Nurse A is assigned to care for a patient with diabetes who is being regulated on new types of insulin. The patient performs most of her own care and rarely uses the call bell to summon the nurse. The nurse knows this and leaves the patient unobserved most of the shift. Just before change of shift report, the aide reports that she cannot rouse the patient. The patient has entered a vegetative state as the result of brain damage related to severe hypoglycemia. Which, if any, of the four elements needed to prove malpractice are present? (Select all that apply.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The assignment for the nurse to care for the patient constitutes duty. Breach of duty is seen when the nurse fails to observe the patient as a prudent nurse would do. The vegetative state is the injury caused by the nurse's failure to act according to the standard of care. Proximate cause can be shown based on the nurse's failure to periodically observe the patient. It can be argued that early intervention to reverse the hypoglycemia would have prevented injury to the patient.

Nurse a Is Assigned to Care for a Patient with Diabetes