NCO Health Care Law

What should the nurse consider when obtaining an informed consent from a 17-year-old adolescent? 1) Whether the client is allowed to give consent 2) That the client cannot make informed decisions about healthcare 3) Whether the client is permitted to give voluntary consent when parents are not available 4) That the client probably will be unable to choose between alternatives when asked to consent

1) Whether the client is allowed to give consent

Which situation is an accurate instance of false imprisonment? 1) A nurse applies restraints to a conscious client to feed him or her. 2) A nurse applies restraints to an aggressive client after obtaining a signed consent form. 3) A nurse applies restraints to an unconscious client who is in danger of sustaining a fall. 4) A nurse applies restraints to a client after obtaining an order from the primary healthcare provider.

1) A nurse applies restraints to a conscious client to feed him or her.

A nurse is discussing informed consent with a client who is scheduled for a hysterectomy. What components should the informed consent include? Select all that apply. 1) Duplicate of the Patient's Bill of Rights 2) Explanation of available alternative treatments 3) Answers to questions and concerns about the procedure 4) Complete description of the possible dangers and discomforts 5) Countersignature by the person designated in the client's living will

2) Explanation of available alternative treatments 3) Answers to questions and concerns about the procedure 4) Complete description of the possible dangers and discomforts

A nurse preparing to apply restraints to a client should understand which of the following principles? 1) The law prohibits restraining clients until a written prescription is obtained. 2) A felony charge may be leveled against nurses who use restraints improperly. 3) Nurses are not obligated to report institutions that use restraints unlawfully. 4) Charges of assault and battery may be leveled against nurses who use restraints improperly.

4) Charges of assault and battery may be leveled against nurses who use restraints improperly.

A child tells the school nurse, "My father has been getting into bed with me at night and touching me." What should the nurse do next? 1) Ask the child to describe the touching. 2) Tell the teacher to report any inappropriate behavior. 3) Contact the father to come to the school immediately. 4) Report the child's conversation to child protective services.

4) Report the child's conversation to child protective services.

A client with terminal cancer signs a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order upon admission to the hospital. When the client goes into respiratory arrest a week later, the client is not resuscitated. Which factor does the nurse determine is most relevant to the legal aspects of a DNR order? 1) Policies of the agency establish the status of DNR orders. 2) Age is an important factor in the decision not to resuscitate. 3) Decisions regarding resuscitation reside with the client's primary healthcare provider. 4) Once a DNR order is signed, it remains in force for the entire hospitalization.

1) Policies of the agency establish the status of DNR orders.

A client has been placing used insulin needles in a container sealed with heavy-duty tape. The client asks where the container can be disposed of. How should the nurse respond? 1) Take it to the local hazardous waste collection site. 2) Place it in the regular household trash. 3) Take it to the local health department for disposal. 4) Mail it to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

1) Take it to the local hazardous waste collection site.

Twenty-four hours after a cesarean birth, a client elects to sign herself and her baby out of the hospital. Staff members are unable to contact her primary healthcare provider. The client arrives at the nursery and asks that her infant be given to her to take home. What is the most appropriate nursing action? 1) Give the infant to the client and instruct her regarding the infant's care. 2) Explain to the client that she can leave, but her infant must remain in the hospital. 3) Emphasize to the client that the infant is a minor and legally must remain until prescriptions are received. 4) Tell the client that hospital policy prevents the staff from releasing the infant until ready for discharge.

1) Give the infant to the client and instruct her regarding the infant's care.

A nurse in the family planning clinic reviews the health history of a sexually active 16-year-old girl whose chief concern is a thick, burning vaginal discharge accompanied by low abdominal pain. After her examination, the girl is informed that she may have a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that requires treatment. The adolescent is concerned that her parents will discover that she is sexually active. She asks the nurse whether her parents will be contacted. How should the nurse respond? 1) "Your parents will not be contacted because treatment at the clinic is confidential." 2) "Your parents need to be informed to sign a consent form for testing and treatment." 3) "Your parents will be notified when the insurance company is billed for testing and treatment." 4) "Your parents will not be told if you promise to have your sexual contacts tested."

1) "Your parents will not be contacted because treatment at the clinic is confidential."

A nurse stops at the scene of an accident and finds a man with a deep laceration on his hand, a fractured arm and leg, and abdominal pain. The nurse wraps the man's hand in a soiled cloth and drives him to the nearest hospital. How will the nurse's behavior be interpreted? 1) The nurse is negligent and can be sued for malpractice. 2) The nurse is practicing under guidelines of the nurse practice act. 3) The nurse is protected for these actions, in most states (Canada: provinces/territories), by Good Samaritan legislation. 4) The nurse is treating a health problem that can and should be addressed by a primary healthcare provider

1) The nurse is negligent and can be sued for malpractice.

A nurse is examining different scenarios related to defamation of character. Which scenarios are examples of slander? Select all that apply. 1) A nurse gives detailed information about the progress of an illness to a client's employer. 2) A nurse informs the primary healthcare provider falsely that a client shows signs of drug abuse. 3) A nurse notes that a client has contracted syphilis even though the client does not have the infection. 4) A nurse informs the client's caregivers that the client is aggressive, even though there is no evidence. 5) A nurse warns a colleague that a client displays inappropriate sexual behavior when no such event happened.

2) A nurse informs the primary healthcare provider falsely that a client shows signs of drug abuse. 4) A nurse informs the client's caregivers that the client is aggressive, even though there is no evidence. 5) A nurse warns a colleague that a client displays inappropriate sexual behavior when no such event happened.

Which functions are registered nurses legally permitted to perform in a mental health hospital? Select all that apply. 1) Psychotherapy 2) Health promotion 3) Case management 4) Prescribing medication 5) Treating human responses

2) Health promotion 3) Case management 5) Treating human responses

What are the best ways for a nurse to be protected legally? Select all that apply. 1) Ensure that a therapeutic relationship with all clients has been established. 2) Provide care within the parameters of the state or provinces standards for nursing practice. 3) Carry at least $100,000 worth of liability insurance. 4) Document consistently and objectively. 5) Clearly document a client's nonadherence to the medical regimen.

2) Provide care within the parameters of the state or provinces standards for nursing practice. 4) Document consistently and objectively. 5) Clearly document a client's nonadherence to the medical regimen.