Which is an example of an intentional tort?
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A
A nurse fails to assess a clients obvious symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
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B
A nurse physically places an irritating client in four-point restraints.
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C
A nurse makes a medication error and does not report the incident.
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D
A nurse gives patient information to an unauthorized person.
In this situation, the nursing judgment that fits the stem is A nurse physically places an irritating client in four-point restraints..
A. A nurse fails to assess a clients obvious symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
This sounds reasonable when the idea in “A nurse fails to assess a clients obvious symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
B. A nurse physically places an irritating client in four-point restraints.
This fits because A tort is a violation of civil law in which an individual has been wronged and can be intentional or unintentional. A nurse who physically places an irritating client in restraints has touched the client without consent and has committed an intentional tort. Examples of unintentional torts are malpractice and negligence actions. and Effective Care Environment The underlying principle in the stem is best addressed by choosing the response that is both specific to the cue provided and consistent with evidence-informed psychiatric nursing practice. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.
C. A nurse makes a medication error and does not report the incident.
This might be chosen when the idea in “A nurse makes a medication error and does not report the incident. ” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
D. A nurse gives patient information to an unauthorized person.
This sounds reasonable when the idea in “A nurse gives patient information to an unauthorized person.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
Conclusion
The scenario is best handled by identifying what the nurse must interpret or prioritize first and then choosing the statement that fits that requirement with the least distortion. The distractors have surface appeal, but they do not align as tightly with the clinical cue embedded in the stem.