Which of the following are examples of intentional torts in nursing practice? (Select all that apply)
A nurse slaps a confused patient who refuses care
A nurse administers the wrong medication due to misreading the label
A nurse fails to put up side rails, resulting in a patient fall
A nurse physically restrains a competent patient for 2 hours without a provider’s order
A nurse threatens to give an injection if the patient doesn’t take oral medication
Correct Answer : A,D,E
Choice A reason: Slapping a patient constitutes battery, an intentional tort involving deliberate harmful or offensive contact without consent. This violates patient autonomy and ethical standards, causing physical and psychological harm. The intentional nature of the act, targeting a vulnerable confused patient, makes it a clear example of an intentional tort in nursing practice.
Choice B reason: Administering the wrong medication due to misreading a label is negligence, not an intentional tort. Negligence involves unintentional failure to meet care standards, lacking the purposeful intent required for torts like assault or battery. This error results from inattention, not deliberate harm, so it does not qualify as an intentional tort.
Choice C reason: Failing to put up side rails, leading to a patient fall, is negligence, not an intentional tort. This reflects a lapse in the standard of care, not a deliberate act to cause harm. Negligence lacks the intentionality required for torts like false imprisonment, making this choice incorrect for the question.
Choice D reason: Physically restraining a competent patient without a provider’s order is false imprisonment, an intentional tort. This deliberate act restricts patient autonomy without medical or legal justification, violating their rights. The intentional restriction of movement, especially in a competent individual, makes this a clear example of an intentional tort.
Choice E reason: Threatening to give an injection to coerce medication compliance constitutes assault, an intentional tort. The deliberate verbal threat creates fear of imminent harm, violating patient autonomy. This intentional act, aimed at manipulating the patient’s behavior, qualifies as an intentional tort in nursing practice.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A reason: Voluntary commitment involves patient consent to hospitalization and treatment, often for less acute cases. The scenario describes refusal of admission, necessitating involuntary measures due to suicidal risk, making this choice incorrect as it contradicts the described process.
Choice B reason: Involuntary commitment does not require the patient’s signature or agreement, as it is initiated when they pose a risk to themselves or others. Legal paperwork is completed by professionals, not the patient, making this choice incorrect for the scenario.
Choice C reason: Immediate discharge upon request applies to voluntary admissions, not involuntary ones. Involuntary commitment restricts discharge due to assessed risks, such as suicidal ideation, requiring legal and clinical oversight, making this choice incorrect.
Choice D reason: Involuntary commitment involves admitting a patient without consent when they pose a risk of harm, as with suicidal thoughts. This legal process, governed by mental health laws, prioritizes safety through court or medical authorization, making this the correct choice.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Reflecting the patient’s guilt and inviting further discussion is therapeutic, as it validates emotions and encourages exploration of feelings. This engages the patient’s emotional processing, fostering coping and reducing self-blame through empathetic communication, making this the correct choice.
Choice B reason: Telling the patient not to blame themselves dismisses their feelings, potentially inhibiting emotional expression. This nontherapeutic response fails to explore the patient’s guilt, which could stem from perceived control over their condition, making this choice incorrect.
Choice C reason: Advising to focus on the future minimizes the patient’s current emotional distress, a nontherapeutic approach. It overlooks the need to process guilt, which can affect diabetes management adherence, making this response less effective than exploring feelings.
Choice D reason: Downplaying diabetes as “not a big deal” invalidates the patient’s emotional experience, a nontherapeutic response. It fails to address guilt, which could impact psychological adjustment to the diagnosis, making this choice incorrect for therapeutic communication.
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