A nurse is caring for a client who repeatedly refuses meals.

The nurse overhears an assistive personnel (AP) telling the client, “If you don’t eat, I’ll put restraints on your wrists and feed you.” The nurse should intervene and explain to the AP that this statement constitutes which of the following torts?

This is because the AP’s statement constitutes an intentional tort, which is a wrong that the defendant knew or should have known would be caused by their actions. An assault is defined as intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact.

The AP’s threat of using restraints and force-feeding the client could cause the client to fear for their safety and dignity, which is an assault.

Choice B. Battery is wrong because battery is defined as intentional causation of harmful or offensive contact with another person without that person’s consent.

The AP did not actually touch the client or carry out the threat, so there was no battery.

Choice C. Negligence is wrong because negligence is an unintentional tort, which occurs when the defendant’s actions or inactions were unreasonably unsafe.

The AP did not act or fail to act in a way that breached the standard of care or caused harm to the client, so there was no negligence.

Choice D. Malpractice is wrong because malpractice is a type of negligence that involves a professional failing to perform their duties according to the standards of their profession.

The AP did not perform any professional duty or service that was below the standard of care or caused harm to the client, so there was no malpractice.