Nursing Practice as a Member of the Profession Practice Exam

Defamation means making false statements about someone that harms their reputation. If those statements are spoken, the term is slander; if written, it’s libel. An orally presented defamatory remark fits slander, which is why it’s the best term for this scenario. Defamation of character is the broader category that includes both spoken and written forms, but the question specifies oral communication. Battery involves unwanted physical contact and isn’t related to defamation.