A nurse working as a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) in a hospital is aware of a greater risk for being sued for malpractice than that of the staff nurses' co-workers. What rationale would the CNS give for this difference?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Rationale 1: Decreased autonomy does not protect the staff nurses from litigation.
Rationale 2: The fact that this nurse makes more money would not be likely to play into the decision to sue.
Rationale 3: Nurses who hold specialty credentials are assumed to be experts in their role. This increases the likelihood of suit if an unexpected outcome occurs.
Rationale 4: The seriousness of the patient's illness is not a major determining factor in unexpected outcomes. When a person who is not seriously ill has a poor treatment outcome, litigation is often considered.

A Nurse Working as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in a Hospital