Deck 3: Issues in Nursing Practice

Question 1

Which of these legal terms refers to the nurse's failure to follow a prescribed duty of care?

A)Crime
B)Summons
C)Malpractice
D)Respondeat superior

Answer 1

Malpractice

Question 2

Which of these actions of a nursing assistant would the nurse recognize as violating a patient's rights?

A)Knocking before entering the patient's room
B)Identifying name and title to the patient
C)Asking the patient which beverage is preferred
D)Telling the patient to bathe right now

Answer 2

Telling the patient to bathe right now

Question 3

Which of these actions can nurses take to increase their limitation of liability?

A)Ensure patient rights.
B)Follow directions exactly as given.
C)Verify employer's liability insurance.
D)Follow verbal orders.

Answer 3

Ensure patient rights.

Question 4

The nurse understands that an employer's insurance provides liability coverage for the nurse's action when which of these conditions occurs?

A)The nurse provides professional nursing care.
B)The nurse follows institutional policies.
C)The nurse has payroll-deducted premiums.
D)The nurse understands the state's tort laws.

Question 5

Which of these would most interfere in a patient's ability to make an autonomous decision about his or her own health care?

A)Authoritarian family relationships
B)Past experience with hospitalization
C)Lower socioeconomic status
D)Lack of information about treatment

Question 6

The nurse is caring for Mrs. Genevieve Gristham, who is 80 years old. Which of these statements by the nurse conveys dignity and respect to the patient?

A)"Honey, I have your medications."
B)"I have your medications for you, dear."
C)"Ms. Genevieve, I have your medications for you."
D)"Mrs. Gristham, I have your medications for you."

Question 7

A patient remarks to the LPN that she has decided not to have a hysterectomy even though her gynecologist recommends it. The LPN says, "Oh, you should have it done. You have had your children already, and this surgery would be good for you. I'll tell the RN that you have decided to have the surgery." This is an example of which ethical principle?

A)Nonmaleficence
B)Autonomy
C)Paternalism
D)Beneficence

Question 8

Which of these types of laws establish the parameters within which nurses must practice to obtain and maintain their licenses?

A)Administrative law
B)Moral law
C)Tort law
D)Civil law

Question 9

Which of these observations by the nurse would require taking action for breach of confidentiality?

A)Use of patient initials on nurse's assignment worksheet
B)A nurse asking an unknown physician for identification
C)A physician asking a nurse if a friend has cancer
D)A nurse reviewing charts of assigned patients for orders

Question 10

New technology used in health care has had which of these effects on nurses' use of the ethical decision-making process?

A)Nurses have fewer ethical decisions because computers now make many decisions.
B)Nurses can postpone ethical decisions because technology allows patients to live longer.
C)Ethical dilemmas have become more complex owing to technologies that prolong life.
D)Ethical situations remain similar to what they have always been in health care.

Question 11

What is the final step when making an ethical decision?

A)Clarify the values of all the participants.
B)Implement the decision.
C)Evaluate the outcomes.
D)Determine which action has the strongest ethical support.

Question 12

A civil liability suit begins with which of these actions?

A)Serving the defendant a copy of the complaint
B)Answering a summons
C)Filing a complaint with a court
D)Determination of a respondent superior

Question 13

The nurse is served with a summons relating to the care of a patient. Which of these actions should the nurse take?

A)Notify employer immediately.
B)Seek legal counsel after 30 days.
C)Acknowledge liability promptly.
D)Answer summons after 30 days.

Question 14

The family of a patient who has been diagnosed with cancer does not want the patient told about the diagnosis. The patient asks the nurse, "Do I have cancer?" Which ethical principles should the nurse consider to resolve this situation?

A)Autonomy and veracity
B)Beneficence and justice
C)Nonmaleficence and legal obligations
D)Welfare rights and moral obligations

Question 15

A physician is conducting an experiment with a new medication and needs several more patients in the study. The physician asks the nurse to give the medication to an adult patient who is unable to understand the experiment but willingly takes any medication. Which ethical principle should the nurse cite in objecting to the inclusion of this patient in the experiment?

A)Autonomy
B)Nonmaleficence
C)Standard of Best Interest
D)Veracity

Question 16

A patient tells the nurse that the Patient's Bill of Rights gives patients the legal right to read their medical information. Which of these responses would be appropriate for the nurse to make?

A)"The Patients' Bill of Rights is a legal document that is enforceable by law."
B)"The Patients' Bill of Rights is a legal document that is open to interpretation."
C)"The Patients' Bill of Rights is valid if the physician prescribes that it be followed."
D)"The Patients' Bill of Rights is an ethical or moral right not enforceable by law."

Question 17

A patient has a living will and gives it to the nurse to follow. The patient says, "Do not tell my family about the living will." Which of these actions should the nurse take?

A)Encourage the patient to discuss the living will with the family.
B)Assure the patient that the nurse will not tell anyone.
C)Send a copy of the living will to medical records.
D)Return the living will to the patient until the family is informed.

Question 18

Which of these is a bioethical theory that states outcomes are the most important factor to consider in decision making?

A)Deontology
B)Utilitarianism
C)Religion
D)Theological

Question 19

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who has HIV. The nurse accepts the patient assignment despite believing that the patient's condition is a punishment from God. Which ethical principle did the nurse follow in accepting this patient assignment?

A)Beneficence
B)Justice
C)Nonmaleficence
D)Veracity

Question 20

After working a 12-hour shift, the nurse is asked to work part of the next shift due to short staffing. The nurse is under which type of obligation to work?

A)Justice
B)Welfare
C)Moral
D)Legal

Question 21

What may be included in tort reform legislation as it pertains to health-care workers and institutions? (Select all that apply.?

A)Limiting dollar amounts allowable for a patient's damages
B)Requiring expert medical evaluation before a lawsuit is filed
C)Acquiring individual malpractice or liability insurance
D)Shortening the time in which a patient may file a lawsuit
E)Reading institutional policies before procedures
F)Requiring continuing education for caregivers

Question 22

The LPN is working in a senior center and is approached by a participant who asks the nurse, "Can you help me understand my Medicare benefits?" The nurse would base a response on which of the following? (Select all that apply.?

A)Medicare is a federally funded program for individuals 65 and over.
B)Medicare is a payment system for the working poor.
C)Medicare bases payment to individuals on their current medical diagnosis.
D)Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital care and is free to those who qualify for Social Security.
E)Medicare Part B covers outpatient services and has a monthly cost.
F)Perscription drug coverage for those with Medicare coverage is available.Completion
Complete each statement.

Question 23

A nurse is working on a medical unit in a hospital undergoing a Joint Commission review. The investigator asks the nurse to explain "never events." Which of the following could be included in the nurse's reply? (Select all that apply.?

A)"Never events result in the nurse or physician never being allowed to practice again."
B)"Never events are serious reportable adverse events that should never occur to a patient."
C)"Hospitals will not be paid or reimbursed by Medicare/Medicaid for treatment related to never events."
D)"It is a new Joint Commission policy related to bioterrorism or other catastrophic events that will probably never happen."
E)"Never events are sentinel events that are devastating to patients."
F)"Institutional policies and procedures are in place to promote patient safety and prevent the occurrence of never events."

Question 24

The principle of ________________is the obligation to be faithful to commitments made to self and others.

Question 25

Which law/act/regulations have been established nationally to protect a patient's medical and personal information?

A)Medicare
B)Patients' Bill of Rights
C)Department of Health and Human Services regulations
D)Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Question 26

Which of the following is included in The National Council of State Boards of Nursing's (NCSBN) five rights of delegation? (Select all that apply.?

A)Right communication
B)Right circumstances
C)Right day
D)Right person
E)Right supervision
F)Right place

Question 27

The nurse is performing a procedure while caring for a patient and unintentionally eliminates a step in the procedure. Which of these may result from the nurse's action? (Select all that apply.?

A)No personal liability
B)Breach of duty
C)Civil liability for employer
D)Unintentional tort
E)Negligence
F)Assault and battery

Question 28

While standing in the lunchroom, the nurse recognizes friends of a patient who was recently transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). The nurse approaches them saying, "Did you know that Mr. Robinson had to go to ICU? I can take you there if you are looking for him." This action is an example of which of the following?

A)Defamation
B)False Imprisonment
C)Disclosure of Confidential Information
D)Compassion
Multiple Response
Identify one or more choices that best complete the statement or answer the question.