Negligence and Malpractice — NCLEX Cheat Sheet
Duty-Breach-Harm-Causation
👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team
🕐 Updated 2026-07-11
🏷️ Management of Care
🔖 Free to read, print, and share
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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Negligence and Malpractice on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!
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- Negligence = below standard care
- Malpractice = professional negligence
- 4 D's: Duty, Dereliction, Damage, Direct
- Med error, fall, wrong site
- Failure to assess/monitor
- Not following standard/protocol
- Document accurately + timely
- Follow policy + scope
- Carry liability insurance
- Error → file incident report
- Never falsify/alter records
✨Quick Tip
Malpractice requires four elements: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages (harm).
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