A nurse is teaching about intentional torts with a group of newly licensed nurses. The nurse should include which of the following examples?

Choice A rationale

Witnessing consent for a surgery performed on the wrong location is generally classified as professional negligence or malpractice rather than an intentional tort. Negligence occurs when a nurse fails to follow standards of care, resulting in unintended harm. Unless the nurse knowingly participated in a plan to perform the wrong surgery, this error is considered a breach of duty or a failure in the verification process, falling under the umbrella of unintentional torts in nursing.

Choice B rationale

Forgetting to lock the wheels on a client's bed is a classic example of negligence, which is an unintentional tort. Negligence is defined as the failure to act as a reasonably prudent nurse would in a similar situation. In this case, the nurse did not intend for the client to fall, but the failure to perform a standard safety check led to an injury. Intentional torts require a willful act to violate another person's rights or property.

Choice C rationale

Administering a medication late due to an oversight is considered an unintentional tort, specifically negligence. It represents a failure to adhere to the five rights of medication administration, which include the right time. Oversight implies a lack of proper care or attention rather than a deliberate choice to delay the treatment. While this can lead to patient harm and legal liability, it lacks the element of intent necessary to be classified as an intentional tort.

Choice D rationale

Informing a sibling about a client's HIV status is an intentional tort known as invasion of privacy or breach of confidentiality. In this scenario, the nurse makes a conscious, willful decision to disclose protected health information to an unauthorized individual. Unlike negligence, where harm is accidental, this action involves a deliberate violation of the client's legal right to privacy under HIPAA regulations. Disclosing sensitive medical information without consent is a direct violation of professional ethical standards.

Choice A rationale

Disease prevention involves specific interventions aimed at reducing the incidence or impact of particular illnesses. Screening for high blood pressure in an individual with a family history of hypertension is a secondary prevention strategy. By identifying elevated levels early, the nurse can help prevent the progression of the disease and its complications, such as stroke or heart failure. This targeted approach focuses on mitigating specific risks associated with the client's genetic predisposition and health history.

Choice B rationale

Health promotion is a broader concept that focuses on empowering individuals to increase control over and improve their overall health through lifestyle changes and wellness activities. While screening can be part of a health promotion plan, this specific action is more accurately categorized as disease prevention because it targets a specific condition linked to a family risk factor. Health promotion would include more generalized activities like advocating for a healthy diet or regular exercise for the entire community.

Choice C rationale

Holistic health is a philosophy of care that considers the whole person, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions, rather than just the physical symptoms of a disease. While a nurse practicing holistically would conduct a blood pressure screening, the act of screening itself is a technical intervention. This choice does not specifically describe the preventive nature of the screening process, which is the primary intent when assessing a client based on a known familial risk factor.

Choice D rationale

Health education involves providing information and teaching skills to enable individuals to make informed decisions about their health. While the nurse might teach the client about the results of the blood pressure screening, the act of performing the screening itself is a clinical assessment and preventive measure. Education is the tool used to convey the information, whereas the screening is the specific preventive action being demonstrated in this clinical scenario.