In nursing, acts that must be performed to meet legal expectations are known as what?

• A. Policies
• B. Standards of Care
• C. Etiquette
• D. Procedures

Answer: (B)

The main concept is that the acts nurses must perform to meet legal expectations are standards of care. Standards of care describe the level of care that a reasonably competent nurse would provide in similar situations and are shaped by nursing practice acts, regulatory bodies, professional guidelines, and established institutional policies. When care aligns with these standards, it reflects legal and professional adequacy; failing to meet them can be considered malpractice or negligence.

Policies are the specific rules an institution uses to implement care, which may vary by setting. Etiquette refers to professional manners and courtesy, not legal requirements for patient safety or outcomes. Procedures are the exact steps or methods used to perform tasks; they operationalize standards but are not the standards themselves. So the term that captures the legal expectation for practice is standards of care.