ATI Ethical and Legal Considerations

A nurse is teaching a group of newly licensed nurses about professional values. Which of the following statements by a newly licensed nurse demonstrates an understanding of social justice? A. "Health care should be a right for everyone." B. "All clients should have a private room in a health care facility." C. "I plan to volunteer at the local homeless shelter on muy days off." D. "I will respect a client's right to refuse a procedure."

A. "Health care should be a right for everyone."

A nurse is reviewing standards of care with a group of newly hired nurses. The nurse should include which of the following incidents as an example of a breach of standards of care? A. A nurse did not read back verbal medication prescription to a provider. B. A nurse did not return to a client's room with a promised blanket. C. A nurse documents client care as soon as it is completed. D. A nurse forgot to call a client's family after performing a procedure.

A. A nurse did not read back verbal medication prescription to a provider.

A nurse is preparing to administer a PRN pain medication to a client but withholds the medication because the client is sleeping. Which of the following actions should the nurse take to provide the expected standard of care? A. Document that the medication was not administered. B. Document that the client is not experiencing pain. C. Contact the provider to change the PRN prescription. D. Fill out an incident report about the situation.

A. Document that the medication was not administered.

A nurse is providing privacy for a client who has incontinence. The nurse is demonstrating which of the following professional values? A. Human dignity B. Altruism C. Social justice D. Autonomy

A. Human dignity

A nurse notifies their supervisor that they accidentally administered the wrong medication to a client. The nurse is demonstrating which fo the following professional values? A. Integrity B. Human dignity C. Altruism D. Social justice

A. Integrity

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. Before the client has signed the informed consent form, the client states, "I didn't really understand what that doctor said." Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Explain the procedure in detail to the client. B. Ask the provider to discuss the procedure with the client. C. Encourage the client to reread the consent form before signing. D. Tell the client that the surgeon will explain it to them in the operating room.

B. Ask the provider to discuss the procedure with the client.

A nurse at the end of their shift realizes they forgot to give a client their scheduled vitamins. The nurse decides to document that the vitamins were administered. Which of the following describes the nurse's action? A. HIPAA violation B. Falsification of records C. Assault D. Defamation

B. Falsification of records

A nurse stops at the side of the road to provide care to a person involved in a motor-vehicle crash. Which of the following protects the nurse from liability when administering care at the scene of an accident? A. Whistleblower protection. B. Good Samaritan laws. C. Torts. D. Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

B. Good Samaritan laws.

A nurse is teaching a client about advance directives. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I need to choose a family member as my health care surrogate." B. "Once I sign my advance directives, I cannot change my decisions." C. "My health care surrogate will make health care decisions for me if I am unable." D. "I need to have an attorney present to complete my advance directives."

C. "My health care surrogate will make health care decisions for me if I am unable."

A nurse is caring for a client who asks why they chose the nursing profession. The nurse states that it was because they wanted to help others. The nurse is referring to which of the following professional values? A. Integrity B. Human dignity C. Altruism D. Social Justice

C. Altruism

A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about ethical principles. The nurse should include that a client who has chosen to sign a blood product refusal form is an example of which of the following ethical principles? A. Veracity B. Beneficence C. Autonomy D. Fidelity

C. Autonomy

A nurse who has been working 12-hr shifts on a busy unit is experiencing nurse fatigue. Which of the following effects can result from nurse fatigue? A. Increase in communication skills. B. Increase in effective clinical judgement. C. Increase in medication errors. D. Increase in productivity.

C. Increase in medication errors.

A nurse truthfully answers a client's questions about their laboratory results. The nurse is demonstrating which of the following ethical principles? A. Justice B. Nonmaleficence C. Fidelity D. Veracity

D. Veracity The ethical principle of veracity refers to the nurse's obligation to provide truthful information to the client, the provider, and the nursing supervisor. Truthfully answering a client's questions about their laboratory results is demonstrating the ethical principle of veracity.

A nurse is providing equal care to a group of clients who have varying economic statuses. Which fo the following ethical principles is the nurse demonstration? A. Fidelity B. Autonomy C. Justice D. Veracity

C. Justice

A nurse is an emergency department overhears a provider say they will not accept any more clients who do not have health insurance. Which of the following is the provider violating? A. The Emergency Mecial Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) C. Tort law D. Good Samaritan laws

A. The Emergency Mecial Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA)

A nurse in an emergency department is caring for four clients. Which of the following clients requires mandatory reporting? A. An adolescent client who has a fractured tibia following a football game. B. A young adult client who is positive for tuberculosis. C. An older adult client who has dementia, a history of falls, and bruising on their knees. D. A preschooler who has frequent enuresis.

B. A young adult client who is positive for tuberculosis. Diseases and illnesses that are considered a threat to public health, such as tuberculosis, HIV, and influenza, require mandatory reporting to the health department to track and develop prevention and protection protocols

A nurse is caring for a client who is alone and has just received a serious diagnosis. The client asks the nurse if they can pray together, and the nurse agrees. The nurse is demonstrating which of the following ethical principles? A. Autonomy B. Beneficence C. Nonmaleficence D. Justice

B. Beneficence

A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about ethical principles. The nurse include that which of the following situations is an example of fidelity? A. A nurse involves a client in making decisions about their care. B. A nurse implements fall precautions for a client who is at risk for falling. C. A nurse tells the truth about forgetting to perform a procedure for a client. D. A nurse keeps a promise to a client not to tell their family about their diagnosis.

D. A nurse keeps a promise to a client not to tell their family about their diagnosis.

A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about professional values. The nurse should include that which of the following is an example of autonomy? A. A nurse provides the same quality care for every client. B. A nurse maintains client confidentiality. C. A nurse admits they forgot to change a client's dressing. D. A nurse respects a client's wish to descontinue a treatment.

D. A nurse respects a client's wish to descontinue a treatment.

A nurse suspects their coworker might be under the influence of a chemical substance. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Counsel the coworker about substance use. B. Report the coworker to the ethics committee at the facility. C. Ask the coworker how long they have been using substances. D. Tell the charge nurse that the coworker might be impaired.

D. Tell the charge nurse that the coworker might be impaired.