Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) SLC Practice Exam

Nurse Wilson forgetting to give a patient insulin, which resulted in dangerously low blood sugar, is an example of?

1. Medical Malpractice

2. Medical Negligence

3. Failure of Duty

4. Systemic Error

The correct answer is: Medical Negligence

This scenario is best classified as medical negligence. Medical negligence occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide the standard of care that a reasonably competent professional would have provided in a similar situation, leading to harm or injury to the patient. In this case, Nurse Wilson's failure to administer insulin, a critical responsibility for managing a patient's diabetes, directly endangers the patient's health. The concept of medical negligence implies that there was a duty of care owed to the patient, which was breached by the nurse's inaction. The resulting low blood sugar levels could cause serious complications, illustrating how the nurse's oversight led to a harmful outcome. This situation highlights the importance of adherence to protocols and careful monitoring in medical practice, as deviations can result in significant adverse effects on patient health. While terms like medical malpractice, failure of duty, and systemic error may seem relevant, they either encompass broader categories of issues or do not specifically describe the action (or inaction) of the nurse in this scenario with regard to the standard of care expected in healthcare settings.