Chpt. 3 Nursing Practice and the Law
A patient is transported to the emergency department by rescue after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. The patient is alert and oriented but keeps stating he is having trouble breathing. Oxygen is started, but the patient is still showing signs of dyspnea. The patient suddenly develops respiratory arrest and dies. During the resuscitation process, it is discovered that the nurse failed to open the correct oxygen valve. The family sues the hospital and the nurse for: a) Malpractice b) Negligence c) Nonmaleficence d) Equipment failure
a
An RN has asked a licensed practical nurse (LPN) to trim the toenails of a diabetic patient. The LPN trims them too short, which results in a toe amputation from infection. The patient files a lawsuit against the hospital, the RN, and the LPN. What might all three be found guilty of? a) Unintentional tort b) Intentional tort c) Negligence d) Malpractice
d
Which common practice puts the nurse at liability for invasion of patient privacy? a) During care, the nurse reveals information about the patient to those in the room b) The nurse releases information about the patient to nursing students who will be caring for the patient the next day c) The nurse conducts a patient care session about a patient whose care is difficult and challenging d) Confidential information regarding an admitted patient is released to third-party payers
a
A patient tells a nurse that he has an advance directive from 6 years ago. The nurse looks at the medical record for the advance directive. What content should the nurse expect to find in the advance directive? Select all that apply. a) Decisions regarding treatments b) When to take the patient to the hospital c) Do not resuscitate orders d) Who should be notified in the case of illness, injury, or death e) Durable power of attorney for health care f) HIPAA protocols
a, b, c, e
An RN is obtaining a signature on a surgical informed consent document. Before obtaining the signature, the RN must ensure which of the following? Select all that apply. a) The client is not sedated. b) The doctor is present. c) A family member is a witness. d) The signature is in ink. e) The patient understands the procedure.
a, e
An RN new to the emergency department documented that "the patient was intoxicated and acted in a crazy manner." The team leader told the RN that this type of documentation can lead to: a) Assault b) Wrongful publication c) Defamation of character d) Slander
c
An RN calls a health-care provider to report that a patient ' s condition is deteriorating. The physician gives orders on the telephone to draw arterial blood gases. What should the nurse do next when receiving telephone orders from a health-care provider? a) Call the respiratory therapist to obtain the blood gases. b) Give the order to the unit secretary to ensure it is entered quickly. c) Enter the order directly into the system as it was given to the RN. d) Write the order down and read it back to the provider.
d
An RN sees an older woman fall in the mall. The RN helps the woman. The woman later complains that she twisted and sprained her ankle. The RN is protected from litigation under: a) Hospital malpractice insurance b) Good faith agreement c) Good Samaritan law d) Personal professional insurance
c
After 3 years of uneventful employment, the nurse made a medication error that resulted in patient injury. What hospital response to this event is ethical? a) The hospital was supportive and assistive as the nurse coped with this event. b) The nurse was dismissed for incompetence. c) The hospital quality department advised the nurse not to tell the patient about the error. d) The nurse was reassigned to an area in which there is no direct patient care responsibility.
a
The health-care facility has sponsored a continuing education offering on emergency management of pandemic influenza. At lunch, a nurse is overheard saying, "I'm not going to take care of anyone who might have that flu. I have kids to think about." What is true of this statement? Select all that apply. a) The nurse has a greater obligation than a layperson to care for the sick or injured in an emergency. b) This statement reflects defamation and may result in legal action against the nurse. c) This statement is a breach of the Code of Ethics for Nurses. d) The nurse has this right as no nurse-patient contract has been established.
a, c
