Chapter 7 Prepu

Nurses are occasionally asked to witness a testator's (person who makes the will) signing of a will. Which guideline is true regarding a nurse's role in witnessing a testator's signature?

Witnesses to a signature do not need to read the will.

Which statements made by a nurse would indicate to a nurse manager that the nurse requires further training? Select all that apply.

"If I make a mistake, I will not tell anyone."."I will have the supervisor fill out the incident report when I make an error."

Which statement made by the nurse providing care to a group of clients indicates that the nurse requires further education regarding negligence?

"I don't need to assess distal pulses on a client after a femoral arteriography."

Which scenario is an example of certification?

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

Which process evaluates and recognizes educational programs as having met certain standards?

Accreditation

While walking down the hall, a nurse manager overhears a staff member telling a client, "If you don't stay in this chair and stop wandering, I'm going to tie you to it." The nurse manager pulls the staff member aside and discusses what was said. The nurse manager intervenes because the staff member's statement is which type of tort?

Assault

A client with end-stage renal disease decides against further treatment and requests a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order. The DNR status is part of the change-of-shift report. The client stops breathing and a nurse begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The family is upset and makes a complaint to the charge nurse. The charge nurse appropriately identifies that nurse has committed:

Battery

A client is to undergo surgery for removal of the gallbladder. Which action related to the client's informed consent falls within the nurse's scope of practice? Select all that apply.

Ensuring the signed form is on the chart Acting as a witness to the client's signature on the form Answering questions about elements of the consent

A nurse is caring for a client in the community who is at risk for sudden death from a chronic health condition. To reduce the legal risks associated with working with this client, the nurse carries out which action(s)? Select all that apply.

Follow the prescribed plan of care for the client. Explain every nursing intervention in detail. Document nursing actions shortly after completion.

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

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

Nurse practice acts are examples of which type of laws?

Statutory laws

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.

While at a coworker's house, a nurse discusses with the coworker a client whom the nurse suspects of physically abusing the client's child. The next day, the client is moved to another nursing unit after a surgical procedure and comes under the care of the coworker, who is also a nurse. The coworker confronts the client about the alleged physical abuse. The client is shocked and angered by the accusation and denies it categorically. What would be the charge if the client were to file a suit?

The first nurse could be charged with slander.

Which best exemplifies malpractice?

The nurse administers amoxicillin to a client with known allergies to penicillin. The client has a seizure with resulting respiratory arrest.

Legal safeguards are in place in the nursing practice to protect the nurse from exposure to legal risks as well as to protect the client from harm. What is an example(s) of legal safeguards for the nurse? Select all that apply.

The nurse confirms informed consent was give by the client to perform a procedure.The nurse educates the client about what to expect during the hospital stay.The nurse documents all client care in a timely manner.

A family brings the client to the emergency department in an unconscious state with a head injury. The client requires surgery to remove a blood clot. What would be the appropriate nursing intervention in keeping with the policy of informed consent prior to a surgical procedure?

The nurse confirms that the client's family has signed the consent form.

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.

Action has been taken against a nurse's license based on a claim that the nurse acted outside of nursing's scope of practice. The nurse's attorney determines that the nurse needs more education about the purpose of the board of nursing when the nurse makes which statement?

The rules made by the board of nursing don't reflect my practice

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

Nurses complete incident reports as dictated by the agency protocol. What is the primaryreason nurses fill out an incident report?

To improve quality of care

A client admitted to a mental health unit has exhibited physical behaviors that put the client and others at risk. The nurse applies four-point restraints on the client without obtaining a health care provider's order or the client's consent. The nurse is at risk of being accused of which action?

battery

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

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

The client being admitted to the oncology unit conveys wishes regarding the use of tube feedings if the client becomes unable to feed by mouth. The nurse advises the client that it would be in the client's interest to obtain which document?

living will

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

A nurse, while off-duty, tells the physiotherapist that a client who was admitted to the nursing unit contracted AIDS due to exposure to sex workers at the age of 18. The client discovers that the nurse has revealed the information to the physiotherapist. With what legal action could the nurse be charged?

slander

A client is in a persistent vegetative state following a severe motor vehicle collision. The client has no immediate family. Whom should the nurse consult when seeking direction for care?

surrogate decision maker