Chapter 2: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing Evolve Questions
A federal regulation that came into effect April 14, 2003, has impacted the health care field regarding privacy of a patient's health information. What is this regulation?
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
The nurse is caring for a patient who is scheduled for surgery. Before going to surgery, the nurse would make sure that the patient has been fully informed about the procedure to be done. What would the patient sign to acknowledge that he or she is making an intelligent decision?
Informed consent doctrine
An LPN/LVN working at a long-term care center receives a physician's order on a resident requesting a Foley catheter insertion. The nurse explains and educates the resident regarding the new order. Following a thorough explanation of the procedure, including the risks and benefits, the resident refuses the Foley catheter insertion. What must the LPN/LVN secure before following through with this order?
Informed consent from the resident
What is the term for injury to a person or the person's property that gives rise to a basis for a legal action against the person who caused the damage?
Harm
Which factors put an older adult at risk for physical, emotional, and financial abuse?
-decrease in strength and mobility -isolation -declining mental ability
Which statement characterizes criminal law?
Criminal law applies to conduct that is detrimental to society
When caring for patients, the nurse knows that part of the ethical principles include all patients having the same right to nursing interventions. What is the term for this principle?
Justice
The LPN/LVN knows that building the nurse-patient relationship is important in providing patient care, and a legal relationship is being formed. If there is a breach in this relationship and harm to the patient has occurred, which legal action can the nurse be charged with?
Malpractice
As part of their right to refuse treatment, patients may prepare advance directives specifying what life-saving treatments they do or do not wish to receive. When determining the legality of an advance directive, what applicable laws should the nurse know?
State
What resource would the LPN/LVNs refer to in order to know what they can and cannot do within their scope of practice?
The nurse practice act of their licensing state