To help prevent malpractice, which actions should the nurse take?

To help prevent malpractice, which actions should the nurse take?

• A. Following the standards of care, establishing a therapeutic relationship with patients, and working cooperatively with the healthcare team.
• B. Isolating yourself from the care team and ignoring workplace policies.
• C. Relying on personal experience without staying current on advances.
• D. Failing to understand employer procedures.

Answer: (A)

Preventing malpractice comes from delivering care that meets professional standards, building trust with patients through a therapeutic relationship, and working well with the rest of the care team. Following the standards of care means performing interventions and decisions that a competent nurse would in similar situations, staying current with evidence and workplace policies, and documenting appropriately. Establishing a therapeutic relationship fosters clear communication, informed consent, and understanding of patient needs, which helps catch potential problems early. When you collaborate with the healthcare team, you ensure good handoffs, appropriate delegation, and shared responsibility for patient safety, reducing the chances of gaps in care that could lead to liability. Choosing the other options would undermine safety and legality: isolating from the team and ignoring policies increases risk of errors and noncompliance; relying solely on personal experience without updating knowledge leads to outdated or inappropriate care; and failing to understand employer procedures similarly risks violations and unsafe practices.

Preventing malpractice comes from delivering care that meets professional standards, building trust with patients through a therapeutic relationship, and working well with the rest of the care team. Following the standards of care means performing interventions and decisions that a competent nurse would in similar situations, staying current with evidence and workplace policies, and documenting appropriately. Establishing a therapeutic relationship fosters clear communication, informed consent, and understanding of patient needs, which helps catch potential problems early. When you collaborate with the healthcare team, you ensure good handoffs, appropriate delegation, and shared responsibility for patient safety, reducing the chances of gaps in care that could lead to liability.

Choosing the other options would undermine safety and legality: isolating from the team and ignoring policies increases risk of errors and noncompliance; relying solely on personal experience without updating knowledge leads to outdated or inappropriate care; and failing to understand employer procedures similarly risks violations and unsafe practices.