Which statement best defines negligence in nursing practice?

• A. Conduct that falls below the standard of care
• B. Intentional harm to a patient
• C. Breach of contract
• D. Defamation of character

Answer: (A)

Negligence in nursing is conduct that falls below the standard of care. The standard of care is what a reasonably prudent nurse would do in a similar situation, based on education, experience, and the policies of the facility. When a nurse’s actions or omissions fail to meet that standard and harm results, negligence has occurred. This is usually unintentional and focuses on what level of care was provided, not on a deliberate intent to hurt.

The other options describe different legal concepts: intentional harm would involve deliberate actions causing injury; a breach of contract relates to failing to meet a contractual obligation; defamation involves false statements harming someone's reputation. An example of negligence would be failing to monitor a patient after administering a medication, leading to an adverse outcome, because the nurse did not perform the expected assessment and ongoing observation. To prove negligence, there must be a duty to the patient, a breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to harm, and damages.