Question 1

Which of the following nursing interventions would best help a client who is physically restrained cope with the experience?

Accepted Answer

Talking to the client at brief, regular intervals helps to provide comfort and reassurance, reducing the client's anxiety and feelings of isolation. Administering tranquilizing medication before applying restraints is not ethical unless the client is exhibiting extreme agitation or posing an immediate danger to themselves or others. Leaving the client alone most of the time may increase their feelings of isolation and anxiety. Checking on the client infrequently is not an effective way to address the client's physical and emotional needs.

Question 2

What is the legal significance of a nurse's action when the nurse threatens to restrain a client physically?

Accepted Answer

Threatening to physically restrain a client without proper justification is considered assault and is a criminal offense. It is also a violation of ethical and professional nursing standards.

Question 3

The psychiatric nurse is teaching a patient about side effects of amlodipine besylate (Norvasc).The nurse's action is within the nurse's scope of practice in the state.Which type of law defines nursing scope of practice?

Accepted Answer

Statutory law defines nursing scope of practice, which is established by state legislatures through the enactment of laws, rules, and regulations. Common law refers to decisions made by courts in legal disputes, criminal law deals with crimes and punishments, and civil law pertains to disputes between individuals or organizations.

Question 4

There is one bed available on an inpatient psychiatric unit.The nurse should advocate for emergency commitment of which individual?

Accepted Answer

The individual who is delusional and has a plan to kill his wife poses a serious risk to himself and others, making emergency commitment necessary. The other options do not present an immediate risk for harm to self or others and can potentially be managed on an outpatient basis.

Question 5

After disturbing the peace,an aggressive,disoriented,unkempt,homeless individual is escorted to an emergency department by police.The client threatens suicide.Which criteria enable a physician to consider involuntary commitment? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Criteria for involuntary commitment typically include the individual being a danger to themselves or others (A, E), or being gravely disabled to the extent that they cannot meet their basic needs (D). Being homeless (B) or disruptive to the community (C) alone does not justify involuntary commitment.

Question 6

The nursing supervisor reassigned the psychiatric nurse to the surgical intensive care unit (SICU)4 hours into his shift.The nurse is observing an actively suicidal client who requires one-to-one observation.The charge nurse informs the nurse there is no other staff member available to take over the one-to-one observation.The nurse does not feel qualified to care for patients in the SICU.Which of the following represents the nurse's situation?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is facing an ethical dilemma as they are torn between providing one-to-one observation to an actively suicidal client and feeling unqualified to care for patients in the SICU. They may feel like they are not able to provide the level of care needed in both situations and have to make a difficult decision.

Question 7

Which of the following is indicative of serious critical thinking about how individuals should treat others?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is indicative of...

Question 8

For the following situations,which nursing intervention constitutes false imprisonment?

Accepted Answer

The nursing intervention that constitutes false imprisonment is option B, where the nurse institutes seclusion of a client who has been seeking attention. False imprisonment occurs when a person is intentionally confined or restrained without proper lawful authority. In this case, the nurse is restricting the freedom of the client without proper justification or a valid order from the physician, and this can be considered false imprisonment. The other options, A, C, and D, involve actions taken by the nurse in the best interest of the client's safety and welfare and do not constitute false imprisonment.

Question 9

The nurse understands which description of a common law to be accurate?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nurse understands which description of a...

Question 10

A nursing instructor is lecturing on the provisions of the nurse practice act.Which student statement indicates a need for further instruction?

Accepted Answer

The nurse practice act typically outlines the scope of practice in general terms rather than providing detailed statements.

Question 11

The nursing staff is discussing the concept of competency.The nurse recognizes which information about competency as true?

Accepted Answer

Competency refers to a client's ability to make reasonable judgments and decisions. It is not determined by compliance with treatment or a medical determination by a physician. Refusal of medication cannot lead to an incompetency hearing and forced medication without due legal process.

Quiz 5: Ethical and Legal Issues