Deck 6: Accountability and Legal Aspects of Nursing

Question 1

What is true regarding the role of a regulatory body when a complaint is received about a registered nurse?

A)The regulatory body must temporarily suspend the license in order to protect the public.
B)When the complaint is of a criminal nature,the regulatory body has no role.
C)A hearing must always take place following the investigation.
D)By law,an investigation of the complaint must be put into place by the regulatory body.

Answer 1

By law,an investigation of the complaint must be put into place by the regulatory body.

Question 2

Which of the following is a function of law that regulates and affects Canadian nursing practice?

A)Determining that nursing practice meets legal principles
B)Performing accreditation for Canadian baccalaureate nursing programs
C)Defining the standards of professional nursing practice
D)Ensuring that nurses receive comparable reimbursement for services

Answer 2

Determining that nursing practice meets legal principles

Question 3

Mr.Chawdra,46,is scheduled for an operative procedure and is questioning some of the terminology in the consent form.Which of the following is the best response by the nurse?

A)Ask him to sign the form and promise that his physician will talk to him before the procedure
B)Offer to explain the things on the form that he does not understand before he signs
C)Tell him politely that he should have asked his questions when the physician was present
D)Offer to call his physician back to the room to answer his questions

Answer 3

Offer to call his physician back to the room to answer his questions

Question 4

What is vicarious liability?

A)Coverage of nurses' liability by their employers' insurance
B)Nurses' insurance coverage when acting as good samaritans
C)Coverage by a physician's insurance if nurses carry out an unsafe order
D)Nurses' liability insurance covered by the jurisdiction's nursing organization

Question 5

A nurse asks a continuing care assistant (CCA)to obtain vital signs on a newly admitted client.The task is completed,but the vitals are recorded inaccurately.Who is responsible for this action?

A)The CCA
B)The nurse
C)Both the CCA and the nurse
D)The manager on the unit

Question 6

Mrs.Pineo,88,who has vague,flu-like symptoms,was brought to the emergency department by her adult son.While helping change into a gown,the nurse notices numerous bruises on Mrs.Pineo's back and arms.When questioned,Mrs.Pineo is ambiguous with her answers.What should the nurse do?

A)File a written report in the client's chart
B)Report the situation to local law enforcement
C)Report the situation to the resident physician
D)Question Mrs.Pineo's son who brought her to the emergency department

Question 7

Mr.Dagenais,82,having fractured his hip,is transported to the local emergency department,is given sedation for pain,and is awaiting his surgical repair.What is the best action necessary to obtain consent?

A)The physician should have Mr.Dagenais's wife sign the consent form.
B)The physician should wait until the medication effects wear off and then have Mr.Dagenais sign.
C)Since Mr.Dagenais has been medicated,the nurse should explain the consent form to him.
D)Consent would be implied as this is an emergency situation.

Question 8

Heidi,a registered nurse,accidentally administers the wrong medication to a patient,which causes injury.What source of law best addresses this situation?

A)Health Professions Act
B)Criminal law
C)Civil tort law of negligence
D)Administrative law

Question 9

Kirk,an RN,notices that a co-worker exhibits a pattern of behaviour suggestive of drug abuse.What should Kirk do?

A)Inform other co-workers about his suspicions
B)Send an anonymous letter to the director of nursing
C)Provide the co-worker with a drug rehabilitation pamphlet
D)Report the situation according to agency policy

Question 10

In order to prove that nursing negligence has occurred,which of the following is one of the four elements that must be present?

A)Intentionality
B)Assault
C)Causation
D)Battery

Question 11

Mrs.Putnum,65,is unconscious upon arrival at the hospital following a motor vehicle accident.Although paramedics reported that she does not accept blood products because of religious beliefs,she is given a blood transfusion,and later sues the physician.This would be an example of which intentional tort?

A)Confirmation bias
B)Slander
C)Battery
D)Assault

Question 12

Which of the following categories of law deals with libel and slander?

A)Statutory
B)Criminal
C)Contracts
D)Torts

Question 13

During a conference,a nurse presents a case study based on a prior client.Enough information is given that several people in the audience were able to identify the client.What intentional tort may be involved in the instance?

A)Negligence
B)False imprisonment
C)Battery
D)Invasion of privacy

Question 14

Mr.Polinski,57,is scheduled for surgery.He cannot read,but is competent to make his own decisions.What is the best action of the nurse?

A)Using the nurse's own words,explain what the surgical procedure involves
B)Read the consent form to Mr.Polinski and have him state his understanding
C)Ensure that the physician explains the surgical procedure to Mr.Polinski
D)Have a family member who can read sign the consent form on his behalf

Question 15

Ms.Casino,23,is scheduled to have surgery,has signed the consent form,but refuses to have a foley catheter inserted,arguing that the procedure is not part of the surgery.How should the nurse respond?

A)Explain that this is part of the surgical preparation and continue with the procedure
B)Justify the procedure because Ms.Casino has already signed the consent,and insert the catheter
C)Respect Ms.Casino's wishes and document the situation accordingly
D)Call the physician and request that he come to talk to the client

Question 16

Registered nurses in Canada may be licensed and certified.Which of the following denotes a difference between them?

A)Licensure is required,whereas certification is voluntary.
B)Only licensure includes writing an examination as a requirement.
C)Certification is provincially run,while licensure is controlled nationally.
D)Listing a nurse's name on a provincial roster defines certification.

Question 17

Noelle,a nursing student,has a part-time job as a nurse's aide in a complex care facility.She is anxious to administer intramuscular injections,having recently learned this skill in lab.She asks the RN if she may administer her client's prescribed injection.What would be the best response by the RN?

A)Give permission,as long as an RN is present to supervise the student
B)Explain that giving injections is not part of the job description of a nurse's aide
C)Tell her that her clinical instructor must be present for her to do the injection
D)Get the student to demonstrate a practice procedure,then supervise the administration

Question 18

An unconscious young man is brought in by paramedics to the emergency department of the local hospital following and accidental drug overdose.He has no family members or friends with him.What type of consent is applicable to this case?

A)Waived
B)Implied
C)Express
D)Voluntary

Question 19

What type of legal tradition is followed in Quebec?

A)Public law
B)Civil law
C)Tort law
D)Criminal law

Question 20

A nurse forgot to put the call light within the client's reach before leaving the room.If the client reaches for it and falls out of bed,the nurse could be charged with which of the following?

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

Question 21

What is a primary purpose of an adverse event report?

A)Provide evidence for a trial
B)Increase patient safety
C)Identify the person(s)responsible for the incident
D)Inform the public about unsafe practices

Question 22

The nurse carries out a medication order,incorrectly written by the physician and subsequently dispensed by the pharmacist.Who,in this situation,is liable for the action?

A)Physician
B)Pharmacist
C)Hospital
D)Nurse

Question 23

What type of issue has the components: disclosure,voluntariness,and capacity?

A)Whistleblowers
B)Negligence
C)Privacy
D)Consent

Question 24

Practice standards are a requirement of a self-regulated profession such as nursing.Which of the following is a purpose of these standards?

A)Define the scope of the RN and LPN in using the title of nurse
B)Serve as a means for nurses to assess their practice
C)Govern the profession of nursing in each province
D)List competencies required for practice

Question 25

Gail,a registered nurse,has responded to a "friend request "on the Facebook page of her previous maternity client.The client has posted photos of her baby,and Gail has responded to questions about the infant's progress.Which of the following should Gail consider?

A)Vicarious liability
B)Contractual obligations
C)Boundaries
D)Confidentiality

Question 26

What is the most common reason for which nurses are charged with negligence?

A)Theft of client property
B)Physician's order not followed
C)Making a medication error
D)Informed consent omissions

Question 27

Mr.Al-Asmari,81,awoke through the night,confused and unaware of his hospital surroundings.Although the call light was within reach,he got out of bed unassisted and fell,fracturing his hip.Which element would have to be present to prove negligence in this case?

A)Causation
B)Damages
C)Harm
D)Assault

Question 28

A nurse caring for Mr.Bishop,27,receives a physician's order for penicillin,but the chart indicates that he is allergic to the drug.When consulting with the physician,the nurse is told that the allergy is "all in Mr.Bishop's head." What is the nurse's next step?

A)Note in the chart the physician's remark and give the medication
B)Speak to the pharmacist for a second opinion on whether or not to give the drug
C)Document the conversation in the chart,give the medication,and do hourly vital signs
D)Hold the medication and inform the nursing supervisor