Nursing Responsibilities and Legal Concepts

A series of flashcards to help review nursing responsibilities, legal concepts, and ethical obligations in patient care.

Expert Witness

A nurse or healthcare professional who provides testimony in legal situations about standards of care.

Negligence

Failure to perform duties according to established standards of care, resulting in harm to the patient.

Malpractice

A type of negligence specific to licensed professionals that involves a breach of duty causing harm to a patient.

Duty of Care

The obligation of a nurse to provide care to a patient according to established standards.

Gross Negligence

Conscious disregard for the safety and welfare of a patient.

Liability

Responsibility for actions or inactions that result in harm to another person.

Good Samaritan Law

Legal protection for individuals who offer assistance during emergencies, as long as they act reasonably.

Assault

Verbal threat of harm or causing someone to fear immediate harm.

Battery

Actual physical contact or touching someone without consent.

Defamation of Character

The act of harming someone's reputation through false statements, which can occur through libel (written) or slander (spoken).

Informed Consent

Agreement by a patient to undergo treatment after being informed of the risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Implied Consent

Nonverbal behavior indicating agreement to a procedure or treatment.

Expressed Consent

Clear, verbally or written agreement to a procedure, typically documented in a signed form.

Substance Abuse in Nursing

The misuse of substances like alcohol or drugs by healthcare professionals, which affects their ability to perform duties.