Sherpath- Legal Implication Quiz

The nurse assesses a child in a psychiatric facility. The nurse finds that the child has suicidal thoughts. How should the nurse instruct the child's parents? A) "You should punish your child for saying such things." B) "Your child needs to be admitted to the facility immediately." C) "Don't worry; your child will become normal with medication." D) "You should carefully observe every movement of your child makes at home."

B

The nurse has been falsely accused of providing inadequate care to a patient by another nurse. The nurse has received praise in the past for providing quality care to the patients. Which tort does this indicate? A) Libel B) Slander C) Malpractice D) Invasion of privacy

B

The nurse is caring for a patient who is extremely irritable and agitated. The nurse first transfers the patient forcefully to an isolated room to avoid disturbing other patients in the ward. The nurse then sedates the patient by giving a morphine injection. Which torts has the nurse committed? Select all that apply. A) Assault B) Battery C) False imprisonment D) Invasion of privacy E) Defamation of character

B and C

A group of nurses makes a list of patients who require organ transplantation. Which patient would be given priority for organ transplantation? A) The patient who is most critically ill B) The patient who is a very young age C) The patient who will pay more for the intervention D) The patient who lives in close proximity to the healthcare center

A

A patient is abusive and rude with the student nurse. The student nurse documents that the patient is uncooperative and shows symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. As a result the patient will be transferred to a different floor. Which is the best classification of this nurse's error? A) Libel B) Slander C) Malpractice D) Invasion of privacy

A

Hospital administrators have warned the healthcare team about invasion of a patient's privacy. Which could have been the reason for this warning? A) The nurse read text messages on the patient's cell phone. B) The health care provider asked the nurse to catheterize the patient. C) The nurse published a report on the patient's condition without his or her consent. D) The healthcare team provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) without the family's consent.

A

The nurse wraps and ties a cloth to prevent bleeding from the site of injury for a patient who is a victim of a traffic accident. The patient is taken to the hospital and presents with signs of infection. Which action will be taken against the nurse? A) The nurse will not face any action. B) The nurse will be given a warning for gross negligence. C) The nurse will face liable charges for not getting an informed consent. D) The nurse will be sued for not obtaining orders from the primary healthcare provider before intervening.

A

A patient suffering from cardiac arrest is brought to the hospital. The patient previously underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and angioplasty, and the patient has been chronically ill since then. The patient has requested in writing that not to be resuscitated in case of emergency. What is the term for this request? A) Living will B) Implied consent C) Informed consent D) Power of attorney

A *Rationale* Living wills are written documents that direct treatment in accordance with a patient's wishes in the event of a terminal illness or condition. Implied and informed consents are types of consent that are given by a patient (or guardian) in case of surgery or treatment. A power of attorney is a legal document that designates a person of the patient's choice to make health care decisions on behalf of the patient when the patient is no longer able to do so.

A graduate nurse is being mentored by a more experienced nurse. They are discussing the ways nurses need to remain active professionally. Which statements below indicate the new graduate understands ways to remain involved professionally? *Select all that apply.* A) "I am thinking about joining the health committee at my church." B) "I need to read newspapers, watch news broadcasts, and search the Internet for information related to health." C) "I will join nursing committees at the hospital after I have several years of experience and better understand the issues affecting nursing." D) "Nurses do not have very much voice in legislation in Washington, DC, because of the shortage of nurses." E) "Nurses should take direction from physicians in the hospital setting."

A and B *Rationale* Nurses need to be actively involved in their community and be aware of current issues in health care. Staying abreast of current news and public opinion through the media is essential. Nurses need to join nursing committees at all levels of their career, not just when they have experience. Nurses have a powerful voice in the legislature.

Which statements best describe a consent form? *Select all that apply* A) It may be signed by an emancipated minor. B) It protects the healthcare facility but not the healthcare provider. C) It signifies that the patient understands all aspects of the procedure. D) It signifies that the patient and family have been told about the procedure. E) It must be signed by the patient or responsible party at the healthcare facility, and consent may not be obtained by phone or fax.

A and C

Which actions, if performed by a registered nurse, would result in both criminal and administrative sanctions against the nurse? Select all that apply. A) Taking or selling controlled substances B) Refusing to provide healthcare information to a patient's child C) Reporting suspected abuse and neglect of children D) Applying physical restraints without a written physician's order E)Administering the wrong medication to the patient

A and D *Rationale* The inappropriate use of controlled substances is prohibited by every Nurse Practice Act. A physical restraint can be applied only on the written order of a healthcare provider based on Joint Commission and Medicare guidelines. Refusing to provide healthcare information to a patient's child, reporting suspected abuse and neglect of children, and administering the wrong medication to a patient would not result in both criminal and administrative sanctions against the nurse.

What should the nurse do to avoid malpractice and the resulting professional negligence? *Select all that apply.* A) Strictly follow the given standards of care. B) Regularly update current nursing knowledge. C) Properly document all assessments and interventions. D) Avoid explaining medical procedures to patients. E) Complete health documentation at the end of the shift.

A, B, and C Need to document as we go to make sure care is delivery timely

The nurse is caring for a surgical patient in the preoperative area. The nurse witnesses the patient's informed consent for the surgical procedure. Which statements are true regarding informed consent? *Select all that apply.* A) It must be signed while the patient is free from mind-altering medications. B) It can be witnessed by the nurse or nursing student. C) It may be withdrawn at any time. D) It must be signed by patients age 16 and older. E) It is usually obtained by the healthcare provider and not the nurse.

A, C, and E

A nursing student has learned about advance directives for healthcare. Which documents should the student classify as advance directives? *Select all that apply.* A) Living wills B) Informed consent C) Health care proxies D) Witnesses' depositions E) Durable powers of attorney for health care

A, C, and E *Rationale* Advance directives are based on values of informed consent, patient autonomy over end-of-life decisions, truth telling, and control over the dying process. Living wills are the written documents that direct treatment per the patient's wishes in the event of a terminal illness. The healthcare proxy and durable power of attorney are legal documents that designate a person to make health care decisions on the patient's behalf when the patient is not able to make his or her own decisions. Informed consent is not considered an advance directive; it is a patient's agreement to allow a diagnostic or treatment procedure after understanding the risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of refusal. Witnesses' depositions also are not advance directives; they are transcriptions of questions posed to a witness under oath to obtain information about a case.

The nurse is caring for a patient who recently had coronary bypass surgery. Which legal sources of standards of care should the nurse use to deliver safe healthcare? *Select all that apply.* A) Information provided by the nurse manager B) Policies and procedures of the employing hospital C) State Nurse Practice Act D) Regulations identified in The Joint Commission's manual E) The American Nurses Association standards of nursing practice

B, C, D, E

A student nurse is gossiping with colleagues about a patient's many romantic relationships. The registered nurse warns the student nurse about talking about the patient's personal life in a public place. The nurse's warning is intended to prevent which error? A) Assault B) Libel C) Invasion of privacy D) Defamation of character

C

The nurse is preparing to give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to a patient with cardiac arrest. The healthcare provider orders the nurse and code team to avoid resuscitating the patient. Which is the most appropriate reason for this? A) The patient is unlikely to benefit from CPR. B) The patient does not have a written order for CPR. C) The patient has given a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order. D) The patient's family has not yet given the consent to resuscitate the patient.

C

The nurse notes that the healthcare unit keeps a listing of the patient names at the front desk in easy view for healthcare providers to more efficiently locate the patient. Which does this action violate? A) Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA) B) Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) C) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) D) Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)

C

The nurse stops to help in an emergency at the scene of an accident. The injured party files a suit, and the nurse's employing institution insurance does not cover the nurse. Which would probably cover the nurse in this situation? A) The nurse's automobile insurance B) The nurse's homeowner's insurance C) The Good Samaritan laws, which grant immunity from suit if there is no gross negligence D) The Patient Care Partnership, which may grant immunity from suit if the injured party consents

C

The hospital administrators warn the nurse about being negligent while providing patient care. Which is the most appropriate reason for the warning? A) The nurse has threatened a patient with the use of physical restraints to control the patient. B) The nurse has published the wrong assessment findings of a patient in a scientific journal. C) The nurse has given an excessive dose of hepatotoxic drug to a patient with liver failure. D) The nurse has informed the spouse about the patient's disease without the patient's consent.

C *Rationale* Giving an excessive dose of hepatotoxic drug to a patient with liver failure is an example of a negligent act by the nurse. Threatening the patient with the use of physical restraints is an example of assault by the nurse, not a negligent act. Publishing the wrong assessment findings of a patient in a scientific journal is an example of defamation of character tort (libel) but is not considered as negligence in providing care. Informing the spouse regarding the patient's diagnosis without the patient's consent is an example of invasion of privacy; it is not considered an act of negligence.

The home health nurse notices significant bruising on a 2-year-old child's head, arms, abdomen, and legs. The patient's mother describes the child's frequent falls. Which is the best nursing action for the home health nurse to take? A) Document the findings and treat the child. B) Instruct the mother on safe handling of a 2-year-old child. C) Contact a child abuse hotline. D) Discuss this story with a colleague.

C *Rationale* Nurses are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse. Significant bruising on a 2-year-old child's head, arms, abdomen, and legs possibly indicate child abuse. It is not enough to document the findings, instruct the mother on safe handling of the child, or discuss the story with a colleague.

The nurse is evaluating the need for the use of restraints when managing a patient with delirium. Which conditions must be met before the nurse may use restraints? Select all that apply. A) The patient is improving B) The patient refuses to undergo a necessary procedure C) The safety of the patient is at risk D) There is a written order from a healthcare provider E) Less restrictive patient interventions have failed

C, D, and E

An 8-year-old girl is brought to the emergency room with severe abdominal pain. The nurse has to get consent before medical treatment can be started. The parents of the child are divorced, and the mother has custody. The patient is accompanied by her mother, father, and elder sister, who is 19 years old. Who should sign the consent form of the patient? A) The patient's father B) The patient's sister C) The patient herself D) The patient's mother

D