Charles Hofling

Charles Hofling was a clinical nurse researcher best known for his study demonstrating how nurses might follow authority figures' commands even when they seem unsafe. In his experiment, nurses were asked over the phone by a doctor they didn't know to administer a potentially dangerous medication dosage. Despite no formal authorization and clear safety concerns, most nurses complied. This study revealed how authority influences medical staff to overlook their own judgment, highlighting the importance of verifying instructions and promoting assertiveness in healthcare settings to ensure patient safety.