A case management nurse is providing education about liability to a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following should the nurse include as an example of a liability concern for case managers?

Case managers must operate within clearly defined professional and legal boundaries to avoid liability. Providing recommendations to a client about alternatives to treatments prescribed by their provider crosses into the role of the treating provider and can constitute practicing medicine without a license or engaging in unauthorized scope of practice. This exposes the case manager to significant legal liability because it may interfere with the established therapeutic relationship and lead the client to deviate from medically prescribed care without appropriate medical oversight. Consulting with the provider throughout the client's course of treatment is an expected and appropriate activity for a case manager; collaboration with the treatment team is a standard responsibility. Determining a client's literacy level before providing advance directive documents reflects good nursing practice and supports informed consent; it does not create liability but rather reduces it. Verifying a provider's licensure before making a referral is a standard due-diligence activity that protects the client and demonstrates responsible case management. Therefore, the liability concern is specifically the action of recommending treatment alternatives that fall outside the case manager's authorized scope of practice and interfere with the provider's established plan of care.