While participating in critical care rounds, a nurse is interrupted by the wife of a ventilated patient, who informs the nurse that her husband is having difficulty breathing
The patient is found disconnected from the ventilator and unresponsive when the nurse enters the room after rounds; the alarm mode on the ventilator had been turned off. This is an example of a. assault. c. injury.
b. battery. d. professional malpractice.
D
All four elements of negligence are present: duty and standard of care, breach of duty, causation, and injury. If a nurse caring for acutely and critically ill patients is accused of failing to act in a manner consistent with the standard of care, that nurse is subject to liability for professional malpractice (negligence applied to a professional). Assault occurs if the patient fears harmful or offensive touching. Battery is any intentional act that brings about actual harmful or offensive contact with the plaintiff.
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