The unlicensed personnel work under the licensed personnel. For example, a registered nurse is accountable for the medical assistant’s work performance that he or she works with. If the medical assistant neglects a patient and ignores the patient’s needs, the registered nurse is accountable for the consequence of the behavior. Therefore, licensed personnel such as nurses become liable for errors and near misses for themselves and other unlicensed personnel who work under them. I remember the early discussion this week on rising malpractice trends. We discussed the medical malpractice for the respiratory therapist from the Tampa area that the RT took off the patient’s tube. Effective communication and continuing education promote an optimal
