Which term describes unintentional failure to act, causing harm?

Which term describes unintentional failure to act, causing harm?

• A. Neglect
• B. Malpractice
• C. Negligence
• D. Elder Abuse

Answer: (C)

Negligence means failing to act or provide the standard of care that a reasonable person would, and that failure ends up causing harm. In nursing assistant practice, this happens when you omit necessary actions or perform care that falls short of accepted standards, and someone is harmed as a result. For example, not turning a patient who is at risk for pressure injuries, or not reporting a change in condition promptly, can be negligence because the care given did not meet the expected standard and caused injury or deterioration. Neglect can describe inadequate care, but it isn’t as precise about the unintentional aspect. Malpractice refers to professional wrongdoing by a licensed clinician and often involves legal action, while elder abuse is harm or mistreatment of an older person and can be intentional or not, but it’s broader than the simple unintentional failure to act.

Negligence means failing to act or provide the standard of care that a reasonable person would, and that failure ends up causing harm. In nursing assistant practice, this happens when you omit necessary actions or perform care that falls short of accepted standards, and someone is harmed as a result. For example, not turning a patient who is at risk for pressure injuries, or not reporting a change in condition promptly, can be negligence because the care given did not meet the expected standard and caused injury or deterioration.

Neglect can describe inadequate care, but it isn’t as precise about the unintentional aspect. Malpractice refers to professional wrongdoing by a licensed clinician and often involves legal action, while elder abuse is harm or mistreatment of an older person and can be intentional or not, but it’s broader than the simple unintentional failure to act.