Purpose. The study was done to develop nursing guidelines to prevent nursing negligence in the clinical setting that would lead to malpractice. Method. A comprehensive review of the literature and focus groups interviews were used to search for malpractice cases related to "observation", one of the most basic nursing activities. The cases were analyzed with respect to nursing practice and a legal expert was consulted on the content. Results. 4 malpractice cases related to observation negligence were selected for this study; 1) a case of failing to observe dyspnea after a thyroidectomy, 2) a case of failing to observe a depressed patient for suicide attempts, 3) a case of failing to observe a VP shunt obstruction, 4) a case of failing to observe a cardiac ischemia after a bronchoscopy. 11 guidelines were developed for clinical nurses and 13 guidelines for nursing managers. Conclusion. These guidelines are useful in preventing malpractice due to nursing negligence. Therefore nurses need to apply them to their practices and continue to make an effort to develop guidelines for other malpractice situations.