Legal Issues- PrepU

A nurse explains the guidelines for the unit's seclusion room to a client with an impulse control disorder. Which client statement indicates that the nurse has adequately communicated the client's rights?

"Although I don't think I will, I can ask to go into seclusion, but I know you can make me go into the seclusion room."

The nurse is caring for a 90-year-old male who has never completed an advanced directive. The man has a son but has not seen him in several years. A neighbor has assisted him with meals and housecleaning for many years. The neighbor states that the client expressed only wanting to have comfort measures. The estranged son wants his father to be treated aggressively. Which would be the nurse's initial step?

Assess the client's ability to state wishes.

A client reveals in a therapy session that the client has thought about killing a neighbor. What is the therapist's obligation regarding this revelation?

The therapist must notify authorities and the potential victim.

A 15-year-old client who is 26 weeks pregnant has been admitted to the labor and delivery unit with reports of abdominal pain. Her parents want to speak with a nurse about her condition. How should the nurse respond?

"I'll need a signed consent from your daughter to give you medical information."

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."

A client in a long-term care facility signed a form requesting not to be resuscitated. The client develops pneumonia, and the client's health rapidly deteriorates. The client is no longer competent, but the family wants everything possible done for the client. When the family asks the nurse what will be done, what is the best response by the nurse?

"We will continue to use antibiotics to treat the pneumonia."

Which scenario is an example of certification?

A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing

Just prior to administering lorazepam 2 mg I.V. to an agitated client, the client knocks the medication to the floor. After retrieving the medication, what is the best action by the nurse?

Ask another nurse to witness the waste of the medication.

The nurse is performing and documenting the findings of an abdominal assessment. When the nurse hears intestinal rumbling and the client then experiences diarrhea, the nurse documents the presence of which condition?

Borborygmus;Borborygmus is the intestinal rumbling caused by the movement of gas through the intestines that accompanies diarrhea.

Prescription practices of primary health care providers for controlled substances are monitored by which agency?

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)

A client diagnosed with a terminal illness appoints her oldest son as the authorized individual to make medical decisions on her behalf when she is no longer able to speak for herself. Which proxy directive is the patient using?

Durable power of attorney for health care

The nurse is collecting supplies to apply a vacuum assisted wound closure dressing. In which order would the nurse apply the dressing to a client's sacral wound? All options must be used.

Explain the procedure to the client. Assess and measure the wound bed. Insert black foam into the wound. Apply the transparent film with vacuum tubing. Connect the tubing to machine. Ensure the correct pressure settings are as prescribed.

An HIV-positive client discovers that the client's name is published in a research report on HIV care prepared by the client's nurse. The client is hurt and files a lawsuit against the nurse. Which offense has the nurse committed?

Invasion of privacy

Which of the following is a true statement about a living will?

It states the client's wishes regarding healthcare if terminally ill.

A new graduate wants to be knowledgable about state-mandated rules to better practice within the scope of nursing. What are the best resources for this nurse to research? Select all that apply.

Nurse practice acts Nursing educational requirements Composition and disciplinary authority of board of nursing

Which statement about laws governing the distribution of controlled substances is true?

Nurses are responsible for adhering to specific documentation about controlled substances.

The nurse has received several laboratory studies back at the clinic. Which of these results should be reported to the local health department?

Positive gonorrhea

A client has admitted to the nurse that the client is "tempted to end it all." How can the nurse prevent a future malpractice lawsuit if the client makes a suicide attempt?

Promptly act on, and document, the client's statement.

The nurse obtains a unit of blood for the client, Donald D. Smith. The name on the label on the unit of blood reads Donald A. Smith. All the other identifiers are correct. What action should the nurse take?

Refuses to administer the blood

The client is terminal and has unrelieved and intractable pain. The nurse is administering hydromorphone intravenously. The client states, "I want you to give me additional medication so I will die. I can't go on any longer." What action would the nurse take?

State, "This is not something I or any of the nurses can do."

A charge nurse enters a client's room and observes a physician instructing another nurse on how to insert a central line into the client's neck. The nurse is holding the cannula and inserting the line. What would be the appropriate response by the charge nurse?

Stop the procedure and inform the nurse that this is outside of a nurse's legal scope of practice.

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.

Which guidelines define and regulate what the nurse may and may not do as a professional?

nurse practice act

A client in a long-term care facility has signed a form stating that he does not want to be resuscitated. He develops an upper respiratory infection that progresses to pneumonia. His health rapidly deteriorates, and he is no longer competent. The client's family states that they want everything possible done for the client. What should happen in this case?

The client should be treated with antibiotics for pneumonia.

The nurse received emergency verbal orders on a client. The client is now stable. What action is necessary when transcribing the verbal orders given during the emergency? Select all that apply.

The health care provider signs the orders, including time signed. The health care provider reviews the orders for accuracy. The health care provider's name and title are included when signing the orders. Generic drug names are included in the transcribed orders.

After reporting to work for a night shift, the nurse learns that the unit is understaffed because two RNs called out sick. As a result, each nurse on the unit must provide care for four acute clients in addition to the nurse's regular clients. Which statement is true for this nurse when working in understaffed circumstances?

The nurse is legally held to the same standards of care as when staffing levels are normal.

The nurse is caring for a client who has an elevated temperature. When calling the health care provider, the nurse should use which communication tools to ensure that communication is clear and concise?

The nurse should use SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation) when communicating with the health care provider.

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

To protect the safety of the public

A client was admitted for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The physician performing the procedure failed to obtain informed consent before the ECT was administered. The physician could be charged with what?

battery

The nurse is planning an education for new nurses on psychiatric units. Which topic should be given priority?

breach of 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 medication dosage route of administration medication ordered

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 medication ordered medication dosage route of administration

A client's son is named to make decisions for his mother in the event she cannot speak for herself. This is an example of a(an):

durable power of attorney.

A client whose blood type is A− gives birth to a neonate whose blood type is A+. The client is scheduled to have Rho(D) immune globulin administered. Before administering the medication, which action by the nurse is most important?

ensuring that the client understands the procedure and signs a consent for the vaccination

The nurse is preparing a client for surgery and asks if the client has an advance directive. The client asks "What is an advance directive?" What is the nurse's best response to this?

"An advance directive will communicate your wishes for health care postoperatively in case you are unable to do so."

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.

A client who is legally blind must undergo a colonoscopy. The nurse is helping the healthcare provider obtain informed consent. When obtaining informed consent from a client who is visually impaired, the nurse should take which step?

Read the consent form to the client and ask if there are any questions.

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

A nurse sends a group text message to coworkers describing a coworker dating a former client. The message includes sexual behaviors, times, and places that the two people were seen together. The nurse is at risk of what act of wrongdoing? Select all that apply.

libel intentional tort

A client who is in her third trimester presents at the labor and delivery triage area with a history of a fall. She has bruising on her back and arms. There is no vaginal bleeding and the fetal heart rate (FHR) shows accelerations. A completed Abuse Assessment Screen indicates the possibility of abuse. The nurse should refer this client to

the social worker on call.