The unit manager stops you in the hallway to discuss your inability to give safe patient care.The conversation is overheard by other nurses.The manager's comments are based on false information reported to her by a patient.This is an example of:

A) Collaboration
B) Assault and battery
C) Slander
D) Libel

Slander is a spoken form of defamation of character.To establish slander,the comments regarding the person have to be false,communicated or overheard by a third party,and defame the nurse's character.This conversation should occur in a private location; thus,it is not collaboration.Libel is the written form of defamation of character.Assault and battery refers to placing the patient in fear of being harmed and following through with unwelcomed touching.