RNSG 1125 Legal Issues

The nurse attorney provides an educational session to the nursing staff on acts of negligence. Which responses by the staff would indicate to the attorney that the staff can accurately identify acts of negligence? Select all that apply.

"I can be charged with negligence if I apply a heating pad to the client's skin and the client suffers a superficial or first-degree burn." "I can be charged with negligence if I notify the health care practitioner about a change in a client's status but do not follow up or document.

While a client admitted to the medical-surgical unit is in the radiology department, a visitor claiming to be the client's cousin arrives on the medical-surgical unit and asks the nurse to provide a brief outline of the client's illness. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate, both legally and professionally?

"I cannot give you that information due to client confidentiality."

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."

The nurse has provided preoperative instructions to a client scheduled for surgery at an ambulatory care center. Which statement, made by the client, would indicate that further instruction is needed?

"The nurse will explain the details of the surgery before I sign a consent."

Which nursing student would most likely be held liable for negligence?

A nursing student administers medication to a resident while working as an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) at a local nursing home.

A psychiatric-mental health nurse is conducting a review class about legal liability and psychiatric-mental health nursing. Which element would the nurse most likely include as being required to prove negligence on the part of a health care professional? Select all that apply.

Cause in fact Duty Damages Cause in proximity

The nurse in the preoperative setting is preparing the client for surgery. During completion of the preoperative checklist the client states, "I have a question about my surgery." What is the next action by the nurse?

Contact the surgeon to answer the client's question.

Which are appropriate actions for protecting clients' identities? Select all that apply.

Document all personnel who have accessed a client's record. Have conversations about clients in private places where they cannot be overheard. Place light boxes for examining X-rays with the client's name in private areas.

A client states that the client's recent fall was caused by his scheduled antihypertensive medications being mistakenly administered by two different nurses, an event that is disputed by both of the nurses identified by the client. Which measure should the nurses prioritize when anticipating that legal action may follow?

Document the client's claims and the events surrounding the alleged incident.

A client who tested positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and has pancreatitis is admitted to the medical unit. The nurse director from another unit comes into the medical unit nurses' station and begins reading the client's chart. The staff nurse questions the director about reading the client's chart. The director states that the client is a neighbor's son. What action should the nurse take?

Inform the nurse director reading the chart is a violation of the client's right to privacy and ask the nurse director to return the chart.

The ability to communicate clearly through documentation is a critical nursing skill. Which statements accurately describe the role of documenting in the nursing process? Select all that apply.

It is helpful to practice documentation while learning any given nursing activity. The content of the client report and nursing documentation helps to establish nursing priorities in practice. A nursing action not documented is a nursing action not performed.

The nurse is to administer a potassium supplement to the client. The nurse does not check the potassium level prior to administering the medication and later finds that the potassium level was at a critical high. What principle has this nurse violated?

Nonmaleficence

What is true of nursing responsibilities with regard to a physician-initiated intervention (physician's order)?

Nurses do carry out interventions in response to a physician's order

A nurse asks a client to sign the consent for surgery. Which situation is appropriate for giving valid consent?

The client has cognitive capacity to make decisions.

A nurse chooses a quiet, private area to conduct an end-of-shift report to the oncoming nurse. Following this procedure is necessary because of what ethical problem in nursing?

The right of confidentiality is essential to protect each client's private information.

A student nurse is assisting an older adult client to ambulate following hip replacement surgery when the client falls and reinjures the hip. Who is potentially responsible for the injury to this client?

The student nurse, the nurse instructor, and the hospital

The nurse inserts a prescribed urinary catheter into the client's urethra after the client has refused the procedure. The client suffers an injury. The client may sue the nurse for which type of tort?

battery

A nurse is caring for a client who is well known in society. A person inquires about the medical details of the client, saying that they are a family member. The nurse reveals the requested information. Later, the nurse comes to know that the inquirer was not a family member. Which ethical rule of professional-client relationships has the nurse violated?

confidentiality

The nurse is writing a medication order that a health care provider provided by telephone. What should be included when writing the order? Select all that apply.

date the order is written route of administration medication ordered medication dosage

The nurse is obtaining informed consent from a client. To adhere to ethical and legal standards, the nurse must ensure that the informed consent consists of what? Select all that apply.

discussion of pertinent information the client's agreement to the plan of care freedom from coercion

A client is scheduled to undergo an exploratory laparoscopy. The registered nurse (RN) asks the licensed practical nurse (LPN) to prepare the client for surgery. The RN must confirm that the LPN has specialized training before delegating which task?

initiating I.V. therapy, as ordered

Besides being an instrument of continuous client care, the client's health care record also serves as a(an):

legal document.

The nurse is preparing medications and has several partial dose administrations. For which medication(s) will the nurse ask another nurse to witness a waste of a partial dose? Select all that apply.

morphine 25 mg by mouth prescribed; available morphine 50 mg tablet fentanyl 25 mcg I.V. prescribed; available fentanyl 50 mcg/2 ml vial

Over the past few weeks, a client in a long-term care facility has become increasingly unsteady. The nurses are worried that the client will climb out of bed and fall. Which measure does not comply with a least restraint policy?

raising all side rails while the client is in bed

When the client has increased difficulty breathing when lying flat, the nurse records that the client is demonstrating

orthopnea.

Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for which reason?

to protect the safety of the public

A nurse working in the emergency department receives an order from an orthopedic surgeon to obtain written consent from a client for the surgical repair of a fractured forearm. The surgeon has not seen the client but has reviewed the radiographs in the operating room between cases. Which would be the most appropriate response by the nurse to the surgeon?

"It is your responsibility to obtain informed consent from the client."

An adolescent with pneumonia shares fears of having contracted human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The adolescent wants to be tested but does not want parental involvement. What should the nurse say?

"The healthcare provider will run the test confidentially."

Which statement about gonorrhea is correct?

Gonorrhea is a reportable sexually transmitted infection.

People and companies that are legally empowered to handle controlled substances must follow what procedures? (Select all that apply.)

Keep accurate records of all transactions. Be registered with the DEA. Provide for secure storage of controlled substances. SUBMIT ANSWER

A client has a prescription for amoxicillin 500 mg P.O. every 8 hours. The nurse administers the medication via the intravenous route. Based on the nurse's action, the client develops complications and has an increased length of stay. The client files a lawsuit against the facility and the nurse. Which legal action has the nurse's attorney identified that meets the criteria for the client's lawsuit?

Malpractice

Which court decision or act states that psychotherapists have a duty to exercise reasonable care in protecting the foreseeable victims of their clients' violent actions?

Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California

An older couple approaches the nurse's station seeking information about their hospitalized grandchild. What should be the nurse's response?

Tell the couple to seek information directly from the child's parents.

The nurse is providing care to several clients. In which situation would the nurse be able to accept a verbal order from the healthcare provider?

The client is hemorrhaging from a surgical wound.

The children of a male client with late-stage Alzheimer disease have informed the nurse on the unit that their father possesses a living will. The nurse should recognize that this document is most likely to:

specify the treatment measures that the client wants and does not want.

A nurse who comments to coworkers at lunch that a client with a sexually transmitted infection has been sexually active in the community may be guilty of what tort?

Slander