MSN 612 Module 6 Discussion Assignment
Psychiatric NP Malpractice Case Study | Suicide
Risk Assessment AACN Essentials | Full APA
References | 2026 Exam-Style Questions with
Verified Answers & Rationales
Question 1
What are the four elements of a malpractice claim?
Answer: Duty of care, breach of duty (substandard care), proximate cause,
and injury/damages
Rationale: All four elements must be proven for a successful malpractice claim.
Question 2
In the case study, the NP had an established provider-patient relationship. Which
element of malpractice does this satisfy?
Answer: Duty of care
Rationale: A provider-patient relationship establishes the legal duty to provide
competent care.
Question 3
What must be proven to establish "breach of duty" in a malpractice case?
Answer: The provider failed to meet the standard of care
Rationale: Breach of duty means the provider's actions fell below what a
reasonable provider would have done.
Question 4
,"Proximate cause" in a malpractice claim means:
Answer: The provider's actions directly caused the patient's injury
Rationale: Proximate cause requires a direct causal link between the breach of
duty and the injury.
Question 5
In the case study, the patient suffered permanent brain damage. Which malpractice
element does this represent?
Answer: Injury/damages
Rationale: The patient's permanent disability constitutes compensable injury.
Question 6
What is the legal standard for determining whether a psychiatric NP committed
malpractice?
Answer: What a reasonably prudent psychiatric NP would have done under
similar circumstances
Rationale: The standard of care is based on what a comparable provider would do.
Question 7
True or false: An NP can be held liable for a patient's suicide even without a prior
provider-patient relationship.
Answer: False
Rationale: Duty of care requires an established provider-patient relationship.
Question 8
What is "foreseeability" in the context of suicide malpractice?
Answer: Whether a reasonable provider should have predicted the patient's
risk of suicide
Rationale: If suicide was foreseeable, failure to act may constitute negligence.
, Question 9
In the case study, the patient had a history of suicide attempt. This makes future
suicide:
Answer: Foreseeable
Rationale: Prior suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of future attempts.
Question 10
What is the "professional standard of care" for suicide risk assessment?
Answer: Regular, documented risk assessments using validated tools
Rationale: Standard care includes systematic risk evaluation.
Question 11
True or false: An NP can never be held liable for a patient's suicide if the patient
denied suicidal ideation.
Answer: False
Rationale: Providers must assess risk based on history and behavior, not just
patient denial.
Question 12
What is the difference between malpractice and negligence?
Answer: Malpractice is professional negligence by a licensed provider
Rationale: Malpractice is a subset of negligence involving professional services.
Question 13
In the case study, the family's strongest argument for breach of duty is:
Answer: Failure to recognize the patient's high suicide risk despite known risk
factors
Psychiatric NP Malpractice Case Study | Suicide
Risk Assessment AACN Essentials | Full APA
References | 2026 Exam-Style Questions with
Verified Answers & Rationales
Question 1
What are the four elements of a malpractice claim?
Answer: Duty of care, breach of duty (substandard care), proximate cause,
and injury/damages
Rationale: All four elements must be proven for a successful malpractice claim.
Question 2
In the case study, the NP had an established provider-patient relationship. Which
element of malpractice does this satisfy?
Answer: Duty of care
Rationale: A provider-patient relationship establishes the legal duty to provide
competent care.
Question 3
What must be proven to establish "breach of duty" in a malpractice case?
Answer: The provider failed to meet the standard of care
Rationale: Breach of duty means the provider's actions fell below what a
reasonable provider would have done.
Question 4
,"Proximate cause" in a malpractice claim means:
Answer: The provider's actions directly caused the patient's injury
Rationale: Proximate cause requires a direct causal link between the breach of
duty and the injury.
Question 5
In the case study, the patient suffered permanent brain damage. Which malpractice
element does this represent?
Answer: Injury/damages
Rationale: The patient's permanent disability constitutes compensable injury.
Question 6
What is the legal standard for determining whether a psychiatric NP committed
malpractice?
Answer: What a reasonably prudent psychiatric NP would have done under
similar circumstances
Rationale: The standard of care is based on what a comparable provider would do.
Question 7
True or false: An NP can be held liable for a patient's suicide even without a prior
provider-patient relationship.
Answer: False
Rationale: Duty of care requires an established provider-patient relationship.
Question 8
What is "foreseeability" in the context of suicide malpractice?
Answer: Whether a reasonable provider should have predicted the patient's
risk of suicide
Rationale: If suicide was foreseeable, failure to act may constitute negligence.
, Question 9
In the case study, the patient had a history of suicide attempt. This makes future
suicide:
Answer: Foreseeable
Rationale: Prior suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of future attempts.
Question 10
What is the "professional standard of care" for suicide risk assessment?
Answer: Regular, documented risk assessments using validated tools
Rationale: Standard care includes systematic risk evaluation.
Question 11
True or false: An NP can never be held liable for a patient's suicide if the patient
denied suicidal ideation.
Answer: False
Rationale: Providers must assess risk based on history and behavior, not just
patient denial.
Question 12
What is the difference between malpractice and negligence?
Answer: Malpractice is professional negligence by a licensed provider
Rationale: Malpractice is a subset of negligence involving professional services.
Question 13
In the case study, the family's strongest argument for breach of duty is:
Answer: Failure to recognize the patient's high suicide risk despite known risk
factors
