EXAM 1 Flashcards
A nurse is posting on social media about an event that occurred during a shift. Which regulation should the nurse consider when sharing information about patients?
A. Nursing Practice Act
B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
D. Patient Self-Determination Act
Answer: B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Rationale: HIPAA mandates protection of patient privacy and prohibits sharing identifiable patient information on social media.
Which of the following is the primary responsibility of the Texas Board of Nursing?
A. Advocate for higher wages for nurses
B. Ensure that all nurses maintain continuing education credits
C. Protect the public from unsafe nursing practices
D. Support nurses in legal disputes with employers
Answer: C. Protect the public from unsafe nursing practices
Rationale: The Texas Board of Nursing’s main goal is to protect the public by ensuring nurses are competent in their practice.
A client asks the nurse if they have the right to refuse treatment. The nurse responds by referencing which regulation?
A. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
B. Nursing Practice Act
C. Patient Self-Determination Act
D. Affordable Care Act
Answer: C. Patient Self-Determination Act
Rationale: The Patient Self-Determination Act ensures clients have the right to make their own decisions about their healthcare, including the right to refuse treatment.
A nurse is providing care in an emergency department and is aware that the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) mandates that:
A. Patients must be transferred to a different facility for treatment if they lack insurance
B. Hospitals must provide emergency treatment regardless of a patient’s ability to pay
C. Healthcare providers can withhold treatment for uninsured clients if they are stable
D. Patients have a right to sue for malpractice after receiving emergency care
Answer: B. Hospitals must provide emergency treatment regardless of a patient’s ability to pay
Rationale: EMTALA requires hospitals to provide emergency care to all individuals, regardless of their financial status.
What is the primary purpose of the Texas Nurse Practice Act?
A. To protect the safety of the public
B. To promote the autonomy of nurses
C. To regulate healthcare institutions
D. To advance nursing research
Answer: A. To protect the safety of the public
Rationale: The Texas Nurse Practice Act provides regulations to ensure that nursing practice is safe and in line with professional standards.
A nurse in Texas wants to delegate a task to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). Under the Texas Nursing Practice Act, what must the nurse ensure before delegating the task?
A. The task is within the CNA’s job description
B. The CNA agrees to complete the task
C. The nurse provides direct supervision throughout the task
D. The task is approved by a physician
Answer: A. The task is within the CNA’s job description
Rationale: The nurse must ensure that any delegated task is within the scope of practice and competency of the CNA.
Which of the following statements best describes the role of the ANA Code of Ethics in nursing practice?
A. It is a legal document that enforces nursing regulations
B. It provides a framework for ethical decision-making
C. It outlines specific procedures for nursing practice
D. It protects nurses from legal action
Answer: B. It provides a framework for ethical decision-making
Rationale: The ANA Code of Ethics guides nurses in ethical practice and decision-making but does not function as a legal document.
A nurse refuses to administer a treatment that they believe will cause harm to the client. Which ethical principle is the nurse following?
A. Justice
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Beneficence
Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical principle of doing no harm, which the nurse is upholding by refusing to administer harmful treatment.
Which act ensures that patients can amend or request changes to their medical records?
A. Patient Self-Determination Act
B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
D. Nurse Practice Act
Answer: B. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Rationale: HIPAA allows patients to inspect, request copies of, and amend their medical records.
A nurse is teaching a group of students about professional boundaries. Which of the following statements indicates a breach in professional boundaries?
A. “I accepted a small gift from a client’s family during the holiday season.”
B. “I friended a client on social media after discharge.”
C. “I shared my contact information with a client for follow-up questions.”
D. “I discussed the client’s case with a family member present in the room.”
Answer: B. “I friended a client on social media after discharge.”
Rationale: Engaging with clients on social media after discharge crosses professional boundaries and can lead to ethical and legal complications.
According to the Nursing Practice Act, which of the following actions can result in disciplinary action by the Texas Board of Nursing?
A. Refusing to administer a medication that could harm the patient
B. Failing to renew a nursing license within the required timeframe
C. Administering medication based on a verbal order from a physician
D. Requesting clarification of a physician’s order
Answer: B. Failing to renew a nursing license within the required timeframe
Rationale: Nurses must renew their licenses according to the guidelines set by the Board of Nursing. Failure to do so can result in disciplinary action.
Which law requires healthcare providers to offer treatment to patients with life-threatening conditions, regardless of their ability to pay?
A. Affordable Care Act
B. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
C. Nurse Practice Act
D. Americans with Disabilities Act
Answer: B. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)
Rationale: EMTALA mandates that hospitals provide treatment to individuals with emergency medical conditions, regardless of their financial situation.
A nurse is caring for a patient who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness. The patient states they do not want to know about further treatment options. Which ethical principle is the nurse prioritizing?
A. Justice
B. Veracity
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: C. Autonomy
Rationale: Autonomy involves respecting the patient’s decision to not receive information about their treatment options.
Which of the following is a negative consequence of not adhering to ethical and legal nursing practices?
A. Improved patient care
B. Enhanced patient advocacy
C. Malpractice litigation
D. Increased patient satisfaction
Answer: C. Malpractice litigation
Rationale: A negative consequence of not following ethical and legal guidelines in nursing practice can be malpractice litigation.
A nurse is performing a comprehensive assessment on a client and discovers discrepancies in the client’s medication list. The nurse’s priority is to follow which standard of practice?
A. Obtaining supervision from a colleague
B. Providing safe and effective care
C. Reporting the discrepancy to the physician
D. Documenting the finding in the electronic medical record
Answer: B. Providing safe and effective care
Rationale: The nurse’s priority is to provide safe and effective care by addressing and resolving any discrepancies.
A nurse receives a new assignment involving the care of clients in a highly specialized unit where they have little experience. According to the Texas Nursing Practice Act, what is the nurse’s best action?
A. Accept the assignment and learn as they go
B. Delegate all complex tasks to more experienced nurses
C. Refuse the assignment and leave the unit
D. Notify the supervisor about the lack of competency
Answer: D. Notify the supervisor about the lack of competency
Rationale: Nurses are responsible for only accepting assignments they are competent to perform. The nurse must notify the supervisor if they lack the required skills.
A nurse witnesses a colleague administering the wrong medication to a patient and failing to report it. Which action is required under the Nursing Practice Act?
A. Document the incident in the colleague’s file
B. Discuss the error with the colleague privately
C. Report the error to the nurse manager
D. Confront the colleague about the mistake
Answer: C. Report the error to the nurse manager
Rationale: The Nursing Practice Act mandates reporting errors to ensure patient safety and prevent further harm.
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which of the following actions is a violation of patient confidentiality?
A. Reviewing a patient’s chart during a care team meeting
B. Sharing information about a patient’s condition in a public elevator
C. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team during shift handoff
D. Logging off the computer after completing patient documentation
Answer: B. Sharing information about a patient’s condition in a public elevator
Rationale: Discussing patient information in public settings is a violation of HIPAA and patient confidentiality.
The Texas Nursing Practice Act requires nurses to demonstrate which of the following attributes in their practice?
A. Strict adherence to the facility’s policies, regardless of client needs
B. Competency in nursing care and adherence to ethical standards
C. Focus on legal guidelines only, leaving ethics to the employer
D. Fulfilling all tasks assigned by physicians without question
Answer: B. Competency in nursing care and adherence to ethical standards
Rationale: Nurses are required to maintain competency in their practice while adhering to both legal and ethical standards.
A nurse has accepted a client assignment in the ICU but feels unsure about performing complex procedures. Which step should the nurse take according to ethical and legal practice?
A. Ask another nurse to perform the procedures
B. Perform the procedures and hope for the best
C. Inform the charge nurse about the lack of competency
D. Research the procedures while on duty
Answer: C. Inform the charge nurse about the lack of competency
Rationale: Nurses must report any lack of competency or training to ensure patient safety, as required by legal and ethical guidelines.
A nurse who fails to administer a medication within the prescribed time window and does not document the delay is violating which standard of nursing practice?
A. Adherence to patient confidentiality
B. Safe and accurate documentation
C. Proper delegation of tasks
D. Compliance with physician orders
Answer: B. Safe and accurate documentation
Rationale: Proper documentation of all nursing actions, including medication administration, is a critical legal and ethical responsibility.
Under the Nursing Practice Act, which action could be considered unprofessional conduct?
A. Failing to report suspected abuse of a vulnerable client
B. Delegating tasks to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP)
C. Refusing to participate in an unfamiliar procedure
D. Asking for clarification on an unclear physician order
Answer: A. Failing to report suspected abuse of a vulnerable client
Rationale: Nurses have a legal and ethical obligation to report any suspected abuse of clients under their care.
According to the Nurse Practice Act, which of the following tasks can be delegated to a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)?
A. Performing a sterile dressing change
B. Assessing a client’s response to a treatment
C. Administering medication
D. Obtaining vital signs
Answer: D. Obtaining vital signs
Rationale: CNAs can perform tasks such as obtaining vital signs, while tasks that require clinical judgment, such as assessments, are reserved for licensed nurses.
The Patient Self-Determination Act requires healthcare facilities to:
A. Allow nurses to refuse assignments they are uncomfortable with
B. Honor a patient’s advance directives and choices about care
C. Ensure that patients do not leave the hospital without treatment
D. Provide the highest level of care possible regardless of patient wishes
Answer: B. Honor a patient’s advance directives and choices about care
Rationale: The Patient Self-Determination Act ensures that patients’ decisions about their care, including advance directives, are respected.