Legal liability for registered nurses in wound care: nutrition

In the US, litigation for wound care and pressure injury is on the rise

As a legal expert nurse for about 30 years, I am aware of the many areas of litigation that can besiege not only the nursing community, but all healthcare professionals and ancillary personnel. This article discusses how nutrition can become a legal matter.

It also describes a few key areas involving nutrition and wound healing to enable nurses to avoid being involved in litigation.

In the US, litigation for wound care and pressure injury is on the rise.¹ It is thought that this is, in part, due the influence of advertisements by attorneys on TV, bus adverts, social media, and/or in magazines.

Nutrition is key to wound and pressure injury development and healing.² Lack of proper nutrition plays a huge role in wound care litigation. It is accepted that a decreased intake of food and fluids and/or weight loss are associated with the development of pressure injuries and with difficulty in wound healing. All nurses play a role in assisting patients with nutritional support. Nurses must involve the nursing assistants and ancillary staff in providing the nutrition that is prescribed by the dietitian and/or physician.