Chapter 7: Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice quiz

Nurses complete incident reports as dictated by the agency protocol. What is the primary reason nurses fill out an incident report?

to improve quality of care

Which scenario is another example of certification?

A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing

While teaching about advance care planning, which fact is important for the nurse to share with a client who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness?

A durable power of attorney for health care appoints an agent the person trusts to make decisions.

Which scenario is an example of certification?

A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing

Which best exemplifies malpractice?

The nurse administers amoxicillin to a client with known allergies to penicillin. The client has a seizure with resulting respiratory arrest.

A nurse enters the client's room and finds the client lying on the floor experiencing a seizure. After stabilizing the client, the nurse informs the physician. The physician advises the nurse to prepare an incident report. What is the purpose of an incident report?

To evaluate the quality of care provided and assess the potential risks for injury to the client

Which are examples of a nurse appropriately protecting a client's privacy? Select all that apply.

With the client's permission, the nurse explains the client's diagnosis to the client's spouse. The nurse moves the client from the emergency department waiting room to a private area to collect assessment data.

The nurse is providing care to a client who had orthopedic surgery. The nurse has medicated the client for pain. However, the client reports that the pain is unrelieved. The nurse takes no further action regarding assessment and intervention for the client's pain. The nurse does not notify the surgeon regarding the client's pain. The nurse's failure to take further action represents which element of liability in this case?

breach of duty

The nurse is providing care to a client whose condition has progressively declined. The nurse assesses and makes appropriate interventions as well as notifies the health care provider. Despite the nurse's efforts, the client expires. What element of liability has the nurse demonstrated?

duty

A nurse talks with family members about an AIDS client from the clinic where the nurse works. Which tort has the nurse committed?

invasion of privacy

An HIV-positive client discovers that the client's name is published in a research report on HIV care prepared by the client's nurse. The client is hurt and files a lawsuit against the nurse. Which offense has the nurse committed?

invasion of privacy

Which statement(s) by a nurse to a charge nurse indicates that the nurse requires further training? Select all that apply.

"When I sign the consent form as a witness, I am saying that the person knows all the risks and benefits of the procedure." "I must make sure I give the client all necessary information about the procedure before I have the client sign the consent form." "When a client is having surgery, it is my responsibility to get the consent."

A client has a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg P.O. every 8 hours. The nurse administers the medication via the intravenous route. Based on the nurse's action, the client develops complications and has an increased length of stay. The client files a lawsuit against the facility and the nurse. Which legal action has the nurse's attorney identified that meets the criteria for the client's lawsuit?

malpractice

A client is in a persistent vegetative state. The client has no immediate family and is a ward of the state. Under these circumstances, who will speak on this client's behalf?

a surrogate decision maker

Which process evaluates and recognizes educational programs as having met certain standards?

accreditation

A physician is called to see a client with angina. During the visit the physician advises the nurse to decrease the dosage of atenolol to 12.5 mg. However, because the physician is late for another visit, the physician requests that the nurse write down the order for the physician. What should be the appropriate nursing action in this situation?

the nurse should ask the physician to come back and write the order

Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for which reason?

to protect the safety of the public

Action has been taken against a nurse's license based on a claim that the nurse acted outside of nursing's scope of practice. The nurse's attorney determines that the nurse needs more education about the purpose of the board of nursing when the nurse makes which statement?

"The rules made by the board of nursing don't reflect my practice."

When talking with family over dinner, the nurse shares about a client with infertility at the hospital, identifying the person by name. Which tort has the nurse committed?

invasion of privacy

A nurse is reviewing the nurse practice act of the state in which the nurse is licensed. The nurse understands that this act was derived from which source of law?

statutory