Negligence is defined as which of the following?

• A. Omission to do something that a reasonable person would do
• B. A type of ethical principle
• C. A form of malpractice
• D. A requirement for licensure of professionals

Answer: (A)

Negligence is about failing to act in a way that a reasonable person would in the same situation. In nursing, this means not performing a duty of care or not following a standard of practice when there is a reasonable expectation to do so, and that failure results in harm to the patient. It’s not an ethical principle, and it’s not the same as malpractice by itself. Malpractice refers to professional negligence and typically involves a duty, a breach of that duty, causation (the breach causing harm), and damages. Licensure requirements are separate from the definition of negligence. So the defining idea is an omission or failure to act that a reasonable person would do under the circumstances.