Legal considerations

Question 1

1. A female client tells the nurse that she has tested positive for HIV, but she does not want the nurse to tell
   anyone. What is the best action for the nurse to take?
   a. Document this information on the client’s chart
   b. Tell the client’s physician
   c. Inform the health care team who will come to in contact with the client
   d. Encourage the client to disclose this information to her physician.

Answer 1

D. Encourage the client to disclose this information to her physician.

Question 2

2. A young woman who has tested positive for HIV tells the nurse that she has had many sexual partners. She tells her nurse that she believs that she will die soon. What would be the best response for the nurse to make?
   a. “Where there’s life there is hope”.
   b. “Would you like to talk to the nurse who works with HIV-positive clients?”
   c. “You are a long way from dying”.
   d. “Not everyone who is HIV positive will develop AIDS and die”.

Answer 2

D. Not everyone who is HIV positive will develop AIDS and die.

Question 3

3. A pregnant woman is offered the opportunit to participate in research on a new theraphy. The researcher asks the nurse to obtain the client’s consent. What would the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
   a. Be sure the clients understand the project before signing the consent form
   b. Read the consent form to the client and give her an opportunity to aks questions
   c. Refuse to be one to obtain the client’s consent
   d. Give the form to the client and tell her to read it carefully before signing

Answer 3

A. Be sure that the client understands the project before signing the consent form.

Question 4

4. The pregnant woman has signed the consent form for a research study but changed her mind. The nurse tells the client that she has the right to change her mind based upon which of the following principles?
   a. Paternalism
   b. Autonomy and informed consent
   c. Beneficence and double effect
   d. Competence and right to know

Answer 4

B. Autonomy and informed consent

Question 5

5. A postpartum woman has just returned to the OB from delivery room. The nurse transferred her to her bed but did not put the side rails. The client fell and was injured. What kind of liability does the nurse have?
   a. None
   b. Negligence
   c. Intentional tort
   d. Assault and battery

Answer 5

B. Negligence

Question 6

6. The nurse is in the hospital’s public cafeteria and hears two nursing students talking about the client at room 406. They are using the client’s name and discussing intimate details about the client’s illness. Which of the following actions is best for the nurse to take?
   a. Go over and tell the nursing students that their actions are inappropriate, especially in a public place.
   b. Wait and tell the nursing students later that they were overheard
   c. Tell the nursing students’ clinical instructor. It is the clinical instructor’s responsibility to address the
   issue
   d. Say nothing.it is not nurse’s job or responsibility for the student’s actions

Answer 6

C. Telling the nursing students’ clinical instructor. It id the clinical instructor’s responsibility to address the issue.

Question 7

7. A client on your OB-GYNe ward has cousin who is a physician and wants to see the chart. Which of the
   following response of the nurse to take?
   a. Hand the cousin the client chart to review
   b. Ask the client to sign authorization and have someone review the chart with the cousin.
   c. Call the attending physician and have the doctor speak with the cousin
   d. Tell the cousin that the request cannot be granted.

Answer 7

B. Ask the client for sign authorization and have someone review the chart with the cousin.

Question 8

8. The charge nurse observes a new staff nurse who is changing a dressing on a surgical wound. After carefully washing her hands the nurse dons sterile gloves to remove the old dressing .after removing the dirt dressing , the nurse removes the gloves and dons a new pair of sterile gloves in a preparation for cleaning and redressing the wound. What would be the most appropriate actions of the charge nurse?
   a. Interrupt the procdure to inform the staff nurse that the sterile gloves are not needed to remove the
   old dressing.
   b. Congratulate the nurse on the use of good techniques
   c. Discuss dressing change technique with the nurse at a later date.
   d. Interrupt the procedure to inform the nurse of the need to wash her hands after removal of the dirty
   dressing and gloves

Answer 8

D. Interrupt the procedure to inform the nurse of the need to wash her hands after removal of the dirty dressing and gloves.

Question 9

9. Honey, a registered nurse is caring for a 40 year old male patient in the emergency department. The patient
   has been drinking alcohol and is asking for medication. When you instruct the patient that they have to wait to be seen by the doctor, the patient becomes verbally abusive. You then obtain a set of restraints and instruct the patient if they do not calm down you will restrain them. What can you be charged with?
   a. Invasion of privacy
   b. Battery
   c. Negligence
   d. Assault

Answer 9

D. Assault

Question 10

10. Cole, a pediatric nurse is working with a child and suspect physical abuse. What is his primary legal
    responsibility?
    a. Document an assessment thoroughly and accurately
    b. Report the abuse to local authorities
    c. Refer the family to support groups
    d. Assist the family in identifying resources and support systems

Answer 10

B. Report the abuse to local authority.