Taylor ch 7 PrepU - Legal Dimensions

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

After caring for a pediatric client, the nurse is surprised to learn about being named in a malpractice lawsuit. Select the four actions that meet the legal requirements of malpractice.

The client suffered an injury. The nurse has the duty to care for the client. The nurse failed to provide appropriate care. The nurse's lack of action directly resulted in harm.

An RN enters a client's room and observes the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) forcefully pushing a client down on the bed. The client starts crying and informs the UAP of the need to go to the bathroom. What action is the RN witnessing that should be immediately reported to the supervisor?

Battery

A nurse threatens to restrain a verbally abusive client if the abuse continues. Which legal tort has the nurse committed?

Assault

The nurse manager is using voluntary standards as a guideline for developing policies on the unit. What voluntary standards are available for the nurse to use? Select all that apply.

American Nurses Association Standards of Practice Professional standards for certification of individual nurses in general practice Process of certification

The nurse is providing care to a client who had orthopedic surgery. The nurse has medicated the client for pain. However, the client reports that the pain is unrelieved. The nurse takes no further action regarding assessment and intervention for the client's pain. The nurse does not notify the surgeon regarding the client's pain. The nurse's failure to take further action represents which element of liability in this case?

Breach of duty

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 nurse is called to a deposition for a malpractice charge that has resulted in the death of a client. As the chart is reviewed, the prosecuting attorney questions the nurse about several defaming comments written in the medical record about the client. What charges can be filed against the nurse due to these comments?

Libel

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

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 health care provider. The health care provider 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

Having recently completed a specialty nursing program in neonatal care, a nurse is now preparing to leave the medical unit and begin providing care in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The nurse has completed which process of credentialing?

Certification

A client was admitted to a postoperative nursing unit after undergoing abdominal surgery. During this time, the nurse failed to recognize the significance of abdominal swelling, which significantly increased during the next 6 hours. Later, the client had to undergo emergency surgery. The lack of action on the nurse's part is liable for action. Which legal term describes the case?

Tort

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."