A primary care provider orders 10 units of regular insulin to be administered subcutaneously to the client. The nurse administered 10 unit of NPH insulin subcutaneously to the client

Question

After notification of the charge nurse and primary care provider, the nurse monitors the client and no untoward effects occurred from the administration of the incorrect insulin. Would the client likely to be successful in suing the nurse for malpractice? A) Yes, a breach of duty exists
B) Yes, foreseeability was present
C) No, the nurse correctly notified the charge nurse and primary care provider
D) No, there was no harm to the client as result of administration of the incorrect insulin

Answer 1

D
Feedback:
Malpractice is the improper, injurious, or faulty treatment of a client that results in illness or injury. Harm that results from a licensed person's actions or lack of actions can be called malpractice. A nurse commits malpractice when his or her conduct deviates from the normal or expected standard of behavior that would be performed by someone of similar education and experience in similar circumstances. All elements of malpractice must be present for malpractice to be proven. The nurse is a licensed professional responsible for individual actions. Notification to the charge nurse and the primary care provider does not exempt the nurse from liability for administering the incorrect insulin. A breach of duty is present because the nurse administered the wrong medication and foreseeability was present, but no harm resulted from the nurse's actions.