Nursing Jurisprudence and Ethics for Texas Nurses Practice Exam

Which of the following best defines 'negligence' in nursing practice?

1. A failure to follow a physician’s orders resulting in patient harm

2. An unintentional tort that involves causing physical or emotional harm to a patient

3. Charging patients for services not provided

4. Documenting patient care inaccurately

The correct answer is: A failure to follow a physician’s orders resulting in patient harm

Negligence in nursing practice refers to a nurse's failure to follow proper protocols and procedures, resulting in harm to a patient. Option A correctly defines negligence in the context of nursing. Option B refers to unintentional harm, but not necessarily due to failure to follow orders. Option C is a form of fraud and not directly related to patient care. Option D is a form of professional misconduct, but does not necessarily involve harm to a patient.