A nurse accidentally administers a medication to the wrong patient, and the patient experiences a serious untoward reaction.
For which tort can the nurse be legally charged?
Negligence.
Malpractice.
Assault.
Battery.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
Negligence is the failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in similar circumstances. While administering the wrong medication is a breach of duty, legal charges of negligence might not fully capture the severity of a serious untoward reaction resulting from a medication error by a professional.
Choice B rationale
Malpractice is a specific type of negligence committed by a professional, such as a nurse, in the performance of their professional duties. Administering the wrong medication, leading to a serious adverse reaction, falls under the scope of professional nursing practice and can be considered a breach of the professional standard of care, thus potentially leading to charges of malpractice.
Choice C rationale
Assault is an intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of immediate harmful or offensive contact. Administering medication, even the wrong one, is usually not intended to cause apprehension of harm in the way assault is legally defined.
Choice D rationale
Battery is the intentional touching of another person without consent. While administering the wrong medication involves touching without consent, the more appropriate legal charge in a professional healthcare setting where harm results from a breach of duty is typically malpractice. .
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Infants are at the highest risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalance due to diarrhea because they have a higher percentage of body water compared to adults, and a larger proportion of this water is extracellular. Their kidneys are also immature and less efficient at regulating fluid and electrolytes. Additionally, their higher metabolic rate and greater body surface area to weight ratio lead to increased insensible fluid losses.
Choice B rationale
Adolescents have a body composition and physiological regulatory mechanisms that are more similar to adults, making them less vulnerable to rapid fluid and electrolyte shifts from diarrhea compared to infants. Their kidneys are fully developed and can manage fluid and electrolyte balance more effectively.
Choice C rationale
Young adults also have well-developed regulatory mechanisms and a lower proportion of extracellular fluid compared to infants. While prolonged diarrhea can still lead to imbalances, they are generally more resilient than infants due to their mature physiology.
Choice D rationale
School-age children have a body composition and physiological maturity that places them at a lower risk for severe fluid and electrolyte imbalance from diarrhea compared to infants. Their regulatory systems are more developed than those of infants, allowing for better compensation for fluid losses. .
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Flexibility is essential for a nursing leader as they must adapt to changing situations, diverse perspectives, and unexpected challenges within a team and the healthcare environment. A flexible leader can consider different approaches, negotiate effectively, and maintain a positive and productive atmosphere amidst evolving circumstances.
Choice B rationale
Independence, while valuable for individual nursing practice, is not the most essential quality for a leader. A leader needs to foster collaboration, delegate effectively, and work interdependently with a team to achieve common goals. Over-independence can hinder teamwork and shared decision-making.
Choice C rationale
Physical stamina can be beneficial in the demanding profession of nursing, but it is not a primary essential quality for leadership. Leadership focuses more on cognitive, interpersonal, and strategic skills rather than physical endurance. A leader can be effective regardless of their physical capabilities.
Choice D rationale
Vulnerability, while promoting authenticity and connection in some contexts, is not an essential quality for a nursing leader in the same way as flexibility. While empathy and self-awareness are important, excessive vulnerability might undermine a leader's ability to provide stability, make difficult decisions, and inspire confidence within the team.
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