Amanda Z. answered • 08/28/20
Certified Nursing Instructor
Assault is causing physical or psychological harm which causes the victim (patient) to be fearful. You do not have to actually harm the patient to commit assault. Threatening them verbally or even pretending to physically harm them are both examples of assault that can occur in nursing. Tormenting them by taking away food or medications, objects, isolating them from others, mocking them, even using inappropriate body language (rolling eyes, standing over them yelling) and restricting loved ones can also be seen as a type of psychological or emotional assault. A patient's perspective (fear/harm) is their reality.
Battery is the intentional act of causing physical harm to someone. Slapping, pinching, kicking and pulling hair are examples of battery.
Negligence is the failure to act or follow laws, policies or procedures (whether intentional or unintentional). This includes unwarranted touching, exposing a patient, etc... A common example in nursing is touching a patient without his or her consent. This violates the federal law of "resident's or patient's rights".
Most nurses are not trying to harm a patient and if they commit any of these offenses it is more commonly, passive (unintentional) rather than active (intentional). However, all cases legally must be reported.
