Legalities in Nursing Practice Questions
What governing body has the authority to revoke or suspend a nurse's license?
The State Board of Nurse Examiners
A nurse fails to communicate a change in the client's condition to the physician. Which element related to proving malpractice has been met?
Breach of duty
A client asks an RN to prescribe a medication for pain. What is the best answer by the nurse?
"Only advanced practice registered nurses have prescriptive authority."
Which is an example of an unintentional tort?
A nurse gives the client a medication, and the client has an adverse reaction to it.
Which scenario is an example of certification?
A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing
An RN is working on a medical-surgical unit with a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN). Which action by the RN is considered negligent if injury results from this action?
Asking the LPN/LVN to teach a new diabetic client how to administer insulin
a critical thinking method used by nurses to provide nursing care that is individualized and holistic.
Conducting blood pressure screenings in an underserved area
Which elements are necessary to prove malpractice? Select all that apply.
Duty Breach of duty Causation Damages
A nurse working on a busy medical-surigcal unit does not take the vital signs of client who is preparing for discharge but instead documents the same vital signs obtained for this client earlier in the morning. For which tort would the nurse be potentially liable?
Fraud
The nurse discussing the importance of professional nursing organizations setting standards should include which statement?
It helps identify nursing as a profession.
Which situation is an example of battery that the nurse may witness while performing duties at the health care facility?
Performing a surgical procedure without getting consent
A nurse witnesses a traffic accident and dresses the open wounds sustained by a child. Later, in the hospital, the child develops complications from an infection in the wound. The family holds the nurse responsible for the complications and attempts to file a lawsuit. Which statement is true regarding how the Good Samaritan law applies to this case?
The Good Samaritan law will provide legal immunity to the nurse.
A nurse enters the client's room and finds the client lying on the floor experiencing a seizure. After stabilizing the client, the nurse informs the physician. The physician advises the nurse to prepare an incident report. What is the purpose of an incident report?
To evaluate the quality of care provided and assess the potential risks for injury to the client
A nurse fails to communicate a change in the client's condition to the physician. Which element related to proving malpractice has been met?
breach of duty
A nurse is caring for a client following endotracheal intubation. Before applying soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from pulling out the endotracheal tube, what is the most appropriate action of the nurse?
obtain a medical order
A nurse and the facility have been named as defendants in a malpractice lawsuit. In addition to the nurse's attorney, whom else would be appropriate for the nurse to talk with about the case?
the agency's risk manager
A client being discharged from the hospital asks the nurse, "When I go visit my family out of state, should I take my living will with me, or do I need a new one for that state?" Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
"Take it with you. It is recognized universally in the United States."
Nurses complete incident reports as dictated by the agency protocol. What is the primary reason nurses fill out an incident report?
To improve quality of care
The nurse is caring for a client who cannot meet health needs independently. Which action made by the nurse depicts concern and attachment?
asking the client, "How are you today? I am really worried about you."