Chapter 2 Flashcards
When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?
a. Deposition
b. Appeal
c. Complaint
d. Summons
c. Complaint
The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for a patient’s care. What is this legally binding situation?
a. Nurse-patient relationship
b. Accountability
c. Advocacy
d. Standard of care
a. Nurse-patient relationship
What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all nursing interventions?
a. Scope of practice
b. Advocacy
c. Standard of care
d. Prudent practice
c. Standard of care
An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to a patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before initiating thisintervention?
a. Standards of care
b. Regulation of practice
c. American Nurses’ Association Code
d. Nurse practice act
d. Nurse practice act
A nurse fails to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the patient. This nurse could be found guilty of:
a. malpractice.
b. harm to the patient.
c. negligence.
d. failure to follow the nurse practice act.
a. malpractice.
Patients have expectations regarding the health care services they receive. To protect these expectations, which of the following has become law?
a. American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights
b. Self-Determination Act
c. American Hospital Association’s Standards of Care
d. The Joint Commission’s rights and responsibilities of patients
a. American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights
The nurse is preparing the patient for a thoracentesis. What must be completed before the procedure may be performed?
a. Physical assessment
b. Interview
c. Informed consent
d. Surgical checklist
c. Informed consent
When a nurse protects the information in a patient’s record, what ethical responsibility is the nurse fulfilling?
a. Privacy
b. Disclosure
c. Confidentiality
d. Absolute secrecy
c. Confidentiality
An older adult is admitted to the hospital with numerous bodily bruises, and the nurse suspects elder abuse. What is the best nursing action?
a. Cover the bruises with bandages.
b. Take photographs of the bruises.
c. Ask the patient if anyone has hit her.
d. Report the bruises to the charge nurse.
d. Report the bruises to the charge nurse.
What is the best way for a nurse to avoid a lawsuit?
a. Carry malpractice insurance.
b. Spend time with the patient.
c. Provide compassionate, competent care.
d. Answer all call lights quickly.
c. Provide compassionate, competent care.
The nurse is caring for a patient with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Although the nurse may disagree with this order, what is his or her legal obligation?
a. To question the health care provider
b. To seek advice from the family
c. To discuss it with the patient
d. To follow the order
d. To follow the order
The nurse has strong moral convictions that abortions are wrong. When assigned to assist with an abortion, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Ask for another assignment.
b. Leave work.
c. Transfer to another floor.
d. Protest to the supervisor.
a. Ask for another assignment.
The new LPN/LVN is concerned regarding what should or should not be done for patients. What resource will best provide this information?
a. Nurse practice act
b. Standards of care
c. Scope of nursing practice
d. Professional organizations
b. Standards of care
What role is the nurse who diligently works for the protection of patients’ interestsplaying?
a. Caregiver
b. Health care administrator
c. Advocate
d. Health care evaluator
c. Advocate
When asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has never done before, what should the nurse do to legally protect himself or herself?
a. Go ahead and do it.
b. Refuse to perform it, citing lack of knowledge.
c. Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.
d. Ask another nurse who has performed the procedure.
c. Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.