NUR 110 Taylor Chapter 7 - Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice
A nursing student administers an overdose of a narcotic to a client and the client arrests. When discussing the incident with nursing faculty, which statements, if made by the student, indicate the need for further teaching? "I realize that I am held to the same standards as a registered nurse." "I cannot be held liable because this is only my second time at this facility." "I should have informed you that I felt unprepared for my assignment." "I am glad I am a student because nursing faculty will be blamed, not me." "I have also put the nursing faculty at risk with my action."
"I am glad I am a student because nursing faculty will be blamed, not me." "I cannot be held liable because this is only my second time at this facility." A nursing student is responsible and held liable for his or her own actions. The student is responsible for being familiar with the facility's policies and procedures. The student is held to the same standards as a registered nurse, and puts the clinical faculty at risk and should inform faculty when unprepared for an assignment.
When the nurse inserts an ordered urinary catheter into the client's urethra after the client has refused the procedure, and then the client suffers an injury, the client may sue the nurse for which type of tort? Dereliction of duty Assault Invasion of privacy Battery
Battery Battery is the actual carrying out of such a threat (unlawful touching of a person's body). A nurse may be sued for battery if there is failure to obtain consent for a procedure.
A nurse observes another nurse place an unused dose of narcotics in their pocket. If caught, the nurse could be charged with which type of crime? tort felony misdemeanor negligence
felony A felony is a serious criminal offense, and includes actions such as stealing narcotics, murder, falsifying medical records, and insurance fraud. A misdemeanor is a minor criminal offense; a tort is a lawsuit in which a plaintiff charges that a defendant committed a deliberately aggressive act. Negligence is harm that results because a person did not act reasonably.
A nurse is overheard in the hospital cafeteria making false comments about a client. The nurse is guilty of: invasion of privacy. slander. libel. assault.
slander. Slander is oral defamation of character. Libel is written defamation of character. Assault is a threat or attempt to make bodily contact with another person without that person's consent. Invasion of privacy involves a breach of keeping client information confidential.
A medical surgical client is in the radiology department. The client's cousin arrives on the medical surgical unit and asks to speak with the nurse caring for his cousin. The visitor asks the nurse to provide a brief outline of the client's illness. Which response, if given by the nurse, would demonstrate application of legal safeguard in her practice? "Do you have any identification proving you are related to the client?" "I cannot give you that information due to client confidentiality." "I'm busy right now, but can talk later." "I will call the client and ask his permission."
"I cannot give you that information due to client confidentiality." Sharing a client's information without his or her consent is an invasion of privacy. The nurse cannot give out the information even if the client proves a relationship or at a later time without the client's consent. It is inappropriate to call the client to ask for permission.
A client admitted with Hodgkin disease has a handwritten prescription for vinblastine 3.7 mg intravenously (IV) weekly. The nurse interprets the prescription as vincristine 3.7 mg and administers the wrong medication. The client becomes neurovascularly compromised and has a fatal reaction to the medication. The client's family begins a litigious suit against the facility and the nurse's license is suspended by the board of nursing. In preparation for the lawsuit, the nurse meets with the nurse attorney to review the events. Which appropriate statement, if given by the nurse, indicates he has an understanding of the lawsuit? "I had a duty and it was my responsibility to get clarification before administering the medication, which I did not." "I checked the medication before giving it and literature states it is for Hodgkin disease." "I could not read the health care provider's handwriting, so I am not at fault." "I had a duty and it was my responsibility to double check the medication, which I did, yet this still happened."
"I had a duty and it was my responsibility to get clarification before administering the medication, which I did not." The nurse has a legal obligation to carry out health care provider's prescriptions unless the order is ambiguous (the nurse could not read provider's handwriting), contraindicated (vincristine dosage was too high), and contraindicated (wrong medication). The nurse had a duty and needed to get clarification, which he did not. The nurse is liable because there was a duty, which was breached, causation (wrong medication), and harm (client's death). Checking the medication is the correct thing to do, but the priority was assuring the medication was the correct one as prescribed.
The nurse is participating in a discussion about controlled substances. Which statement, made by the nurse, indicates the nurse is aware of laws governing the distribution of controlled substances? "An impaired nurse is promptly punished by being terminated and having his or her license suspended." "When a nurse abuses controlled substances in the workplace and gets help, she will not be charged with a criminal act." "The nurse is only at risk if she diverts medication from the client; using personal drugs decrease your risk." "Nurses are responsible for adhering to specific documentation about controlled substances."
"Nurses are responsible for adhering to specific documentation about controlled substances." Nurses have specific responsibilities regarding controlled substances, including specific documentation. Violation of controlled substances at the workplace is serious and is considered a criminal act. Substance abuse is treatable and the objective is to detect and treat the problem early. It does not matter where the nurse obtains the drugs; she is still liable for her actions.
The client being admitted to the oncology unit conveys his wishes regarding resuscitation in the event of cardiopulmonary arrest. The nurse advises the client that it would be in his best interest to obtain which document? Proof of health care power of attorney A living will A proxy directive A will
A living will A living will is an advance directive that specifies the type of medical treatment clients do or do not want to receive should they be unable to speak for themselves in a terminal or permanently unconscious condition.
The nursing faculty is lecturing on unintentional and intentional torts. The faculty asks a nursing student to provide an example of an unintentional tort. Which example, if provided by the student, would indicate the student has a clear understanding of torts? A nurse gives a medication and client has an adverse reaction. Nurses are in the elevator discussing a client's laboratory values. A nurse is threatening to restrain a client if he does not stop talking. A nurse is telling a client he cannot leave the hospital until he pays his bill.
A nurse gives a medication and client has an adverse reaction. Unintentional tort occurs when the nurse did not intend harm, but harm occurred (administration of medication and client has an adverse reaction). The other three responses are intentional torts.
Which of the following is an example of certification? A graduate of a nursing education program who passes NCLEX-RN. A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing. A hospital that meets the standards of the Joint Commission. An education program that meets standards of the National League for Nursing.
A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing. Certification is a voluntary process whereby a person who has met criteria established by a nongovernmental association is granted special recognition in a specified practice area. Licensure is granted by the state to a graduate of a nursing education program who passes NCLEX-RN. Accreditation is a voluntary process by which a nursing education program is recognized as having met certain standards by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission and/or the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. The Joint Commission can also accredit health care agencies.
Which process evaluates and recognizes educational programs as having met certain standards? Certification Licensure Accreditation Credentialing
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which an educational program is evaluated and recognized as having met certain standards. Credentialing refers to ways in which professional competence is ensured and maintained. Licensure is the process by which a state determines that a candidate meets certain minimum requirements to practice in the profession and grants the license to do so. Certification is the process by which a person who has met certain criteria established by a nongovernmental association is granted recognition in a specified practice area.
An oncology nurse is caring for a client suffering from metabolic encephalopathy and end stage kidney disease. The client has no known family and no advanced directives. Upon entering the room, the nurse observes the client is pale and has no spontaneous respiration. What is the priority action the nurse should take? Contact the physician. Call the coroner. Begin CPR. Notify the charge nurse.
Begin CPR. A code status refers to how healthcare providers are required to manage care in the case of cardiac or respiratory arrest. A full code means that all measures to resuscitate the client are used. The nurse should immediately begin CPR. Although it is necessary to notify the physician and charge nurse, this is not the priority. It is not appropriate to contact the coroner at this time.
A client is scheduled for a colonoscopy. The nurse realizes immediately after administering medications to induce conscious sedation that the client has not signed the informed consent. If the nurse has the client sign the informed consent, which element of informed consent would be violated? Voluntariness Comprehension Competence Disclosure
Competence The client would not be considered competent to make a decision to undergo an invasive procedure, such as a colonoscopy. Disclosure ensures that the following information has been given to the client: the nature of the treatment, possible alternative treatments, and potential risks and benefits of the treatment. Comprehension is met when the client demonstrates understanding by describing in his own words to what he is consenting. The client's consent must be given voluntarily.
The nurse is concerned about a potential malpractice or negligence lawsuit regarding a client that was cared for on the unit. What specific elements must be established to prove that malpractice or negligence has occurred in this client? (Select all that apply.) Causation Misrepresentation Damages Breach of duty Duty Breach of confidentiality
Duty Breach of duty Causation Damages Elements of liability are duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Misrepresentation occurs in fraud. Breach of confidentiality is a violation of HIPAA.
During the orientation to the hospital, the staff development educator discusses unit and institutional-based policies. What is the source of the practice rules that result in unit and institutional-based policies? State legislation Board of nursing Federal legislation Health care institution
Health care institution The health care institution determines the unit and institutional policies. These policies may vary from institution to institution. Such policies may include clinical procedures, policies specific to the institution, and personnel and employment policies.
An HIV-positive client discovers that his name is published in a research report on HIV care prepared by his nurse. He is hurt and files a lawsuit against her. Which offense has the nurse committed? Invasion of privacy Unintentional tort Negligence of duty Defamation of client
Invasion of privacy The nurse has committed the tort of invasion of privacy. Personal names and identities are concealed or obliterated in case studies or research work. Invasion of privacy is a type of intentional tort. Defamation is an act in which untrue information harms a person's reputation, and is therefore not applicable here. Negligence is the harm that results because a person did not act reasonably.
While caring for an infant, the nurse hears another child screaming in the next room. She rushes to the other room to check on the screaming child, forgetting to put the side rails up on the infant's crib. She returns to the room to find the infant has fallen out of the crib and sustained a head injury. Based on the nurse's action, which tort is the nurse liable for? Battery Assault Malpractice Defamation
Malpractice The nurse did not ensure the safety of the infant by pulling up the side rails before leaving the infant unattended. Therefore, the nurse may be charged with malpractice because she had a duty that she breached; there was causation with harm to the infant. Assault occurs when a person threatens to touch a client without consent. Battery is carrying out the threat by touching the client without consent, whereas defamation occurs when a derogatory remark is made about another person.
A nurse is caring for a client following endotracheal intubation. Before applying soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from pulling out the endotracheal tube, what is the most appropriate action of the nurse? Obtain a medical order. Notify the family. Sedate the client. Get written consent.
Obtain a medical order. Nurses must obtain a medical order before each and every instance in which they use restraints. Due to the severity of the client illness requiring endotracheal intubation, the client may not be able to provide a written consent. The client does not need to be sedated unless medically necessary, and although it is appropriate to notify the family, this is not the priority.
The health care provider prescribes orders for a client with newly diagnosed uncontrolled seizure activity. When reviewing the prescriptions, the nurse correctly identifies which prescription, if followed, puts him at risk for negligence charges? Diazepam (Valium) 5 mg intravenously now Oxygen 2/L via nasal cannula Restrain all four extremities Neurologic assessments every 5 minutes
Restrain all four extremities The nurse is obligated to carry out health care provider's orders unless it is unclear or incorrect. The client with seizures must be protected from harm. Restraints restricts the client's movement and can cause harm. Diazepam, oxygen, and frequent neurologic assessments are correct interventions for a client with uncontrolled seizure activity.
A nurse witnesses a traffic accident and dresses the open wounds sustained by a child. Later, in the hospital, the child develops complications from an infection in the wound. The family holds the nurse responsible for the complications and attempts to file a lawsuit. Which of the following statements is true regarding the Good Samaritan law? The Good Samaritan law will provide legal immunity to the nurse. The Good Samaritan law is not applicable to health care workers. The Good Samaritan law will provide absolute exemption from prosecution. The Good Samaritan law will not protect the nurse because she did not accept compensation.
The Good Samaritan law will provide legal immunity to the nurse. The Good Samaritan laws provide legal immunity to passersby who provide emergency first aid to victims of accidents. Therefore, the law is applicable to the nurse as well; moreover, the nurse did not accept any compensation for the service provided. The law is equally applicable to everyone, but does not provide absolute exemption from prosecution in cases of negligence. Paramedics, ambulance personnel, physicians, and nurses who stop to provide assistance are still held to a higher standard of care because they have training above and beyond that of average laypeople. In cases of gross negligence, health care workers may be charged with a criminal offense.
A nurse enters the client's room and finds the client lying on the floor experiencing a seizure activity. 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 immediate care provided by the nurse to the client To provide a method for deciding the nurse's fault in the incident To evaluate quality care and potential risks for injury to the client To provides information to local, state, and federal agencies
To evaluate quality care and potential risks for injury to the client An incident report is a written account of an unusual, potentially injurious event involving a client, employee, or visitor. Incident reports determine how to prevent hazardous situations and serve as a reference in case of future litigation. Accurate and detailed documentation often helps to prove that the nurse acted reasonably or appropriately in the circumstances. It may not always serve as a method of determining the nurse's fault in the incident. The document does not evaluate the immediate care provided to the client but states the actions taken.
In comparison with licensure, which measures entry-level competence, what does certification validate? innocence of any disciplinary violation specialty knowledge and clinical judgment more than 10 years of nursing practice ability to practice in more than one area
specialty knowledge and clinical judgment Whereas licensure measures entry-level competence, certification validates specialty knowledge, experience, and clinical judgment. Certification does not validate innocence, years of practice, or ability in multiple practice areas.
The nurse educator is presenting an in-service on nursing and malpractice. Which statements, made by the nursing staff, would indicate to the educator that further teaching is required? Select all that apply. "When I document, I make sure it is factual, accurate, complete, and timely." "I am accountable for any task that I delegate." "If I make a mistake, I will not tell anyone" "I will have the supervisor fill out the incident report when I make an error." "The nursing plan of care must be accurate and be followed. It is part of the client's permanent record."
"If I make a mistake, I will not tell anyone" "I will have the supervisor fill out the incident report when I make an error." Errors and mistakes should be reported and incident reports filled out. The incident report should be filled out by the person responsible for the error. Documentation should be accurate, factual, complete, and timely. Nurses are accountable for any designated task. The nursing plan is part of the client's permanent record.
A client being discharged from the hospital asks the nurse, "When I go visit my family out of state, should I take my living will with me, or do I need a new one for that state?" What is the most appropriate response made by the nurse? "We have it on file here, so any hospital can call and get a copy." "Take it with you. It is recognized universally in the United States." "A living will can only be used in the state it was created in." "As long as your family knows your medical wishes, you will not need it."
"Take it with you. It is recognized universally in the United States." A separate or different advance directive is not needed for each state, so it can be used in any state and does not matter where it was created. A living will is recognized in each state as valid so a client should be advised to take it with them as they travel out of state. The other responses are incorrect or inappropriate given this scenario.
A nurse hired to work in an ambulatory setting attends new employee orientation. The nurse never worked in ambulatory before and is concerned about the Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing. Which response, given by the nurse educator, would further explain the Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Care Nursing to the new nurse? "The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing deal with the professional obligations of a nurse working in the ambulatory setting." "The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing sets the standards for the nursing supervisor to assess a nurse." "The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing takes precedent over the facility's policies and procedures." "The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing determines if a nurse is minimally competent to receive a license to practice as a nurse."
"The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing deal with the professional obligations of a nurse working in the ambulatory setting." The Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Ambulatory Care Nursing are the standards of care for nurses working in the ambulatory arena. It does not take precedent over the facility's policies and procedures, but must be worked in conjunction with the policies and procedures. It is not used for assessing nurses. NCLEX determines if a nurse is minimally competent to practice as a nurse.
The nurse attempts to notify a health care provider about a client's elevated temperature, but does not get a response. Which statement, if documented by the nurse, would indicate that the nurse is following proper protocol for nursing documentation? 1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider's service 3 times without a response. Tepid sponge bath given and nursing supervisor notified. 1300: Client temperature elevated. Health care provider paged, but did not respond. Administered Tylenol without an order because I knew this health care provider does not return calls. 1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider's service several times with no response. Will notify nursing supervisor during rounds. 1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider 3 times. As usual, health care provider did not respond.
1300: Client temperature elevated. Telephoned health care provider's service 3 times without a response. Tepid sponge bath given and nursing supervisor notified. Documentation must have the correct, factual, and timely information. The nurse must document when the health provider was called and response or lack of response; what nursing action was done, if any, and notification of appropriate personnel. The nurse cannot administer medication without an order. The nurse should be careful and not make incriminating statements, such as, "as usual health care provider did not respond." The nurse should not wait until rounds are made to inform the supervisor.
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? The Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 requires hospital clients to have an advance directive. A durable power of attorney for health care appoints an agent the person trusts to make decisions. Living wills provide specific instructions related to the client's personal property upon death. Advance directives must be completed 30 days prior to hospitalization in order to be valid.
A durable power of attorney for health care appoints an agent the person trusts to make decisions. Advance directives can minimize difficulties by allowing people to state in advance what their choices would be for health care if certain circumstances arise. A durable power of attorney for health care appoints an agent the person trusts to make decisions in the event of subsequent incapacity. Living wills provide specific instructions about the kinds of health care that should be provided or foregone in particular situations. In the United States, the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 requires all hospitals to inform patients about advance directives. Advance directives do not have to be completed prior to hospitalization in order to be valid.
A student nurse is assisting an elderly patient to ambulate following hip replacement surgery, and the patient falls and reinjures the hip. Who is potentially responsible for the injury to this patient? The student nurse All of the above The nurse instructor The hospital
All of the above As a student nurse, you are responsible for your own acts, including any negligence that may result in patient injury. A hospital may also be held liable for the negligence of a student nurse enrolled in a hospital-controlled program because the student is considered an employee of the hospital. The status of students enrolled in college and university programs is less clear, as is the liability of the educational institution in which they are enrolled and the health care agency offering a site for clinical practice. Nursing instructors may share responsibility for damages in the event of patient injury if an assignment called for clinical skills beyond a student's competency or the instructor failed to provide reasonable and prudent clinical supervision.
The nurse fails to contact the physician regarding a client who had an open-reduction internal fixation of the tibia and has experienced increasing leg pain (unrelieved by pain medication) for the past 4 hours. Which element of liability has been violated? Breach of duty Damages Causation Duty
Breach of duty Failure to contact the physician and report the client's condition does not meet the expected standard of care and is a breach of duty. Duty refers to an obligation to use due care and is defined by the standard of care appropriate for the nurse-client relationship. Causation shows that the failure to meet the standard of care actually caused injury. Damages are the actual harm or injury to the client.
Nurses practicing in a critical care unit must acquire specialized skills and knowledge to provide care to the critically ill client. These nurses can validate this specialty competence through what process? Litigation Accreditation Licensure Certification
Certification Certification validates specialty knowledge, experience, and clinical judgment. A nurse in a critical care unit having specialized skills and knowledge to provide care would be an example of certification. Licensure is a specialized form of credentialing based on laws passed by a state legislature. Licensure endorses entry-level competence. Legal accreditation is granted to educational programs by state agencies endorsing the approval of the program's design and mission to meet the needs of state requirements. Litigation is not a method for validation.
Having recently completed a specialty nursing program in neonatal care, a nurse is now preparing to leave her current position on a medical unit and begin providing care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The nurse has completed which of the following processes of credentialing? Certification Licensure Accreditation Validation
Certification The process of certification involves the attainment and validation of specialized nursing knowledge and skills. Certification is often necessary in order to ensure that the nursing care that is provided in specialized and high-acuity settings is safe and appropriate. Accreditation is the process by which an educational program, rather than an individual nurse, identifies that standards are being met. The process of licensure involves the determination that a nurse meets minimum requirements to practice, but not necessarily the specialized knowledge that is necessary for some care settings. Validation is not a specific aspect of the process of credentialing.
A client states that his recent fall was caused by the fact that his scheduled antihypertensive medications were mistakenly administered by two different nurses, an event that is disputed by both of the nurses identified by the client. Which measure should the nurses prioritize when anticipating that legal action may follow? Document the client's claims and the events surrounding the alleged incident. Enlist support from nursing and non-nursing colleagues from the unit. Consult with the hospital's legal department as soon as possible. Consult with practice advisors from the state board of nursing.
Document the client's claims and the events surrounding the alleged incident. It is imperative for nurses to carefully and accurately document assessment findings and the nursing care that they provide, a fact that is especially salient when legal action is anticipated. This thorough and accurate assessment should precede consultation with the legal department, the state board of nursing, and colleagues.
The nurse educator is presenting a lecture on the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Which situations, if identified by the nursing staff, would indicate to the educator that the staff understands which actions about the Occupational Safety and Health Act? Helps reduce workforce injuries and illness in the workplace Requires nurses to report abuse of infants, children, and adults of all ages Acts as an information clearing house for nurses who engage in unprofessional conduct Protects nurses who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction or have communicable diseases
Helps reduce workforce injuries and illness in the workplace The Occupational Safety and Health Act helps to reduce injuries and illness in the workplace. The National Practitioner Data Bank is a clearinghouse for health care practitioners who engage in unprofessional conduct and restrict them from moving from state to state. Nurses are obligated to report abuse because of the nurse-patient relationship; it is not a requirement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The American with Disabilities Act protects people with communicable diseases and those recovering from drug or alcohol addiction.
The student nurse tells her family about a client with AIDS that she cared for in clinical yesterday. Which tort has the student committed? Assault Invasion of privacy Slander Fraud
Invasion of privacy Invasion of privacy involves a breach of keeping client information confidential. Slander is oral defamation of character. Assault is a threat or attempt to make bodily contact with another person without that person's consent.
During the admission assessment of a female client age 40 years with a suspected mandibular fracture, the client discloses to the nurse that her injury came as a result of her husband hitting her. Which action should the nurse prioritize when responding to this disclosure? Reporting the abuse to the appropriate authorities Ensuring the client's statement is confirmed by another nurse Informing the client of her right to keep this information private Performing an assessment to confirm the client's statement
Reporting the abuse to the appropriate authorities Nurses have a legal and ethical obligation to report cases of abuse. It would be inappropriate and likely unethical to require a third party witness to the statement or to withhold action pending assessment results. The nurse's obligation to report abuse legally supersedes the client's right to privacy.
A nurse, while off-duty, tells the physiotherapist that a client who was admitted to the nursing unit contracted AIDS due to exposure to sex workers at the age of 18. The client discovers that the nurse has revealed the information to the physiotherapist. With what legal action could the nurse be charged? Libel Negligence Malpractice Slander
Slander The nurse can be charged with slander, which is a verbal attack on a person's character. Libel pertains to damaging written statements read by others. Both libel and slander are considered defamation of character - an intentional tort in which one party makes derogatory remarks about another that diminish the other party's reputation. Negligence and malpractice pertain to actions which are committed or omitted, thereby causing physical harm to a client.
A nurse comes across a screaming child in the park. The child was hit by a baseball bat, resulting in a swollen and reddened left arm. Any attempt to move the child's left arm results in the child screaming intensely. The nurse used two baseball bats to make a split, which she applied to the child's left arm. The child is transported to the hospital and later develops compartmental syndrome of the left arm. The nurse requests a meeting with the nurse attorney to discuss the possibility of being involved in a litigious suit by the child's family. After a review of the events, which important information will the attorney share with the nurse concerning the case? The nurse was negligent because the client developed compartmental syndrome because of her treatment at the scene. The nurse is protected by the Good Samaritan Act, which states the nurse may give emergency care using good judgment. The nurse does not fall under the Good Samaritan Act because it is apparent she was negligent in the care she rendered. The nurse should have waited for help because the Good Samaritan Act states the nurse is not obligated to assist.
The nurse is protected by the Good Samaritan Act, which states the nurse may give emergency care using good judgment. The nurse is protected by the Good Samaritan Act, which states the health practitioner may give emergency care in a prudent manner using good judgment. The nurse used two sturdy objects to immobile the child's arm; therefore, she was not grossly negligent. A prudent nurse would have done the same. The Good Samaritan Act states the health care practitioner is not obligated to assist; however, it protects the practitioner if she decides to render emergency care.
Legal safeguards are in place in the nursing practice to protect the nurse from exposure to legal risks as well as to protect the client from harm. What are examples of legal safeguards for the nurse? Select all that apply. The nurse obtains informed consent from a client to perform a procedure. The physician is responsible for administration of a wrongly prescribed medication. The nurse educates the client about The Patient Care Partnership. The nurse executes physician orders without questioning them. The nurse documents all client care in a timely manner. The nurse claims management is responsible for inadequate staffing leading to negligence
The nurse obtains informed consent from a client to perform a procedure. The nurse educates the client about The Patient Care Partnership. The nurse documents all client care in a timely manner. Examples of legal safeguards for the nurse would include the nurse obtaining informed consent from a client, the nurse educating the client about The Patient Care Partnership, and the nurse documenting all client care in a timely manner. Legal safeguards for the nurse would not include the nurse executing physician orders without questioning them. Legal safeguards for the nurse would not include the nurse claiming management is responsible for inadequate staffing leading to negligence. Legal safeguards for the nurse would not include the physician being responsible for administration of a wrongly prescribed medication.
A client is received in a postoperative nursing unit after undergoing abdominal surgery. During this time, the nurse failed to recognize the significance of abdominal swelling, which significantly increased during the next 6 hours. Later, the client had to undergo emergency surgery. The lack of action on the nurse's part is liable for action. Which of the following legal terms describes the case? Felony Misdemeanor Fraud Tort
Tort A tort is a litigation in which one person asserts that a physical, emotional, or financial injury was a consequence of another person's actions or failure to act. The lack of action on the nurse's part truly indicates unintentional tort. A misdemeanor or felony would be an offense under criminal law, and neither is applicable in this case. Fraud is willful and purposeful misrepresentation that could cause, or has caused, loss or harm to a person or property.
The nurse educator provides an educational session to the nursing staff on protection of a client's privacy. Which circumstances, identified by the staff, would indicate to the educator that the teaching was effective? Select all that apply. Because the facility is a teaching facility, the nurse allowed the nursing student to take the client's picture for his care plan. The nurse questioned the client about her social life even though it did not affect care planning. With the client's permission, the nurse explained the client's diagnosis to the client's spouse. During a bed bath, the nurse exposed the client's upper torso while washing the client's face. The nurse removed the client from the emergency department waiting room into a private area to collect assessment data.
With the client's permission, the nurse explained the client's diagnosis to the client's spouse. The nurse removed the client from the emergency department waiting room into a private area to collect assessment data. To prevent invasion of privacy, all client information is considered confidential and private; this includes name and all identifiers (e.g., social security number, address, date of birth). With the client's permission, information can be shared with a spouse. A client should be taken to a private soundproof area to collect data. Unnecessary exposure of a client's body, taking pictures of a client, and questioning a client's social life when it does not affect care planning are examples of invasion of privacy.
A student is preparing to graduate from nursing school and understands that professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place. These regulations and laws are in place for which reason? to ensure that enough new nurses are always available to protect the safety of the public to ensure that practicing nurses are of good moral standing to limit the number of nurses in practice
to protect the safety of the public Governing bodies, professional regulations, and laws are in place to protect the public by ensuring that nurses are accountable for safe, competent, and ethical nursing practice. The other options do not describe accurately the role and responsibility of the governing bodies and the regulations and laws of nursing.