Prep U Legal Issues

A home care nurse visits a client with muscular dystrophy. Which comment by the client indicates that more information about an advance directive is needed?

"I don't ever want a feeding tube when the time comes that I can't eat."

A nurse working in the emergency department receives an order from an orthopedic surgeon to obtain written consent from a client for the surgical repair of a fractured forearm. The surgeon has not seen the client but has reviewed the radiographs in the operating room between cases. Which would be the most appropriate response by the nurse to the surgeon?

"It is your responsibility to obtain informed consent from the client."

What conclusion can be drawn when a client is involuntary secluded?

All other appropriate measures to manage the client have failed

The nurse is preparing to administer a hydrocodone 10 mg tablet to a client who is reporting pain when the tablet drops onto the floor. After retrieving the tablet, what is the next action by the nurse?

Ask another nurse to witness the disposal of the tablet as per facility policy.

The nurse is teaching a prenatal class illustrating the steps that are used to keep families safe. The nurse determines the session is successful when the parents correctly choose which precaution to follow after the birth of their infant?

Check the identification badge of any health care worker before releasing baby from room.

The nurse is completing the physical assessment of a 12-year-old child who has a series of bruises in various stages of healing. When asked about the bruises the child appears frightened and offers inconsistent accounts about how the child got the bruises. The nurse suspects abuse. Which initial action of the nurse is most appropriate?

Document the bruises and any statements made by the child relating to them.

A nurse who obtains a license to practice nursing through self-misrepresentation is guilty of what tort?

Fraud

A nurse is reluctant to provide care at an accident scene. Which legal definition is true regarding the provision of nursing care?

Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect the caregiver in emergency situations.

What is the nurse accountable for, according to state nurse practice acts?

Making nursing diagnoses

The parents of a hospitalized 10-year-old ask the nurse if they can review the health care records of their child. What is the appropriate response from the nurse?

"I will arrange access for you to review the record after you put your request in writing."

A nurse has been asked to obtain a client's signature on an operative consent form. When the nurse approaches the client, who is scheduled for a cholecystectomy later in the day, the client asks the nurse why the procedure is needed. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

"I will ask the surgeon to come speak to you about the procedure."

A nurse is determining whether or not informed consent has been obtained from the family of a child who is going to have abdominal surgery. Which statement by the family would lead the nurse to suspect that informed consent is lacking?

"We had to sign the form right away so the surgery could get scheduled."

A nurse is caring for a voluntary client in the health care facility. The client doesn't show signs of suicidal ideation or pose harm to others. The client states, "I would really like to leave tonight and sleep in my own bed." Although the client wants discharge tonight, the health care provider recommends against it at this time. What is the most appropriate response of the nurse?

"You will need to sign a written request for discharge."

A client who is legally blind must undergo a colonoscopy. The nurse is helping the healthcare provider obtain informed consent. When obtaining informed consent from a client who is visually impaired, the nurse should take which step?

Read the consent form to the client and ask if there are any questions.

The nurse obtains a unit of blood for the client, Donald D. Smith. The name on the label on the unit of blood reads Donald A. Smith. All the other identifiers are correct. What action should the nurse take?

Refuse to administer the blood

A client in a long-term care facility is scheduled to have a bath and is taken to the tub room by the nurse. The client does not want to be bathed and refuses to get undressed. Which action should the nurse take?

Return the client to the room and document that the bath was not given.

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?

Slander

Which court decision or act states that psychotherapists have a duty to exercise reasonable care in protecting the foreseeable victims of their clients' violent actions?

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

A nurse has been providing in-home hospice care to an older adult client with lung cancer for more than six months. The family asks the nurse how long the Medicare hospice services will continue. What is the nurse's best response?

The Medicare hospice services can continue as long as the physician and hospice director agree about the client's terminal condition.

Which situation violates a hospitalized adolescent's right to confidentiality?

Two nurses talk about the adolescent on an elevator on their way to lunch.

A nurse must restrain a client to ensure the safety of other clients. When using restraints, which principle is a priority?

Use an organized, efficient team approach to apply and secure the restraints.

A 15-year-old client has just given birth and states that she does not want her infant to receive any newborn vaccines. What is the appropriate action for the nurse to take?

Withhold the vaccines.

The nurse is writing a medication order that a health care provider provided by telephone. Which should be included when writing the order? Select all that apply.

date the order is written medication dosage route of administration medication ordered

Which level of health care provider may make the decision to apply physical restraints to a client?

nurse practitioner

When a client has increased difficulty breathing when lying flat, the nurse records that the client is demonstrating

orthopnea.

What information must a medication order include?

physician's signature

A famous actor with bipolar disorder has been admitted in the mental health unit for treatment. A well known news outlet has offered the nurse several thousand dollars to provide information or a picture of the client. The nurse knows that it is their professional duty and legal responsibility to uphold privacy and confidentiality.

sharing client information only to the caregivers directly assigned to client care (CONFIDENTIALITY) keeping the door closed while conducting physical assessment (PRIVACY) obtaining the client's permission before allowing a student nurse to assist with care (PRIVACY) logging off the electronic health record after documenting assessment information (CONFIDENTIALITY) asking the client to sign a medical release form before providing information to the health insurance company (CONFIDENTIALITY)

The school nurse is conducting health assessments for a group of children. Which of the following situations encountered by the nurse raises suspicion of child neglect?

A child reports of constant hunger.

A client is scheduled for an invasive procedure. What priority documentation is needed regarding the procedure?

A signed consent form from the client

A client has been receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment. The client is competent and has been actively involved in decisions regarding care; however, the client has now decided to refuse treatment. What should the nurse do when the client refuses the next dose of chemotherapy?

Document the client's choice and offer to discuss feelings about the chemotherapy.

A client is admitted to the behavioral health facility involuntarily. The client is scheduled to undergo electroconvulsive therapy. Which action does the nurse take before the procedure?

Ensure the client has given informed consent.

Which herbs has been removed from most weight-loss medications due to potential legal liability?

Ephedra

An 18-year-old client is being treated for a sexually transmitted infection. The parent of the client comes to the clinic demanding information regarding the care provided since the child is covered on the parent's insurance. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Explain the reason why information cannot be disclosed.

The nurse is conducting classes for staff at an early intervention resource center. How would the nurse describe the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act?

The law entitles special needs students to individualized education programs (IEP) through the public school system.

A client with a psychiatric illness has become extremely aggressive and the nurse decides that the client needs to be restrained. Which action would be considered human restraint?

The nurse and a group of paramedics hold the client.

A nurse is preparing to file a safety event report after a client experienced a fall. Which statement is correct regarding the filing of a safety event report?

The nurse should record the incident in the client's medical record and fill out a safety event report separately.

A student nurse is assisting an older adult client to ambulate following hip replacement surgery when the client falls and reinjures the hip. Who is potentially responsible for the injury to this client?

The student nurse, the nurse instructor, and the hospital

The adolescent comes to the clinic seeking information about sexuality concerns. The clinic nurse assures the adolescent that confidentiality and privacy will be maintained unless a life-threatening situation occurs. Maintaining confidentiality demonstrates which nursing goal? Select all that apply.

development of a trusting relationship compliance with existing laws an environment where adolescents can be truthful

A nurse is providing genetic counseling to a pregnant client. Which are nursing responsibilities related to counseling the client? Select all that apply.

explaining basic concepts of probability and disorder susceptibility ensuring complete informed consent to facilitate decisions about genetic testing knowing basic genetic terminology and inheritance patterns

A nurse on a night shift entered an older adult client's room during a scheduled check and discovered the client on the floor beside the bed, the result of falling when trying to ambulate to the washroom. After assessing the client and assisting into the bed, the nurse has completed an incident report. What is the primary purpose of this particular type of documentation?

identifying risks and ensuring future safety for clients