Final answer:
Passive immunity refers to the transfer of antibodies to an individual to provide immediate protection, such as through injections of antivenom or immunoglobulins from previously exposed animals, without the recipient's immune system actively producing the antibodies.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse explains to a group of nursing students about immunity that develops by injecting ready-made antibodies from immune individuals or animals, the nurse is referring to passive immunity. This type of immunity arises when antibodies are transferred to an individual without their immune system having to produce them. Passive immunity can be naturally acquired, such as through the placenta during fetal development or breastfeeding, or it can be artificially acquired, like through the injection of immunoglobulins.
For instance, giving a person antivenom after a snake bite or antibodies from blood serum to combat a hepatitis infection are examples of artificially acquired passive immunity. These antibodies provide immediate protection but do not confer long-term immunological memory, as they are eventually broken down by the host's body.