Title: 

Nurses’ Knowledge of Legal Liability in the Clinical Nursing Practice

Year Published: 2019
Authors: Ahmed A.E. Ibrahim, Azza H.M. Hussein, and Rehav G. Hussein
Publication: IOSR Journals

Aim: This study aims to assess nurses' understanding of legal liability in the context of clinical nursing
practice.

Method: In 2016, a descriptive study was carried out by distributing the Nurses' Knowledge and Views of
Legal Liabilities Questionnaire to 650 nurses working in all General Care, Critical Care, and Intensive
Care Units at four hospitals affiliated with the University, the Health Insurance Organization, the Ministry
of Health and Population, the General Secretary of Specialized Medical Centers, and the Private Sector.

Results: According to the findings, the majority of nurses had poor/inadequate to fair/moderate

knowledge of the legal liability of their clinical practices. Nurses' knowledge of assault was the most
deficient dimension, followed by false imprisonment, battery, carrying out physician orders, employing
nursing students, and dealing with suit prone patients.

Conclusion and Recommendation: The current study confirmed that nurses working in the study
hospitals are more likely to be held liable because they lack basic knowledge of the laws and regulations
governing their practice. It also implies that there is a need for ongoing and increased efforts to ensure
that nurses acquire the necessary knowledge about the legal aspects and issues of nursing practice.

IMPLICATIONS

Nursing Practice
 As nurses' area of practice expands, so do their legal and professional responsibilities. This study
emphasizes the fact that there are several areas and concerns in clinical practice that expose
nurses to legal liability. Obtaining valid informed consent, following to doctors instructions,
performing medical operations, and dealing with staffing concerns such as abandonment,
improper delegation and supervision, nurse assignment, licensure, and staff shortage are just a
few examples. Dealing with suit-prone patients, as well as hiring nursing students and non-
nursing unlicensed workers, are all part of the job. This study emphasizes the fact that there are
several areas and concerns in clinical practice that expose nurses to legal liability. Obtaining valid
informed consent, following to doctors instructions, performing medical operations, and dealing
with staffing concerns such as abandonment, improper delegation and supervision, nurse
assignment, licensure, and staff scarcity are just a few examples. Nurses' obligations include
hiring nursing students and unlicensed non-nursing workers, as well as dealing with suit-prone
patients, all of which might result in legal liability. Patients are becoming more aware of health-
care procedures, and they are more prone to sue health-care workers, particularly nurses, if they
perceive they are being neglected or that their conditions are not improving. As a result, the
researchers recommend that nurses be aware of the legal consequences of their work.

 Nursing Education

 Nurses who have a poor or insufficient awareness of the basic laws and regulations governing
their practice are more likely to be held accountable, according to the findings of this study. As a
result of this study, nurses and aspiring nurses will be better informed about the laws that regulate
nursing practice, allowing them to be more accountable for the procedures they conduct in their
chosen profession. Indeed, it is recommended that well-structured formal courses on legal
 elements of nursing practice for nurses be developed throughout undergraduate studies, with
careful consideration of the implications. To provide nursing interns with substantial legal
knowledge before graduation, a structured orientation program should be included in the
curriculum of student nurses at the outset of their internship, with topics relating to laws,
regulations, and legal elements controlling nursing practice.

Nursing Research
 This research can be used as a future reference for aspiring or professional researchers who want
to learn more about the legal and professional responsibilities of nurses. Future researchers
interested in the legal elements of nursing practice and devising methods to reduce the number of
nurse lawsuits will be able to use this as a stepping stone. Finally, because it contains factual
information, the contents of this article are sufficient as supporting data and a reputable source.

 Learning Insights:
• As a result of reading this journal, I've had a lot of realizations. Nurses who have little to no
understanding of the legal liability of nursing procedures are one example. This is a significant
concern since it threatens your license, which you have worked hard to earn over the years. I
believe that lawsuits can be avoided if you are aware of the consequences of committing medical
error and prevent them. Accountability is a crucial value in clinical practice because it is
equivalent to your patient's life. In nursing, we are not only dealing with possession, but also with
a person whose life should be valued by everyone on the health care team. This study mentioned
some nursing practice violations such as assault, battery, false imprisonment, invasion of privacy,
character defamation, and fraud. Neglect and malpractice are also violations that could occur in
the clinical setting if proper precautions are not taken.