A student nurse is assisting a patient to get out of bed; the nurse uses incorrect technique and the patient falls, exacerbating the injury. Who is liable?

• A. The patient
• B. The supervisor
• C. Both the student nurse and the healthcare facility
• D. The nurse

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that harm from a caregiver’s negligent action can trigger both personal and organizational liability. The student nurse owed the patient a duty to perform safe patient handling. By using incorrect technique, the student breached that duty, and the fall—along with the aggravated injury—was the direct result (causation leading to damages).

At the same time, the healthcare facility has liability for actions carried out by its staff and learners under its supervision. This is the principle of vicarious liability: an employer can be responsible for negligent acts of its employees or students if those acts occur within the scope of their duties and training. If supervision or training was inadequate or unsafe practices were not corrected, the supervisor or the organization can share responsibility for the outcome.

So the patient’s injury can be attributed to the student’s negligence and to the facility’s responsibility for providing supervision and safe training, making both liable in this scenario.