LVN Fundamentals Practice Exam 2025 - Free LVN Fundamentals Practice Questions and Study Guide

When a nurse fails to act according to their professional training within the scope of practice, this is considered malpractice. Malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional deviates from the accepted standards of care in their profession, leading to harm or injury to a patient. In the case of nursing, this could involve not following protocols, failing to administer medication correctly, or not providing necessary patient education, among other actions. The key element of malpractice is that the nurse had a duty to the patient, breached that duty by acting in a way that a competent nurse would not, and as a result, the patient suffered harm.

While negligence is related to the failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent nurse would have exercised in a similar situation, malpractice is the more specific term used when referring to professional conduct in a healthcare setting. Assault involves creating fear in a patient of imminent harm, while battery refers to actual physical contact that causes harm. Thus, the context of professional duties and standards is critical to understanding why malpractice is the appropriate term in this scenario.