Nurse Executive Certification Practice Exam

What is the legal term for failing to adhere to accepted standards of practice?

1. Negligence

2. Duty

3. Breach

4. Causation

The correct answer is: Breach

The legal term for failing to adhere to accepted standards of practice is negligence. This term refers to a nurse's or healthcare provider's failure to act in accordance with the standards expected of their profession, which can result in harm to patients. In the context of nursing, this means that if a nurse does not perform their duties in a manner consistent with established protocols, practices, and ethical guidelines, they may be found negligent. Duty refers to the obligation of care that healthcare professionals have towards patients, indicating that they must provide a standard of care that is reasonable based on their profession and the situation at hand. Breach refers to the actual act of failing to fulfill that duty, while causation involves proving that the breach of duty directly led to the injury or harm suffered by the patient. Each of these terms relates to the legal framework surrounding malpractice but does not define the overall concept of failing to adhere to accepted standards of practice as comprehensively as negligence does.