Which approach is best for a nurse to avoid a lawsuit?

• A. Carry malpractice insurance
• B. Spend time with the patient
• C. Provide compassionate, competent care
• D. Answer all call lights quickly

Answer: (C)

Providing compassionate, competent care is the best approach to avoid lawsuits because it directly aligns with the standard of care that nurses are expected to uphold. When a nurse consistently demonstrates clinical competence—accurate assessments, timely recognition of patient changes, adherence to evidence-based protocols, safe medication administration, and thorough documentation—care meets professional expectations and reduces the chance of harm or perceived neglect. Coupled with compassionate communication and patient involvement, this builds trust and minimizes miscommunication, a common trigger for liability claims.

Having malpractice insurance helps with financial protection if a claim occurs, and common good practices like spending time with patients or answering call lights promptly are important parts of nursing care, but they do not by themselves prevent lawsuits. The strongest safeguard is delivering high-quality, patient-centered, competent care across all interactions.