A nurse is teaching a class on ethical principles. The nurse should include that protecting a client's safety by not causing harm refers to which of the following ethical principles?

A. While acting as a mediator between the client and the provider is an important aspect of advocacy and communication, it is not directly related to accountability. Mediation involves facilitating communication and resolving conflicts, which are important for effective care but do not specifically address taking responsibility for one's own actions and decisions.
B. This is an example of accountability. Following the rights of medication administration—such as checking the right patient, medication, dose, route, and time—is a critical responsibility of the nurse. Ensuring that these rights are adhered to demonstrates accountability in medication management, as the nurse is taking responsibility for administering medications safely and correctly.
C. Supporting a client’s right to refuse medication is an important aspect of patient autonomy and ethical practice. While it reflects respect for the client’s choices and rights, it is more related to advocacy and ethical principles rather than directly demonstrating accountability for one’s own actions.

D. Ensuring that a client understands the adverse effects of their medication involves educating the client and ensuring informed consent. This is an important aspect of patient education and care but is not solely an example of accountability. Accountability would involve taking responsibility for making sure that this education is provided correctly and thoroughly.

A. Negligence occurs when a person fails to perform their duties to the standard expected of a reasonable professional, leading to harm or potential harm. In this scenario, leaving a shift early without permission could be considered a breach of professional duty. Although the clients are stable, the action of leaving early without proper handoff could potentially create risks or gaps in care.
B. Battery involves the intentional and unauthorized physical contact with another person that causes harm or offense. This legal tort does not apply to the situation described because leaving a shift early does not involve physical contact or harm to the clients. Battery is more related to physical acts rather than administrative or procedural issues.
C. Libel refers to defamation through written statements that harm a person's reputation. This tort does not apply to the situation of leaving a shift early. Libel is concerned with false statements published in writing that damage someone's reputation, which is unrelated to the issue of leaving a shift early without notification.
D. Slander involves verbal defamation that harms a person's reputation. Like libel, slander is concerned with damaging someone’s reputation through spoken false statements. The scenario of leaving a shift early does not involve verbal defamation or reputational harm, so slander is not applicable here.