IPHE310 Midterm Review

b

A group of nurses wishes to improve the ethics of the care their group provides. What is the first step this group should take to reach their goal? a. Request that all dilemmas be presented to the Hospital Ethics Committee for resolution. b. Explore their individual values and beliefs. c. Seek others' input rather than relying on their own ethical determinations. d. Explore the values and beliefs of the physicians with whom they work.

b

A lawsuit is being tried in a state that recognizes pure comparative negligence. The attorney for the nurse defendant is attempting to prove the plaintiff has some responsibility for the injury that occurred. If this proof can be established, can the plaintiff recover damages? a. Only if the plaintiff is over 51% at fault b. Yes, even if the plaintiff is 99% at fault c. Only if the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault d. No; if the plaintiff has any fault, damages cannot be recovered.

b

A nurse has been called to testify in a malpractice lawsuit. Which information should the attorney provide about the process of cross-examination? a. Cross-examination allows the nurse to ask questions of the opposing counsel. b. During this process opposing counsel will try to refute the nurse's testimony. c. Cross-examination is a process to ensure that both attorneys question all witnesses. d. This process allows opposing counsel to explain the meaning of the nurse's testimony.

d

A nurse is leaving the parking lot at the hospital and carelessly runs over a patient who was just discharged. Ironically, the nurse had been assigned to care for that patient that day. If the patient sues this nurse, which statement is true? a. The nurse cannot be held liable for either malpractice or negligence based upon this set of facts. b. The nurse can be held liable for both negligence and malpractice. c. The nurse can be held liable for malpractice but not negligence. d. The nurse can be held liable for negligence but not malpractice.

necessity

A patient became confused and used a pocket knife to threaten others. The nurse confiscated the knife. What is the nurse's best defense for this action?

tort law

A person who was injured in a motor vehicle accident sued the driver to recover hospital costs. Which type of law would be enforced in this situation?

patient benefit

An ethical dilemma has arisen in regard to a patient who has been declared incompetent and who left no advance directive. Which model is likely to be of best use to the ethics committee reviewing the case?

evidence beyond a reasonable doubt

Criminal charges have been brought against a nurse who made a medication error that resulted in a child's death. Which level of evidence is expected in this case?

a, c

In which scenarios would the nurse assume that apparent consent has been provided? a. The patient follows directions to swallow sips of water as the nurse inserts a nasogastric tube. b. The patient's family member signed the consent to treat. c. The patient smiled and held out his arm when the nurse said, "I need to start an intravenous line." d. The patient voluntarily signed a consent form for an invasive procedure. e. An unconscious patient is brought to the hospital following a motor vehicle accident.

b

Nurses believe that there is a need to change policy for their clinical unit. What is the first step these nurses should take when considering this need for new policy? a. Determining how many people are affected by the policy b. Identifying the problem c. Looking for ethical arguments regarding the policy d. Finding out who has authority to change the policy

autonomy

Prior to surgery, the nurse checks to ensure that the patient has signed an informed consent form. Which ethical principle is the nurse supporting?

a

Punitive damages of one million dollars were awarded to the family of a patient who died following a nursing medication error. What is true of these punitive damages? a. These damages are awarded to set an example to other nurses. b. The jury believes the nurse's actions were an honest mistake. c. This jury identified this case as representing simple negligence. d. The damages are awarded instead of the nurse serving prison time.

d

The 4-year-old child developed a seizure disorder that may be related to a medication error that occurred 3 years ago. What is true of the statute of limitations in this case? a. The statute of limitations in this case won't begin to be calculated until the child reaches the age of 13. b. There is no statute of limitations on medication errors that occur in children prior to the age of 2. c. Since the incident occurred over 2 years ago, the statute of limitations has expired. d. Depending upon the state, the statute of limitations might not begin to be calculated until the child reaches the age of majority.

a

The attorney for a nurse named in a malpractice case recommends that the case go to a prelitigation panel. What rationale would the attorney offer the nurse for this recommendation? a. These panels ensure that there is a controversy or fact question for the court. b. Using such a panel negates the need for a full jury trial. c. Such panels shorten the time between filing and conclusion of the lawsuit. d. Questioning of witnesses is not conducted under oath and is more informal.

assumption of risk

The cardiac telemetry unit nurses repeatedly cautioned a patient not to leave the floor because input from telemetry monitors is limited to that area. The patient went to the cafeteria and suffered a fatal dysrhythmia. What is the nurses' best defense in the negligence lawsuit brought for the patient's survivors?

a

The hospital ethics committee has been asked to consider a controversial issue that has a significant number of persons both for and against it. Which other characteristic would the committee look for when determining if applied ethics should be used as a guide for their work? a. The situation must concern a distinctly moral issue. b. The situation must involve great expense to the hospital or patient. c. The situation must involve high risk activities. d. The situation must occur frequently.

b

The nurse believes that a physician's order written at the end of a shift is contrary to the accepted standard of care and could potentially harm the patient. What should the nurse do? a. Ask the nurse manager what to do. b. Question the physician regarding the order. c. Let the next shift make the decision regarding implementation of the order. d. Complete the order as directed.

moral distress

The nurse manager is conducting a performance review with a nurse who has worked on the unit for 10 years. During the review, the nurse begins to cry and tells the manager, "I just can't do this anymore. I can't sleep because I have such bad nightmares about patients. I can't eat and I've already lost 15 pounds." The nurse manager identifies these findings as being possible signs of which problem?

veracity

The nurse tells a patient that an immunization "will not hurt at all" when the nurse is aware that the injection will be painful. Which ethical principle has the nurse most clearly violated?

d

The state board of nursing has brought action against a nurse's license based upon violation of a regulation. What is true about this scenario? a. Violation of a rule or regulation is not the same as violation of the state nursing practice act. b. Rules and regulations are only suggested standards of care and do not have to be followed. c. Rules and regulations are internal to the state board, not the nurse. d. These rules and regulations have the force of law.

b

What does the court consider in determining the nurse's legal liability for standards of care? a. Professional conduct, but not experience or education b. Professional education, experience, and specific conduct c. Professional education, but not experience or conduct d. Professional experience, but not education or conduct

b

What is the single most critical factor in determining whether a particular nurse acted with reasonable care in a given situation? a. The number of years the nurse has practiced as a professional nurse b. How the nurse's conduct compares to that of nurses with similar background and experience c. The experience the nurse has in the particular clinical setting in which the situation occurred d. The ability of the nurse to perform according to his or her job description

a

What would the nurse identify as the most basic purpose of standards of care? a. To protect and safeguard the public as a whole b. To ensure that all patients receive state-of-the-art care c. To protect health care providers and prevent their giving less than quality care d. To ensure administrative agencies are protected from frivolous lawsuits

self-defense

When a patient became confused and dangerous to himself and others in the setting, restraints were applied, and the patient was confined to bed. What is the nurse's best defense for applying restraints?

a

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.

d

Which person would best qualify as an expert in a nursing malpractice case filed because of failure of a postanesthesia care unit nurse to recognize the early signs and symptoms of respiratory arrest? a. The director of clinical pharmacy who holds a doctoral degree in clinical pharmacology b. A staff nurse who works on the general medical unit and has recently earned a BS in nursing. c. The director of nursing at the hospital who holds an MSN in nursing administration d. A critical care nurse who holds a BS in nursing and certification from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN)

b, e

Which scenarios would the nurse identify as a quasi-intentional tort rather than an intentional tort? a. A visitor refuses to leave the patient's room after upsetting the patient and being asked to leave. b. The physician accuses the nurse of incompetence in front of the patient's family. c. The nurse tells the patient that if he does not starting drinking fluids, an intravenous line will be necessary. d. The nurse physically restrains a patient so that intravenous access can be obtained. e. The nursing student takes a cellphone picture of a patient's leg wound to show her classmates.

d

Which situation supports the charge of malpractice against a professional nurse? a. A failure on the part of the nurse to allay a patient's fears about an upcoming procedure b. A failure on the part of the nurse to ensure that patients only received care for which they could pay c. A failure on the part of the nurse to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient d. A failure on the part of the nurse to exercise reasonable and prudent care in treating a patient