Deck 5: Legal Principles in Nursing

Question 1

To establish the elements of malpractice against a nurse,which must be proved by the patient?

A) The patient must have been harmed as a result of the injury.
B) The patient must have paid for the health care services.
C) The patient must show evidence of malicious intent.
D) The patient must demonstrate personal accountability.

Answer 1

The patient must have been harmed as a result of the injury.

Question 2

A registered nurse is caring for a patient 2 days after a colon resection.The patient called for assistance to go to the bathroom.Instead of waiting for help,the patient decided to get up without help.The patient fell but was not injured.After contacting the patient's primary health care provider,which action should the nurse take next?

A) Nothing; the patient was not injured.
B) Call the ethics committee.
C) Submit an incident report.
D) Insist that the patient have a radiograph done.

Answer 2

Submit an incident report.

Question 3

The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses to cooperate for a dressing change.The nurse tells the patient that he or she will tie the patient down if the patient does not hold still.Which action did the nurse commit?

A) Assault
B) Unintentional tort
C) Battery
D) Felony

Answer 3

Assault

Question 4

A registered nurse was accused of patient abandonment when the nurse became angry,quit the job,and left the hospital before the end of the shift.This is an example of violating legal standards/guidelines set by which organization?

A) The State Department of Health
B) The Joint Commission
C) The State Board of Nursing
D) The National League for Nursing

Question 5

Which behavior is the best way for a nurse to avoid being liable for malpractice?

A) Purchasing quality malpractice insurance coverage on a yearly basis
B) Practicing nursing that meets the generally accepted standard of care
C) Not sharing his or her last name with patients and families
D) Not delegating any tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel

Question 6

A nurse completes an occurrence report.Which is the best way for the nurse to document this occurrence?

A) "Patient found lying on right side on floor. No noted injuries, patient stated, 'I slipped on a wet spot on the floor. I don't think I am injured.'"
B) "Patient slipped on a wet spot on the floor. No noted injuries, physician notified."
C) "Patient in too much of a hurry and was walking too fast and fell. Was not injured. Patient instructed to slow down and not be in such a hurry. Health care provider notified."
D) "Patient fell while going outside to smoke. Patient denied any injuries. Health care provider notified. Patient counseled."

Question 7

Which patient would the nurse consider to be competent to give informed consent?

A) A 27-year-old unconscious patient
B) A 16-year-old emancipated minor
C) A 43-year-old patient who is drunk
D) A 33-year-old patient who has been declared legally incompetent

Question 8

A nurse wants to follow nursing standards of care.Which document should the nurse follow?

A) World Health Organization guidelines
B) National League for Nursing brochure
C) Health care facility's written procedure manual
D) Department of Health and Human Services guidelines

Question 9

Which chart entry by a nurse would require follow up?

A) 0815 Patient found on floor.
B) 0816 Patient assessed and helped back to bed.
C) 0818 Physician notified of incident.
D) 0820 Occurrence report completed.

Question 10

An RN suffers from chronic back pain that was the result of an injury suffered when pulling a patient up in bed.The nurse is addicted to pain medication and has recently been accused of stealing narcotics.This is an example of which violation of the law?

A) Misdemeanor
B) Tort
C) Malpractice
D) Felony

Question 11

Which task can a nurse safely delegate to a student nurse who is working as a nursing assistant?

A) Distributing medications to patients
B) Administering insulin injections
C) Collecting intake and output data
D) Assessing patients

Question 12

Which information indicates the nurse has an accurate understanding of the State Nurse Practice Act?

A) It is a federal senate bill.
B) It is a law enacted by the federal government.
C) It is a statute enacted by state legislature.
D) It is a judicial decision.

Question 13

A student nurse must pass the NCLEX before practicing as a registered nurse.NCLEX stands for __________ Examination.

A) Nursing Council of Licensing
B) Nightingale Code of Licensure
C) Nursing Code of Licensure
D) National Council Licensure

Question 14

An RN has been caring for a patient.The nurse received an erroneous order for a medication.The primary health care provider has a reputation for impatience and irritability.Knowing this health care provider's nature,which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?

A) Clarify the order with the pharmacy.
B) Ask the patient to remember.
C) Clarify the order with the primary health care provider.
D) Ask another nurse to look at the order to try to clarify it.

Question 15

A patient is confused and is attempting to get out of the hospital bed.The nurse is tired after working for more than 10 hours and is concerned for the patient's safety.What is the best action that the nurse should take to prevent the patient from harm?

A) Restrain the patient with wrist restraints.
B) Place the patient with a belt restraint in a chair.
C) Sedate the patient with medication.
D) Ask a family member to sit with the patient.

Question 16

A clinic nurse stopped at an automobile accident to assist.There was one victim who was not breathing.The nurse provided CPR at the scene,but the victim died.The victim's family sued the nurse.Which will provide the best protection to the nurse in this case?

A) Clinic's malpractice insurance policy
B) Good Samaritan Law
C) State Board of Nursing
D) Institute of Medicine

Question 17

Which example demonstrates a breach of confidentiality and a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)of 1996?

A) Giving a report to the oncoming nurse in a conference room
B) Discussing a patient's diagnosis with the patient's health care provider
C) Providing patient information to the nursing assistant caring for the patient
D) Sharing with other nurses in the cafeteria that a patient is HIV positive

Question 18

What is the nurse's best proof against malpractice?

A) The nurse supervisor's memory of the event
B) Recorded documentation written carelessly
C) The nurse's memory of the event
D) Recorded documentation of nursing care

Question 19

As part of the admission process the nurse asks if the patient has an advance directive.The patient doesn't know for sure.What is the nurse's best response?

A) It is autopsy permission.
B) It is a living will.
C) It is informed consent.
D) It is an organ donation card.

Question 20

Only one nurse was scheduled to care for 12 postsurgical patients with a nursing assistant.The nurse is concerned for the safety of the patients and the nursing license.What is the most appropriate first step in this situation?

A) Contacting the nursing supervisor and documenting the action
B) Refusing to care for the patients without appropriate help and leaving
C) Contacting the State Board of Nursing and documenting the action
D) Contacting the hospital administrator on call to complain and documenting the action

Question 21

Which action is the nurse required by law to perform when a patient is admitted?

A) Notify the family.
B) Notify the attorney.
C) Ask how payment will be made.
D) Ask about advance directives.

Question 22

A nurse is about to administer a medication and notices that the physician's or primary health care provider's order looks incorrect regarding the amount of the medication.What should the nurse do? (Select all that apply.)

A) Notify the physician or health care provider.
B) Do not carry out the order.
C) Document the suspicion that the dosage is incorrect.
D) Administer the medication.
E) Notify the supervisor or nurse manager.

Question 23

A nurse wants to follow the American Nurses Association's Social Media Policy (2011).Which actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.)

A) Never name or describe a patient.
B) Never have a blog.
C) Never post an image of the patient.
D) Never disparage a fellow employee.
E) Never report breaches of privacy.

Question 24

Which situation will enable a nurse to use restraints?

A) To punish a patient
B) To ensure the patient's safety
C) To retaliate against poor behavior
D) To ensure staff convenience

Question 25

A nurse is maintaining precise records regarding the dispensing,wasting,and storage of a drug that is securely locked.Which drug is the nurse administering?

A) Routine medication
B) Controlled substance
C) Over-the-counter medication
D) Substance not requiring an order

Question 26

Which information indicates the nurse has an accurate understanding of when the institution's malpractice insurance covers the nurse?

A) While driving to work
B) While driving home from work
C) While tending to people in the neighborhood
D) While working within the scope of employment

Question 27

A patient died from suspicious circumstances.What should the nurse do next?

A) Notify the coroner.
B) Notify the newspaper.
C) Chart what the nurse thinks happened.
D) Chart opinions from the health care staff.

Question 28

A patient falls out of bed because the nurse did not raise the side rails.Which action did the nurse commit?

A) Felony
B) Assault
C) Battery
D) Negligence

Question 29

A nurse must ask a family member to consider an organ donation.In which order should the nurse contact the individuals
A-Spouse
B-Parent
C-Guardian
D-Grandparent
E-Adult son or daughter
F-Adult brother or sister

A) a, c, e, f, b, d
B) a, e, f, b, d, c
C) a, e, b, f, d, c
D) a, b, e, f, d, c

Question 30

When a nurse suspects child abuse or neglect,which action must the nurse take?

A) Report it to the proper legal authority.
B) Inform the parents that their actions are illegal.
C) Call the security department to handle the problem.
D) Prevent the parents from seeing the child during hospitalization.