Question 1

The nurse provides care to an alert, oriented adult patient who is recovering from abdominal surgery. During a period of frustration, the patient states, "I'm leaving the hospital. Remove my IV and surgical drains or I will do it myself." In an effort to prevent the patient from removing the IV line and surgical drainage tubing, the nurse applies bilateral wrist restraints. Which terminology best describes the nurse's actions?

Accepted Answer

The nurse's actions can be described as false imprisonment, which occurs when a person is restrained or believes they are being restrained without legal justification. Applying restraints to a patient without a valid medical order or without the patient posing an immediate threat to themselves or others can be considered false imprisonment.

Question 2

Under which circumstance is deferral of informed consent allowable?

Accepted Answer

In emergency situations where a patient is unable to give consent and delaying treatment could result in harm or death (such as in the case of cardiac arrest), deferral of informed consent is allowable to provide necessary medical care.

Question 3

The charge nurse lists the nurses' patient assignments and the patients' diagnoses on a whiteboard located at the nurse's station. The charge nurse's practice represents a violation of which federal regulation?

Accepted Answer

The charge nurse's practice of listing patients' diagnoses on a whiteboard at the nurse's station violates the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient privacy and confidentiality by restricting how personal health information can be disclosed.

Question 4

Which aspect of patient care is guaranteed by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses?

Accepted Answer

The ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses emphasizes the importance of protecting patients from harm, including misrepresentation, ensuring that nurses advocate for the rights and safety of patients.

Question 5

Which nursing action constitutes invasion of privacy? Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Searching a patient's belongings without permission, discussing patient information in a public place, and photographing a patient without consent all violate the patient's right to privacy.

Question 6

The nursing student asks the nurse preceptor to explain the purpose of accurate documentation in the electronic health record (EHR). Which response does the nurse choose?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The nursing student asks the nurse preceptor...

Question 7

A nurse who administers the wrong medication to a patient does not notify anyone of the error. Instead, the nurse documents administration of the correct medication. Ultimately, the error is discovered and the nurse is reported to the state board of nursing. Which action does the state board of nursing take against the nurse in this situation?

Accepted Answer

The state board of nursing has the authority to take disciplinary action against a nurse's license for professional misconduct, such as administering the wrong medication and falsifying records.

Question 8

The nurse enters a patient's room with a portable computer station to assess the patient. The nurse does not log out while assisting a patient to the bathroom. A visitor reads the patient's health record and begins to question the nurse about the patient information. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Leaving a computer unattended without logging out, allowing unauthorized access to a patient's health information, constitutes a breach of confidentiality. This is because the nurse failed to protect the patient's private health information, which is a fundamental responsibility in healthcare.

Question 9

A 4-year-old patient is transported to the emergency department by his mother. The patient presents with bruising on his chest and facial contusions. The patient's mother reports that her boyfriend became angry and intentionally pushed the patient down the stairs. The patient appears to be experiencing significant pain. Which action does the nurse take first?

Accepted Answer

The first action the nurse should take is to complete a physical assessment of the child. This is crucial to determine the extent of the injuries and to prioritize care. Identifying and addressing immediate health concerns is the primary responsibility of the healthcare provider in this situation.

Question 10

An alert, oriented, 87-year-old patient has just been diagnosed with cancer. According to the patient's durable power of attorney, the patient's son serves as the patient's surrogate decision maker. The patient's son tells the nurse he is refusing chemotherapy treatment on the patient's behalf due to concerns about medication side effects and quality of life. Meanwhile, the patient states, "I want to receive chemotherapy." Which action does the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

The patient is alert and oriented, indicating they have the capacity to make their own healthcare decisions. Therefore, the patient's wishes should be respected, and the chemotherapy treatment should be administered as ordered.

Question 11

The unit manager stops the staff nurse in the hallway to discuss concerns about the staff nurse's delivery of unsafe patient care. The unit manager's comments are based on false information reported by a disgruntled patient. The conversation is overheard by other members of the healthcare team. Which term describes the unit manager's behavior?

Accepted Answer

The unit manager's behavior is described as slander because it involves making false spoken statements damaging to a person's reputation. In this case, the manager discusses concerns based on false information in a way that others can hear, potentially harming the nurse's reputation.

Question 12

A 75-year-old patient is admitted to the emergency department (ED) for evaluation of confusion and memory loss. The initial patient assessment reveals bruises and scratches in various stages of healing on the patient's arms, legs, and torso. Based on the assessment findings, the nurse suspects the patient may be a victim of physical abuse. Which legislation requires the nurse to notify a designated authority about the suspected abuse?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory reporting laws require healthcare professionals, including nurses, to report certain types of injuries and suspicions of abuse to designated authorities, such as law enforcement or social services. This is to ensure that potential victims of abuse receive protection and necessary interventions.

Question 13

The night shift nurse is assigned to care for a patient who is confused and who frequently attempts to climb out of bed. During one of the patient's attempts to get up, the nurse pushes the patient back onto the bed. The nurse then shows the patient a set of limb restraints and states, "If you keep trying to get up, I will tie you to the bed and leave you there until tomorrow morning." The nurse's actions are best described as:

Accepted Answer

The nurse's actions can be considered assault (threatening to use restraints) and battery (physically pushing the patient back onto the bed).

Question 14

Which issue is directly addressed by Safe Harbor laws?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which issue is directly addressed by Safe...

Question 15

The charge nurse in a progressive care unit assigns the care of a patient receiving hemodialysis to a newly hired licensed practical nurse (LPN). The charge nurse does not ask whether or not the LPN is competent in caring for patients who are receiving hemodialysis. The LPN is in orientation and fails to inform the charge nurse that she does not have experience with patients who are undergoing hemodialysis treatments. Which term best describes the charge nurse's actions?

Accepted Answer

The charge nurse's failure to inquire about the LPN's competence in caring for a patient receiving hemodialysis, and assigning the patient without verifying the LPN's skills or experience, constitutes negligence. Negligence in nursing is defined as failing to act as a reasonably prudent nurse would under similar circumstances, which in this case involves ensuring that staff are qualified for the tasks they are assigned.

Question 16

The nurse is assigned to provide care to an older adult patient who is experiencing confusion. After completing the patient's physical assessment, the nurse forgets to raise the siderails on the patient's bed. Later in the day, the patient falls out of bed and sustains a hip fracture. The nurse is most likely to be sued on which grounds?

Accepted Answer

The nurse is most likely to be sued for malpractice, which involves a professional's failure to perform their duties to the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Forgetting to raise the siderails, leading to the patient's fall and injury, constitutes a breach of duty and harm, fitting the criteria for malpractice.

Question 17

Effective delegation is a vital part of the nurse's responsibilities. Which factor is most important for the nurse to consider when correctly delegating a nursing task?

Accepted Answer

The delegatee's level of experience is the most important factor to consider when correctly delegating a nursing task because it ensures that the task is delegated to someone who has the necessary skills and knowledge to perform it safely and effectively.

Question 18

The nurse provides care to a patient who is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI). The nurse explains to the patient that the STI diagnosis must be reported to the local Health department based on which regulation?

Accepted Answer

Mandatory reporting laws require healthcare professionals to report certain diseases, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs), to public health authorities. This helps in tracking, managing, and preventing the spread of these diseases. The other options listed do not pertain to the reporting of diseases to health authorities.

Question 19

The staff nurse asks the clinical nurse leader to explain the main purpose of an incident report. Which response does the clinical nurse leader choose?

Accepted Answer

Incident reports are primarily used by the risk management team to analyze the incident and implement measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. They are not used for disciplinary purposes, kept in patient records, or shared with patients.

Question 20

A 15-year-old patient who is at 39 weeks gestation is transported by her mother to the emergency department (ED) of a private hospital. The patient reports she is in active labor. The patient's mother states, "We don't have any money or insurance, but this hospital is closer than the public hospital." Which action does the ED nurse implement?

Accepted Answer

Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), hospitals in the United States that participate in Medicare are required to provide a medical screening examination to anyone coming to the emergency department and requesting care, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay, especially if they are in active labor or have an emergency medical condition.

Quiz 45: Legal Accountability