Paying attention to equipment and checking it's safety is essential.

Defensive driving is instilled in the learner and in much the same way the approach for nurses has to be defensive.  Your license is your investment.  It has taken your time and money and only you know the sacrifices you put into your career and credentials and it's worth protecting.  http://www.scribd.com/doc/193017586/Nurses-Negligence-and-MalpracticeEileen M. Croke EdD writes in the American Journal of Nursing that there has been an increase in the number of practice lawsuits reported by the National Practice Data Bank (NPDB.)  Between 1998-2001 the number rose from 253 to 413.  Two legal definitions given by The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health care Organizations (JCAHO)  I recommend that you read this article and take 2 CEUs.
Negligence - 'Failure to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful person would use under similar circumstances.'
Malpractice - 'Improper or unethical conduct or unreasonable lack of skill by a holder of a professional or official position; ...to denote negligent or unskillful performance of duties when professional skills are obligatory.  Malpractice is a course of action for which damages are allowed.'
The following factors related to malpractice are listed by the author:
delegation - due to cost containment in hospitals and HMOs there has been an increase in the number of unlicensed care providers that can put the nurses at risk for negligence as care may not be given according to hospital standards of care or according to the state nurse practice act.
early discharge - patients who are discharged in the early stages of recovery or with conditions requiring more nursing care.  The suit will be related to not providing care or not making referrals appropriate to the patent's condition.
nursing shortage - hospitals are downsizing and have increased workloads resulting in increased risk for error.  Courts hold advanced practice nurses to a medical standard of care.
technology - specialty areas have high tech equipment and the nurse is required to have the skill and capability  to operate equipment and know the limitations and safety features.
autonomy and responsibility hospital nurses with advanced skill are put at risk for error.
better informed consumers recognize insufficient or inappropriate care.
A 1997 study published the most common categories of nursing that led to legal actions:
Failure to communicate adequate information to the physician.
Inadequate patient assessment.
Nursing interventions.
Nursing care.
Medication errors.
Inadequate infection control.
Unsafe or improper use of equipment.
Also mentioned in studies by (Campazzi [1980] Smith [1989] Mayberry and Croke [1996] Smith-Pittman [1998.]
This article offers valuable information which I will share with you next time.
With the increasing number of hospital mergers and unlicensed staffing mix nurses should be ever aware of the risk to the their licenses as investigations hold the nurse accountable regardless of the setting.  They may ask the nurse why he or she chose to work there but ultimately the nurses license is on the line when an error occurs.  R. Bryant, Royal College of Nursing, Act, Australia has compassion for nurses and sees errors from a systems perspective and calls for Nursing Boards to investigate inadequacies in the system.  The title of the article is 'Nursing culpability: a proposal for change in nursing regulation.'  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQt0dMoPw_8  Representative Renee Ellmers (R-NC) questions a FDA official over three vendors for IV infusions that have had quality manufacturing issues and this could present a problem if you are not aware that the issue exists.  Rep. Ellmers also asks questions about the shortage of drug therapies - (85% of Rx drugs are generic) - and again be aware that these are issues that are currently being addressed.  It is important to bring any defective equipment to your supervisor's attention and fill out incident reports.  Check your hospital policy about reporting on defective equipment.  You will be held accountable if you do not check equipment for safety issues prior to use.
 http://www.ethicalhealthpartnerships.org/nurseresources.html  Be sure to read the articles on this link.  7 tips for avoiding malpractice claims by Edith Ann Brous RN, MPH, MSN, JD and Nursing malpractice: Understanding the risks.  There is no charge for articles from this site and you can take CEUs after reading one article at a reasonable cost.

When it comes to Money - Money is important.  Getting your business known in your local area can be done through a platform like this one http://www.singleplatform.com/?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=small+business+listing+Broad&utm_campaign=Listing&utm_content=Small+
Probably your biggest worries are around debt if you are unable to work.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-rhode/im-a-registered-nurse-but_b_3762856.html  Steve Rhode 'the get out of debt guy' offers some advise that will help you to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Take time to gather the information that you need and meet with an attorney about your options.
I recommend Network Marketing because you can start with very little capital, and there is a marketing support component to teach, mentor and support you as you learn how to grow your business.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08qGjZwj914  Robert Kiyosaki's video will walk you through some of the reasons people make the choices they do regarding the way they earn money.  Robert's book 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad,' is a must for your reading for personal and professional development.  I hope you will find this video as motivating as I do because I truly believe that nurses are natural entrepreneurs who can help people in their lives through selling products that are beneficial for the individual and the environment.
I wish you every possible success in your new business and earning the money you deserve.  This on line community is here to serve you and to encourage you to move forward with your life and have the respect and esteem that the group holds for you.  You are not alone with your situation and many nurses are today turning their lives around.
I will just share that the red lines saying that the work cannot be saved started to show up again after many weeks and I feel that there is nothing that is not of benefit to nurses on this blog and it is written with my best intentions for your future success.
Warm Wishes, Rita.