Painting the Real Picture: A Primer of Legal Issues

Advanced practice nurses (APNs) have gained increasing responsibilities over the last 50 years. Depending on when and where the APN was trained and the types of continuing education they have attended, they may not be fully aware of issues related to professional liability insurance (PLI), licensure, and tort law as they relate to malpractice, medical malpractice, and medical malpractice stress syndrome (MMSS). The purpose of this article is to provide a brief overview of these topics and highlight key points through a case study approach.