The registered nurse who works in the obstetrics department is walking by the emergency department waiting room when a person cries out, "Help me! My mother is not breathing!" Does this nurse have a duty to assist?
1. Yes, the general duty of care exists to help in times of crisis or imminent harm.
2. No, the nurse is out of the normal working environment and should not interfere.
3. No, the nurse has no more duty to assist in this situation than a lay person.
4. Yes, the nurse has the duty to provide the same standard of care as an emergency department nurse.
1
Rationale: Even if the nurse is not assigned to a particular patient, a general duty of care arises if the patient presents with an emergency or is in need of instant help. Therefore, this nurse has a duty to assist in this situation.
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