Contemporary Issues in Nursing Related

Review Contemporary Issues in Nursing related questions and content

A nurse is charged with battery after helping an invalid patient back to bed and not calling for help due to a reduced staffing level. The patient sustained excessive bruising, sore joints, and extended stay. In this case, the:

  • A. patient is the plaintiff.
  • B. nurse can be charged with forcefully restraining the patient without orders.
  • C. nurse is accountable due to the decreased level of staffing.
  • D. charge of invasion of privacy may be withheld.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the nurse is accountable due to the decreased level of staffing. The nurse's decision not to call for help despite knowing the reduced staffing level directly contributed to the patient's injuries. The nurse had a duty of care to ensure the patient's safety, and failing to do so resulted in harm to the patient. The nurse's actions were negligent and breached the standard of care expected in this situation.

Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the focus of the question is on the nurse's accountability for the patient's injuries due to staffing levels, not on the patient being the plaintiff, forcefully restraining the patient without orders, or invasion of privacy. These options are not directly related to the nurse's negligence in failing to provide proper care to the patient.