Preparing Nurse Leaders in Nursing Professional Development: Legal and Ethical Issues for Nursing Professional Development Leaders

Legal and ethical issues confronting nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners in the learning process can be numerous and complex. NPD practitioners in their leadership role must differentiate between civil, administrative, and criminal law and understand how each affect legal liability in the learning environment. This column is an overview of legal and ethical issue for NPD practitioners. This column is not meant to be a substitute for legal advice. Refer to your organization’s policies and legal counsel for answers to specific questions or particular situations