It’s not just doctors and nurses that may be responsible for negligence. Often, Certified Nursing Aides are a cause of carelessness.
When people think of negligence happening in a medical setting, they quite often think that when something goes awry, it is because the doctor or the nurse did something wrong. It’s not just nurses and doctors that may cause harm to patients. Certified Nursing Aides (CNA) are just as capable of causing harm if they don’t perform their duties correctly.
“A CNA is an assistant to an RN in clinics and hospital settings. They are part of the front line of caregivers who work with the patients, and they are responsible for moving and feeding patients, grooming them and bathing them – the basic care. While performing those duties, they are working very closely with the person and if they don’t take care, they may cause irreparable harm,” said Charlie Donahue, a New Hampshire personal injury lawyer located in Keene. Donahue handles injury cases in New Hampshire and across the United States.
In many states, CNAs only need a high school diploma or GED plus a six to 12 week certificate course. The program they complete is often through a community college or a medical facility. Despite the short course, a CNA may begin employment right after graduation and work hands-on, directly with patients; all this without prior experience.
While the CNAs are not responsible for patient treatments or even for formulating a diagnosis, they are still handling some very delicate and seriously ill patients. One wrong move could cause injury or death. This is most applicable in intensive care units or in nursing homes where handling patients carefully is of the utmost importance.
“Moving people around is a large part of a CNAs job, and if they are handling people with brittle bones, this could be problematic if they treat them carelessly or roughly. CNA medical negligence or malpractice may also involve not responding to a patient’s call for help or not observing sanitary requirements by washing up often and changing gloves between patients,” Donahue said.
“If you have been in a situation like this, or a loved one has, give me a call, I’d be happy to discuss the potential case with you. You should certainly know what your rights are and what will happen if you choose to file a lawsuit,” said Donahue, the New Hampshire personal injury lawyer located in Keene.
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