Question 1

The new nurse was proceeding through orientation and following the assigned mentor throughout the day when an elderly man was admitted to the home care agency for posthospitalization care.The mentor stressed the importance of asking whether the client had a durable power of attorney.Why would the mentor want this question answered?

Accepted Answer

The Client Self-Determination Act of 1992 requires that facilities that receive federal funding (including hospitals,nursing homes,home health agencies,hospices,and prepaid health care organizations)inquire whether clients being admitted to their services have executed a living will or special directive.

Question 2

After a nurse talked to the physician over the phone,a medication was ordered over the phone,and the nurse gave the young boy his first dose.The boy almost immediately showed serious signs of allergy,and the nurse immediately administered adrenaline per standing orders of the agency.The nurse breathed a sigh of relief that the boy was okay until the boy's mother exclaimed,"We are definitely suing you." Which of the following would be the most likely reason that the mother would win such a suit?

Accepted Answer

Verbal orders can be a source of risk to the community/public health nurse.The dangers of miscommunication are greatly heightened when communication is verbal.If the mother wins the suit,it may be because the nurse cannot prove what the physician said with just a verbal order.The nurse will have difficulty demonstrating that the doctor's verbal order was followed accurately.

Question 3

The nurse described the risks and benefits of immunization to an infant's mother and told her what immunization would be administered.The mother held the infant's leg as the nurse administered the injection.The next day the mother called the clinic supervisor and stated she was going to sue because the infant's leg was red,swollen,and clearly painful.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

The mother had clearly given informed consent as is implied with holding the baby for the procedure to be done.The symptoms are not atypical for an immunization,and no permanent harm was apparently done.

Question 4

During orientation at a public health agency,the supervisor informed the nurse that all nurses were legally covered because the agency had its own malpractice/negligence insurance.Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

Accepted Answer

Because the agency's policy is primarily to protect the agency,the nurse must carry a personal liability policy to ensure that an attorney is focused on protecting the nurse.

Question 5

A nurse has relocated to a different state and is reading the nurse practice act of this state.Why must the nurse become familiar with the information in this document? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

The nurse must know the law because the nurse is legally required to uphold it,even when functioning in relative autonomy in situations in which neither the agency nor the clients may know the law or whether the nurse's actions are consistent with it.Laws are written to protect the rights of nurses and their clients.If nurses work within the guidelines of the law,safe care will be provided,benefiting both the client and the nurse.Clients can bring lawsuits with or without justification.

Question 6

Which of the following is the best definition for "standard of care"?

Accepted Answer

Although all of the possible responses may be used in debating what to do in a particular situation,the standard of care is care that a reasonably prudent nurse would provide in similar circumstances.

Question 7

A 17-year-old mother signed her name on the consent form for her child to have an influenza immunization.The nurse asked the mother if she also wanted a flu immunization.If the mother said,"Yes," can the nurse give her the injection?

Accepted Answer

It would depend on state law.Some states recognize teenagers living apart from their parents with their own children as independent,but some states do not.Without such legal protection,the young woman would need a parent's consent to obtain the immunization.

Question 8

An 84-year-old woman with diabetes had leg ulcers that necessitated long-term treatment because of her condition.One day,the client was angry because the nurse was late for their scheduled appointment and refused to let the nurse enter the house.Which of the following would be the best action for the nurse to take?

Accepted Answer

Giving treatment without consent would be assault and battery.The client has the right to deny consent for treatment at any time,but because this issue may be situational,the nurse needs to try again to confirm permanent refusal or to renegotiate a treatment plan.

Question 9

The nurse left a client a telephone answering machine message with his laboratory results so that he could listen at his convenience.Upon hearing that this happened,which of the following would be the most likely action taken by the nurse's supervisor?

Accepted Answer

Because of confidentiality concerns,no information should be left on an answering machine except the caller's name and telephone number.

Question 10

What is the relationship between legal obligations and ethical obligations?

Accepted Answer

Ethical issues typically are noticed and in the news before society has an opportunity to achieve consensus.Legislation reflects society's values.

Question 11

Because the client was not incorporating the behavior changes the nurse suggested,the nurse decided to no longer visit the client's home to give care.Which of the following events would allow the client to successfully sue the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The nurse was guilty of abandonment because the nurse did not give the client reasonable notice or refer the client to any other source of care.

Question 12

A community/public health nurse offered to take a client to and from the pharmacy in the nurse's car as the client had no other means of getting her prescription medications.Which of the following statements would most likely be made by the nurse's supervisor?

Accepted Answer

If an accident occurs and the client is injured,the fact that the nurse,as an agency professional,is driving a client may cause legal disputes between the various insurance companies,and the nurse may have less legal protection.

Question 13

What is the primary purpose of incident reports?

Accepted Answer

Incident reports are used for risk management and to help agencies see the situations in which problems are occurring so that procedures and policies can be revised to prevent further recurrences and possible harm to clients.

Question 14

In what way did the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)affect nursing practice? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

HIPAA protects confidentiality by defining privacy rights of clients and establishing rules and procedures under which clients choose with whom health information may be shared.HIPAA also defines client privacy rights,who should have access to client information,and what constitutes inappropriate access to health records.

Question 15

What should incident reports always include?

Accepted Answer

Incident reports should not be alluded to in the client's record,should not include the nurse's opinion as to what happened,and should not attempt to place blame;they should contain merely the nurse's objective observation of the facts.

Quiz 6: Legal Context for Communitypublic Health Nursing Practice