What term describes the omission or commission of an act that departs from the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would do?

What term describes the omission or commission of an act that departs from the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person would do?

• A. Medical Malpractice
• B. Professional Negligence
• C. Intentional Tort
• D. Autonomy

Answer: (B)

Professional negligence describes the failure to meet the standard of care expected of a nursing professional. The standard of care is what a reasonably prudent nurse would do in similar circumstances; when a nurse either does something inappropriate (commission) or fails to do something required (omission) and that action falls below that standard, harm or risk to the patient can result, and liability can arise. This term fits best because it centers on how a professional should act, not on deliberate harm or on patient rights. Medical malpractice is related but often signals a narrower scope tied to physicians, whereas professional negligence covers nurses as professionals. An intentional tort involves purposeful harm, which is not implied by simply deviating from standard care. Autonomy concerns a patient’s right to make their own decisions and is unrelated to the concept of professional liability for standard-of-care failures.

Professional negligence describes the failure to meet the standard of care expected of a nursing professional. The standard of care is what a reasonably prudent nurse would do in similar circumstances; when a nurse either does something inappropriate (commission) or fails to do something required (omission) and that action falls below that standard, harm or risk to the patient can result, and liability can arise. This term fits best because it centers on how a professional should act, not on deliberate harm or on patient rights.

Medical malpractice is related but often signals a narrower scope tied to physicians, whereas professional negligence covers nurses as professionals. An intentional tort involves purposeful harm, which is not implied by simply deviating from standard care. Autonomy concerns a patient’s right to make their own decisions and is unrelated to the concept of professional liability for standard-of-care failures.