Mable H. Smith-Pittman

Clinical faculty have a legal, ethical, and professional obligation to evaluate students' clinical performance to ensure safe practitioners. However, many clinical faculty members fear litigation and hesitate to give an unsatisfactory grade to students who do not meet established standards. If the decision to assign a failing clinical grade was "careful and deliberate" and the student was afforded due process, the principle of judicial deference emerges to protect the clinical instructor and the educational institution.

The paucity of literature on legal content in nursing curricula was used to frame the research question that guided this study. In what ways and to what extent are nursing educators addressing the subject of legal aspects of nursing practice? This study was designed to explore the area of legal aspects of nursing practice in nursing programs curricula. The researchers gathered information on numerous areas, including course content, methods of delivery, topics covered, and time devoted to legal content. The results revealed that content on legal aspects of nursing practice is commonly a component of nursing programs curricula and provided information on many areas; however, the results also revealed other areas that need to be researched.

Violence in the workplace is making headlines across the United States. Healthcare workers are not immune to violent encounters. Many healthcare workers will experience workplace violence at least once during their professional careers. Nurses are in a unique position to develop and provide assistance to implement prevention programs that can decrease the incidence and prevalence of violence in healthcare environments. This article reviews the definition of violence and its elements, and outlines a plan to reduce violence in healthcare environments.