A nurse is reinforcing teaching about torts with a newly licensed nurse. The nurse should include which of the following as an example of negligence?
A.
Restraining a client without a provider’s prescription
B.
Threatening to administer a medication a client has refused
C.
Failing to notify the provider after a medication error
D.
Documenting false information in a client’s medical record
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is C. Failing to notify the provider after a medication error.
Explanation:
Negligence is a key concept in healthcare, particularly in nursing, where the duty of care is critical. It refers to the failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably prudent nurse would offer in a similar situation, leading to harm or risk of harm to a patient. For negligence to occur, four elements must be present: duty, breach of duty, causation, and harm. A nurse has a duty to provide appropriate care and notify providers of any changes or errors that could affect the client’s health.
In this scenario, failing to notify the provider after a medication error demonstrates negligence because the nurse has breached their duty of care. Medication errors can have serious, sometimes life-threatening, consequences, and failure to act promptly increases the risk of harm to the client. The nurse must take immediate steps to mitigate any potential damage caused by the error, including notifying the healthcare provider and documenting the error according to facility protocol.
Let’s briefly examine the other options to understand why they are incorrect:
- A. Restraining a client without a provider’s prescription is an example of false imprisonment, an intentional tort. Restraining someone without proper authorization violates their right to freedom.
- B. Threatening to administer a medication a client has refused is an example of assault, which is the threat of harm or unwanted treatment. It’s an intentional tort, not negligence.
- D. Documenting false information in a client’s medical record is an example of fraud or falsification. It is an intentional misrepresentation of facts, which can lead to legal consequences but is distinct from negligence.
In conclusion, C is the correct example of negligence because it reflects a failure to meet the standard of care expected in nursing practice.