A nurse fails to check on her suicidal patient every 15 minutes per hospital policy. When she checks on him next, he has jumped off the bed and broken his ankle. Why could she be charged with negligence? Select all that apply
1. Failure to properly monitor
2. Failure to communicate risk
3. Failure to assess the risk of suicide
4. Failure to maintain proper boundaries
5. Failure to provide sufficient documentation
Answer: 1, 3
Explanation: A primary nursing duty is to prevent harm. In this case, the nurse failed to assess the risk of suicide because she did not perform the required checks every 15 minutes. She also failed to properly monitor the patient. This case is not about boundaries, documentation, or communicating risk. As a licensed nurse, she is individually accountable for her failure to protect the patient. Because she failed to follow policy, the hospital may choose not to defend the nurse and could even seek damages against her if she is held liable for her actions.
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