The nurse manager is concerned that a staff nurse will be sued for malpractice. In which order should the manager analyze information to make this determination?
1. The client was injured.
2. The nurse did not follow standards of care.
3. Nurse had a duty to follow standards of care.
4. The client's injury was caused by not following standards of care.
5. The nurse was aware that an injury could occur if standards not followed.
Correct Answer: 3, 2, 5, 1, 4
The elements of proof for nursing malpractice are: 1. a duty of the nurse to the client to provide care and follow an acceptable standard; 2. a breach, or failure of the nurse to perform the duty; 3. foreseeability, or the knowledge that if the nurse fails in the duty an injury may occur; 4. an injury to the client; and 5. a causal relationship between the breach of the duty and the client's subsequent injury.
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