A nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient, resulting in harm. This situation primarily involves which legal concept?

Choice A rationale
Ignoring the error, even if it does not affect patient care, is incorrect. Ignoring errors can lead to a culture of complacency and potentially more significant errors in the future. It is essential to address all errors to maintain accurate records and ensure patient safety.
Choice B rationale
Drawing a single line through the error, initialing, and dating it is the correct action. This method maintains the integrity of the medical record while clearly indicating that an error was made and corrected. It ensures transparency and accountability in documentation.
Choice C rationale
Leaving the error as is and informing the nurse manager is not the best practice. While informing the nurse manager is important, the error should be corrected in the medical record to prevent any potential confusion or miscommunication.
Choice D rationale
Erasing the incorrect entry and writing the correct one is incorrect. Erasing or obliterating entries in a medical record is not allowed as it can be seen as tampering with the record. It is crucial to maintain the original entry and make corrections transparently.

Choice A rationale
Assault refers to the threat of harm or unwanted physical contact, not the actual administration of medication. In this case, the nurse’s action resulted in actual harm, which is more aligned with negligence.
Choice B rationale
Battery involves intentional physical contact without consent, such as forcibly administering medication. However, this scenario involves an error rather than intentional harm, making negligence a more appropriate term.
Choice C rationale
Negligence occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Administering the wrong medication is a clear example of negligence, as it demonstrates a failure to follow proper procedures and protocols.
Choice D rationale
Invasion of privacy involves the unauthorized disclosure of personal information, which is not relevant to the scenario of administering the wrong medication.