A nurse accidentally administers the wrong medication to a client, which results in a severe allergic reaction and prolongs the client's hospitalization. The client could rightfully sue the nurse for which of the following?
Battery
Malpractice
Abuse
Assault
The Correct Answer is B
A. Battery refers to the intentional and unlawful physical contact with another person without their consent. In this scenario, the nurse did not intend to harm the patient; the action was accidental. Therefore, battery would not apply here.
B. Malpractice is a type of negligence that occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent nurse would provide in similar circumstances. Administering the wrong medication is a breach of duty, and if this mistake leads to harm (like an allergic reaction), the nurse can be held liable for malpractice.
C. Abuse generally refers to intentional harm or mistreatment of a patient, often involving physical or emotional harm. Since the nurse's actions were accidental and not intended to cause harm, this would not constitute abuse.
D. Assault involves the threat or attempt to cause physical harm to another person, creating a fear of imminent harm. Since the nurse did not intend to threaten or harm the patient, and the incident was not a threat, this does not fit the definition of assault.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Libel refers to the written defamation of someone's character, which is not applicable here. The nurse leaving early does not involve any defamatory statements or written content.
B. Battery involves the intentional and unlawful physical contact with another person without consent. The nurse leaving early does not constitute physical harm or unwanted contact with patients or colleagues.
C. Slander refers to the spoken defamation of someone's character. Similar to libel, this term does not apply to the nurse’s action of leaving early, as it does not involve making false statements about someone.
D. Negligence in nursing refers to a failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent nurse would provide in similar circumstances. By leaving her shift early without notifying the charge nurse, the nurse may be failing to ensure continuity of care for her patients, even if they are stable.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. While low ferritin levels can indicate iron deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia primarily involves the production of abnormal hemoglobin rather than iron deficiency. Fatigue in sickle cell anemia is more closely related to the effects of the disease itself, including chronic hemolysis and decreased red blood cell survival.
B. Sickle cell anemia is not classified as an autoimmune disease; it is a genetic disorder caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. While individuals with sickle cell anemia may have increased susceptibility to infections, the fatigue they experience is not due to an autoimmune process.
C. Sickle cell anemia leads to chronic hemolytic anemia, meaning the abnormal sickle-shaped red blood cells break down more quickly than normal red blood cells. This results in a lower overall red blood cell count (anemia), which can cause fatigue and weakness due to reduced oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood.
D. While gastrointestinal bleeding can lead to fatigue due to blood loss and subsequent anemia, it is not a direct consequence of sickle cell anemia. If the client had experienced a gastrointestinal bleed, it would typically need to be evaluated independently of their sickle cell disease.
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