ch 7 legal dimensions of nursing practice

Which of the following accreditations is a legal requirement for a school of nursing to exist?

State Board of Nursing accreditation

The nursing student asks the nurse for an example of a "never event." Which example provided by the nurse best answers the nursing student's question?

The client scheduled for a cholecystectomy has a total abdominal hysterectomy.

A client is admitted with symptoms of psychosis. The nurse hurries to the client's room when she hears the client calling for help. She finds the client lying on the ground. The nurse assists the client back to the bed and performs a thorough assessment. The nurse informs the physician and completes the incident report. Which of the following statements should the nurse document in the incident report?

The client was found lying on the floor.

Which of the following aspects of nursing would be most likely defined by legislation at a state level?

The differences in the scope of practice between registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).

The nurse is accused of malpractice by a client. List the order in which the steps of the litigation process will occur (use all options). 1) The basis for the claim is determined to be appropriate and timely with all elements of liability present. 2) All parties named as defendants (nurses, physicians, health care agency), as well as insurance companies and attorneys, work toward a fair settlement. 3) Trial takes place; both sides present their evidence and arguments. 4) The case is presented to a malpractice arbitration panel. The panel's decision is either accepted or rejected, in which case a complaint is filed in trial court. 5) Pretrial discovery activities occur: review of medical records and depositions of plaintiff, defendants, and witnesses. 6) The defendants contest allegations.

1, 2, 4, 6, 5, 3

Which of the following nursing actions would be considered a violation of HIPPA regulations? Select all that apply.

A nurse ambulates a client through a hospital hallway in a hospital gown that is open in the back. A nurse uses a client's chart as a sample teaching case without changing the client's name. A nurse reports the condition of a client to the client's employer.

A group of nurses working in a long-term care facility fails to keep the narcotic medications in a secure location. The nurses also fail to count the medications before and after each shift, as indicated by the institution's policies and procedures. These failures may result in what type of disciplinary action?

Action against the nurses' licenses

Which of the following is the most frequent reason for revocation or suspension of a nurse's license?

Alcohol or drug abuse

A nurse fails to administer a medication that prevents seizures, and the client has a seizure. The nurse is in violation of the Nurse Practice Act. What type of law is the nurse in violation of?

Civil

What type of law regulates the practice of nursing?

Civil law

What is the legal source of rules of conduct for nurses?

Nurse Practice Acts

A client refuses to have a pain medication administered by injection. A nurse says, "If you don't let me give you the shot, I will get help to hold you down and give it." With what crime might the nurse be charged?

Assault

A nurse has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit. With whom should the nurse discuss the case?

Attorney

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?

Battery

A lawyer quotes a precedent for punishment of a crime committed by the defendant in a trial. What is court-made law known as?

Common law

Which of the following is the nurse's best legal safeguard?

Competent practice

Which of the following statements accurately describes an aspect of the credentialing process used in nursing practice? Select all that apply.

Credentialing refers to the way in which professional competence is ensured and maintained. Certification grants recognition in a specified practice area to people who meet certain criteria Once earned, a license to practice is a property right and may not be revoked without due process.

A nurse is arrested for possession of illegal drugs. What kind of law is involved with this type of activity?

Criminal

A lawsuit has been brought against a nurse for malpractice. The client fell and suffered a skull fracture, resulting in a longer hospital stay and need for rehabilitation. What does the description of the client and his injuries represent as proof of malpractice?

Damages

A nurse explains the informed consent form to a client who is scheduled for heart bypass surgery. Which of the following are elements of this consent form? Select all that apply.

Disclosure Comprehension Competence

Two nurses are discussing a client's condition in an elevator full of visitors. With what crime might the nurses be charged?

Invasion of privacy

A nurse moves from Ohio to Missouri. Where can a copy of the Nurse Practice Act in Missouri be obtained?

Missouri State Board of Nursing

A nurse does not assist with ambulation for a postoperative client on the first day after surgery. The client falls and fractures a hip. What charge might be brought against the nurse?

Negligence

A client is suing a nurse for malpractice. What is the term for the person bringing suit?

Plaintiff

A baccalaureate-prepared nurse is applying for a nurse practitioner position. The nurse is:

Practicing beyond his scope according to licensure

A nurse has taken a telephone order from a physician for an emergency medication. The dose of the medication is abnormally high. What should the nurse do next?

Question the order for the medication

An on-duty nurse discovers that her colleague is pilfering medicines. According to the Nurse Practice Acts, what should the nurse do?

Report the incident to the supervisor

A nurse is providing client care in a hospital setting. Who has full legal responsibility and accountability for the nurse's actions?

The nurse

A client who has undergone resection of the intestine is on a liquid diet with a nasogastric tube in place. He refuses the food tray with regular food that comes to his room and insists that a physician be called. The nurse insists that it is the right food and makes the client take it. The client develops complications and has to be re-operated upon. How is negligence determined in this situation?

The nurse did not realize the importance of the tube.

A home care nurse is caring for a quadriplegic client who needs regular position changes and back massages. A gentleman identifying himself as a family friend inquires if he can be of any help to the family. What should be the nurse's response be?

The nurse should ask the gentleman to talk to the family directly.

A client gets out of bed following hip surgery, falls, and re-injures her hip. The nurse caring for her knows that it is her duty to make sure an incident report is filed. Which of the following statements accurately describes the correct procedure for filing an incident report?

The report should contain all the variables related to the incident.

During a clinical placement on a subacute, geriatric medicine unit, a student nurse fed a stroke client some beef broth, despite the fact that the client's diet was restricted to thickened fluids. As a result, the client aspirated and developed pneumonia. Which of the following statements underlies the student's potential liability in this situation?

The same standards of care that apply to a registered nurse apply to the student.

According to HIPPA regulations, which of the following is a client right regarding the client's medical record? Select all that apply.

To see the health record To copy the health record To restrict certain disclosures of the health record

Which of the following best describes voluntary standards?

Voluntary standards are guidelines for peer review, guided by the public's expectation of nursing.

The nurse reports a nursing colleague on the unit who is lethargic and verbally responding in a slow manner. What is this an example of?

Whistle-blowing