Week 2 - Learning Objectives

Question 1

What is a nurse’s duty of care?

Answer 1

A duty to ensure acts or omissions do not cause foreseeable harm, meeting expected RN standards.

Question 2

When does the nurse’s duty of care begin and end?

Answer 2

Begins even before treatment (e.g., ED arrival) and ends when all reasonable acts are completed.

Question 3

What are the elements of negligence?

Answer 3

• Duty of care
• Breach of that duty
• Damage or injury
• Foreseeability.

Question 4

What is required to prove causation?

Answer 4

Causal link between breach and harm; factual causation; scope of liability.

Question 5

What is a non-delegable duty of care in healthcare?

Answer 5

A duty that cannot be transferred, e.g., hospital responsible for safe environment and competent staff.

Question 6

What is vicarious liability?

Answer 6

Employer is liable for negligent acts of employees within the course of employment.

Question 7

Are nurses personally liable under vicarious liability?

Answer 7

Yes, but compensation responsibility shifts to the employer (except in criminal acts).