Question

The nurse punched out the patient's medications and placed them in the trash without giving them to the patient. After two days of not receiving his medications, the patient was in severe pain. Which of the following options BEST identifies this action?

1) Negligence
2) Neglect
3) Abuse
4) Battery

Answer 1

The nurse's action of not administering medications resulting in patient harm is best categorized as 'Neglect.' It suggests a failure to provide necessary care over an ongoing period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse’s action of punching out a patient’s medications and discarding them without administering them to the patient, especially resulting in severe pain for the patient after not receiving his medications for two days, best identifies as Neglect. Neglect in the healthcare setting refers to the failure to provide the necessary care, services, or assistance required for a patient’s well-being, including the proper administration of medication. This is distinct from abuse, which is characterized by deliberate harm or mistreatment, and battery, which involves unauthorized physical contact. While negligence could be a possible term, Neglect is more accurate in this context because it shows a pattern or an ongoing failure to provide care, not just a single incident of inattention or mistake.