Which concept refers to harm caused by failure to provide proper care?

• A. Duty to care
• B. Breach of duty
• C. Foreseeability of harm
• D. Harm occurs

Answer: (D)

In nursing liability, the key elements of negligence are duty, breach, causation, and damages. The concept described here is the actual harm that results from a nurse’s failure to meet the standard of care, which is the damages or injury that occurs because of the lapse. Without this harm, there isn’t a claim for negligence, even if a breach occurred. The other ideas describe the obligation to care (duty), the failure to meet that obligation (breach), or whether the harm could be anticipated and linked to the breach (foreseeability of harm). The question focuses on the end result—the harm that follows the failure to provide proper care—so the best answer is the damage or harm that occurs.