Question

1. What is the nurse’s role in providing a safe environment? Provide two to three examples.

2. What is the difference between civil and criminal law. Include an example of each that directly

relates to the nursing profession.

Answer 1

1. Nurses' play a vital role in providing a safe environment for patients. Besides her work stress and workload, the nurse has to fulfill her duties with utmost care and needs. Effective communication and interaction with the patient help them to treat safely and to protect them from harms. Patient-centered care and culturally appropriate interventions help to provide efficient safe delivery of care. The nurse has to enhance themselves in good decision skills and clinical judgment in order to provide safe working practice. Nurses must have a potential impact on caring for elderly patients and to avoid injuries. Nurses have to follow the policies and protocols in the delivery of care.

Ex:

• Use of proper body mechanics, while lifting the patient to avoid injuries to the patient.
• Placing of side rails to the vulnerable patient, to avoid unnecessary falls.
• Follow universal precautions to avoid cross-transmission of infection.

2. Civil law deals with the disputes who committed behavior against another person. Criminal law deals with disputes that a person committed against the law and order. Civil law is the offense against the public whereas criminal law is the offense against the government.

For example, a nurse who administered the medication wrongly which results in harm to the patient is considered as civil malpractice actions. If the nurse caused any injury to the patient, it is susceptible to civil malpractice. If the nurse is negligent to homicide, missing of narcotics, misusing of patient records, assault, fraud, will come under criminal actions.