Deck 4: Legal Aspects of Nursing

Question 1

A client being prepared for an invasive procedure s some of the terminology in the consent form.Which response should the nurse make?

A)"Just sign the form,and I'll make sure your physician talks to you before he begins the procedure."
B)"I'll explain whatever you don't understand."
C)"You should have asked your physician when he was in here."
D)"I'll call your physician back in the room to answer your questions."

Answer 1

"I'll call your physician back in the room to answer your questions."

Question 2

A nurse who is opposed to abortion works in a hospital where abortions are performed.According to the Supreme Court's conscience clause,which action should the nurse take?

A)The nurse should not take action,because the nurse cannot interfere with a woman's constitutional right to privacy.
B)The nurse should voluntarily terminate employment.
C)The nurse should counsel women before they have an abortion.
D)The nurse should refuse to participate in abortions.

Answer 2

The nurse should refuse to participate in abortions.

Question 3

An older adult fell at home and fractured a hip,which requires surgical repair.After admittance to the emergency department,the client was given sedation for pain before a surgical permit was signed.What should be done to obtain consent?

A)The physician should have the client's wife sign the consent form.
B)The physician should wait until the effects of the medication wear off and have the client sign the form.
C)Because the client has been medicated,the nurse should thoroughly explain the consent form to the client.
D)This would be considered an emergency situation and consent would be implied.

Answer 3

The physician should have the client's wife sign the consent form.

Question 4

The nurse forgets to put the call light within the client's reach and then leaves the room.The client reaches for it and falls out of bed.With what should the nurse expect to be charged?

A)Assault
B)Battery
C)Negligence
D)Criminal intent

Question 5

A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department (ED)who was brought in by her adult child for vague,flu-like symptoms.While helping the client to change into a gown,the nurse notices numerous bruises on the client's back and arms.When ed,the client is distracted and ambiguous with her answers.Which action should the nurse take?

A)Report the situation to law enforcement.
B)Report the situation to social services.
C)Question the adult child who brought the client to the ED.
D)File a written report in the client's chart.

Question 6

A nurse who has been a longtime employee of a hospital,providing bedside care to clients,was seriously injured and is paralyzed from the shoulders down,with limited use of the upper arms.Through rehabilitation,the nurse is able to mobilize with a wheelchair and has no cognitive or psychological deficits.The nurse wants to return to the same position held prior to the injury.Under the guidelines of the ADA,what should the hospital do?

A)The hospital is required to accommodate the nurse.
B)The hospital must find another job for the nurse.
C)The hospital should claim undue hardship to accommodate this nurse.
D)The hospital terminate the nurse's employment.

Question 7

A client was given the wrong dose of medication and died.The case is being tried in court and similar cases are used by the court in comparison to arrive at a decision.Which doctrine should the nurse's attorney explain is applied to this situation?

A)Common law
B)Public law
C)Administrative law
D)Stare decisis

Question 8

An adult client who cannot read needs surgery and is competent to make his own decisions.What is the best action that the nurse should take?

A)Tell the client in the nurse's own words what the surgical procedure involves.
B)Read the consent form to the client and have the client state understanding.
C)Make sure the physician explains the procedure to the client.
D)Have a family member who can read sign the consent form.

Question 9

A client is suing the hospital for malpractice.Before the case goes to court,the attorney meets with staff and reads the medical record.The nurse realizes that the attorney is performing which activity?

A)Burden of proof
B)Complaint
C)Discovery
D)Civil action

Question 10

The admitting nurse explains the process of signing forms to allow for the client's insurance company to be billed for services.If the insurance fails to pay for services,the client is responsible for payment.Which type of law did the nurse explain to the client?

A)Contract law
B)Tort law
C)Statutory law
D)Administrative law

Question 11

The nurse is notified about new state practice act regulations.Which type of law should the nurse expect to implement and enforce the nurse practice act regulations?

A)Statutory law
B)Administrative law
C)Common law
D)Public law

Question 12

The client presents her hand when the nurse makes this statement: "I need to start an IV so you can get your antibiotics." Which behavior did the client demonstrate?

A)Informed consent
B)Express consent
C)Implied consent
D)Compliance

Question 13

The high school graduate desiring to attend nursing school reviews the schools for accreditation.Which regulatory body's actions is the student analyzing?

A)State board of nursing
B)NLNAC
C)CCNE
D)ANA

Question 14

A nurse's co-worker makes a practice of telling offensive jokes or stories with a sexual undertone during the shift.Which action should the nurse take first?

A)Ignore the co-worker and walk away.
B)Report the incident to the nurse manager.
C)Tell the co-worker to stop the activity because the conduct is offensive.
D)Ask to be scheduled opposite this co-worker.

Question 15

A client is brought to the emergency department after being involved in a motor vehicle crash.Although the client is conscious,her condition is critical and will require emergency surgery.The client does not speak English.Which action should the nurse take?

A)Read the consent form and have the client sign it anyway.
B)Explain the form to the best of the nurse's ability using pictures and gestures.
C)Have the hospital interpreter explain the procedure.
D)Proceed with surgery,as implied consent would be the case in this situation.

Question 16

A nurse on the unit notices that a co-worker exhibits a pattern of behavior suggestive of drug abuse.What should the nurse do?

A)Report the situation to the unit charge nurse.
B)Send an anonymous letter to the director of nursing.
C)Let other co-workers know about the situation.
D)Report the situation,then let management take care of it.

Question 17

A hospital receives notice of being sued for an action performed by a nurse.The nurse realizes that which doctrine is being implemented in this case?

A)Contractual relationship
B)Stare decisis
C)Respondeat superior
D)Res ipsa loquitur

Question 18

The nurse manager learns that vital signs delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)were not recorded accurately.With which care provider should the manager discuss this finding?

A)The UAP
B)The nurse
C)Both the UAP and the nurse
D)The team leader

Question 19

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

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

Question 20

Before applying for re-licensure,the nurse attends continuing education programs.Which action is the nurse performing to adhere to the state board of nursing expectation?

A)Licensure
B)Competency
C)Credentialing
D)Certification

Question 21

The clinical nursing instructor determines that a nursing student understands the legal responsibilities to clients when providing care.What did the instructor observe to come to this conclusion?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Prepared to discuss the client's medical diagnosis in pre-conference
B)Overheard stating,"My care is held to the same standards as that of the unit nurses"
C)Offers to stay with the client who is about to experience a painful diagnostic procedure
D)Addresses the staff and clients respectfully and by their full names
E)Asks for help with a dressing change involving techniques he or she has not yet performed alone

Question 22

A client scheduled for surgery has signed the consent form but refuses to have a Foley catheter placed,saying "That's not part of the surgery." What should the nurse do?

A)Explain that this is part of the surgical prep and continue with the procedure.
B)Explain that the client has already signed the consent,and place the catheter.
C)Respect the client's wishes and document accordingly.
D)Offer to call the physician.

Question 23

The nurse documents in a client's medical record: "The client is a drug addict and is always asking for more medication than what is necessary." With what might the nurse be charged?

A)Defamation
B)Slander
C)Libel
D)Incompetence

Question 24

When providing client care the nurse demonstrates practices that are designed to provide legal protections from liability.Which actions is the nurse demonstrating?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Checking the client's name band prior to the administration of a preoperative medication
B)Asking for help when moving a comatose client because the client can not be safely handled by one nurse
C)Attending an in-service on the appropriate use of a new piece of equipment used in the facility
D)Delegating only those tasks that he or she can't personally perform
E)Reviewing the five rights of medication administration when the client states,"This doesn't look like my usual pill"

Question 25

While working a scheduled shift the nurse focuses on actions to protect the privacy of a client with local notoriety.What actions should the nurse take at this time?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Secure the client's medical record.
B)Review the client's care with the media.
C)Remove the client's name from the door.
D)Permit family to view the client's record.
E)Fax the client's lab values with a cover sheet.

Question 26

A client woke in the middle of the night,confused and unaware of the surroundings.Although the call light was within reach,the client got out of bed unassisted,tripped on the bedside chair,and fell.Which element of malpractice should the client's attorney realize is missing in this case?

A)Foreseeability
B)Damages
C)Injury
D)Duty

Question 27

The nurse manager is concerned that a staff nurse's care demonstrates gross negligence.What actions did the manager use to make this determination?
Standard Text: Select all that apply.

A)Removed a client's central line
B)Reconnected contaminated intravenous tubing to a client
C)Accessed the computerized documentation system with a password
D)Walked a client with a blood pressure of 70/58 mm Hg to the bathroom
E)Delegated nasotracheal suctioning for a client to unlicensed assistive personnel

Question 28

The nurse is reviewing the Good Samaritan acts.For which situation should the nurse realize that these laws apply?

A)Giving CPR to a client brought to the emergency department,when the client later is found to have a "Do Not Resuscitate" order
B)Giving first aid to a child injured in a sporting event
C)Permitting a nursing student to try to insert an airway in an unconscious client
D)Leaving the scene of an emergency to call for help
E)Helping deliver the baby of a neighbor during a snowstorm