Final answer:
The standard of care in a malpractice suit is best established with the testimony of an expert nurse, as it provides a professional benchmark for the nurse's actions and aligns with medical consensus without bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a malpractice suit, the standard of "what the wise and prudent nurse would do" is best established from the testimony of an expert nurse. This is because expert testimony can provide a benchmark comparison for the actions taken by the nurse in question and can demonstrate whether or not those actions align with standard practices in the nursing field. An expert witness with relevant experience and specialized knowledge would be able to attest to the standard of care that a sufficiently skilled nurse would adhere to in similar circumstances.
Consulting nursing faculty, conferring with a lawyer, and consulting the standards of The Joint Commission are important steps, but they do not substitute for the authoritative and context-specific testimony that an expert nurse can provide in court. Furthermore, the credibility of the testimony can be bolstered by ensuring the expert nurse's opinions align with broader consensus among medical professionals and that there are no conflicts of interest or bias.