nurse practitioners cannot control every situation, I do recommend nurse practitioner do what they can to protect themselves legally.

Reasons nurse practitioners need legal protection

There are several reasons nurse practitioner should strive to protect themselves legally. Here are just a few!

1. Risk of malpractice claims: Nurse practitioners are vulnerable to malpractice claims, which can arise from various factors such as misdiagnoses, medication errors, or communication breakdowns. Legal protection is essential to navigate these claims and mitigate the potential impact on one’s career and reputation.
2. Increasing regulatory scrutiny: The healthcare industry is subject to ever-evolving regulations, and nurse practitioners must stay informed and compliant. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in legal consequences, making it imperative for NPs to actively protect themselves legally.
3. Interprofessional disputes: Navigating the complex web of relationships within a healthcare team can be challenging. Disputes with colleagues or superiors can escalate, leading to legal action. Nurse practitioners need to be prepared to defend their interests in such situations.
4. Patient confidentiality and privacy concerns: With the increasing reliance on electronic health records, protecting patient confidentiality and privacy has become a significant concern. Nurse practitioners must be vigilant in ensuring compliance with privacy laws to avoid legal repercussions.
5. Professional license protection: A nurse practitioner’s license is their most valuable asset. Legal issues, if not addressed properly, can jeopardize licensure. Protecting one’s professional standing is paramount for continued practice and career advancement.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, nurse practitioners must be proactive in protecting themselves legally. Legal issues can arise unexpectedly, and being prepared is the best defense. Nurse practitioners should enhance their legal knowledge and adopt proactive legal strategies so they can ensure a resilient and fulfilling career in healthcare.

​Legal Issues with Charting Course

That is why I created ​The Legal Issues with Charting Course​ to teach nurse practitioners how to prevent a malpractice suit and put their mind at ease regarding legal issues of charting.

This online, self-study course will teach you

• Common reasons healthcare providers get sued.
• What actually makes a valid malpractice case.
• The steps of a malpractice case.
• Charting tips and wording to use/avoid to prevent a malpractice case.

Plus an exclusive presentation from a Legal Nurse Consultant!

Elisa Collins, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, ALNC, NP-CL shares her knowledge of healthcare and malpractice cases! Elisa gives applicable tips for NPs to protect themselves through clinical and documentation practices.

In this sixty minute presentation: Mitigating Your Liability Through Strategic Documentation, Elisa breaks down:

• Percentage of cases that actually go to court
• Discussion of most commonly litigated conditions (you need to know this!)
• Do’s and Don’ts of documentation to protect yourself
• And so much more!

Learn from this Elisa’s as she is an expert in malpractice cases!

Learn about Legal Issues with Charting

If you are a nurse practitioner who would like to learn how to prevent a malpractice case and put your mind at ease by investing in:

​​The Legal Issues with Charting Course

P.S. Worried about the financial investment?

Ask your employer to cover the cost! I have had many NPs ask their boss to purchase the course or had it included as their continuing education allowance! ​The Legal Issues with Charting Course​ benefits both you and your employer!