JD The standard of care in a malpractice action against a nurse practitioner must be established by expert witness testimony.
Expert witnesses testify about their expert opinion on the matter being litigated.
The purpose of the expert witness is to help the jury understand professional and technical issues. Expert witnesses are subject to cross-examination by the opposing side. The jury decides how much weight and credence to give the expert's testimony. The credibility of an expert witness depends on her professional credentials and expertise. The minimum credential for a nurse practitioner expert witness is a license or certification as a nurse practitioner.