Assault is the act of intentionally causing someone to fear that they will be physically harmed. This can include threats, gestures, or attempts to harm someone.
A relevant nursing example of assault could be a patient becoming agitated and aggressive towards a nurse, making threatening gestures or verbal threats. This behavior can create a fear of physical harm in the nurse, constituting assault. Nurses should be trained to de-escalate situations like this and ensure the safety of themselves and others in the healthcare setting.