Which action most clearly constitutes malpractice in nursing?

• A. Following orders that are not harmful
• B. Completing required charting
• C. Providing patient education
• D. A duty breach that causes harm to a patient

Answer: (D)

Malpractice in nursing happens when a nurse owes a duty to a patient, breaches that duty, and that breach leads to harm and damages. Among the options, the one that clearly fits is a duty breach that causes harm. That is the situation where the nurse failed to meet the standard of care, and as a result, the patient was harmed.

The other actions are appropriate and expected parts of nursing care: following orders that are safe, completing required charting, and providing patient education all support patient safety and proper care. They do not constitute a breach of the standard of care or cause harm.

Think of it in terms of the four elements: duty, breach, causation, and damages. When a duty is breached and that breach directly causes injury, that is malpractice.