Which nursing action is not likely to cause legal issues?

• A. Abandoning a patient
• B. Refraining from leaving the client during a staffing shortage
• C. Providing care without consent
• D. Failing to document properly

Answer: (B)

Staying with a patient during staffing shortages reflects adherence to the nurse’s duty to the patient and the standard of care. By not leaving the client unattended, you protect safety, ensure timely monitoring and interventions, and reduce the risk of abandonment—a major legal risk for nurses. The other scenarios carry clear legal problems: abandoning a patient can amount to neglect or abandonment of care; providing care without consent violates patient autonomy and can be a battery or lack of informed consent issue; failing to document properly undermines evidence of care and can lead to malpractice claims. So, remaining with the client in a staffing shortage is the action least likely to generate legal trouble.