1125 Legal
A staff nurse is caring for a client who is a potential heart donor. The client's family is concerned that the recipient will have access to personal donor information. Which response by the nurse demonstrates knowledge of the organ donation process?
"I will have the transplant coordinator speak with you to answer your questions."
A nurse working in the emergency department receives an order from an orthopedic surgeon to obtain written consent from a client for the surgical repair of a fractured forearm. The surgeon has not seen the client but has reviewed the radiographs in the operating room between cases. Which would be the most appropriate response by the nurse to the surgeon?
"It is your responsibility to obtain informed consent from the client."
An agitated client demands to see the chart to read what has been written about the client. Which statement is the nurse's best response to the client?
"You have the right to see your chart. Please discuss your wish with your physician."
The school nurse is conducting health assessments for a group of children. Which of the following situations encountered by the nurse raises suspicion of child neglect?
A child reports of constant hunger.
A nurse is caring for a client with bruises on her face and arms. Her partner refuses to leave the client's bedside and answers all of the questions for the client. Which intervention by the nurse would be most appropriate?
Collaborate with the physician to make a referral to social services.
Which scenario is an example of certification?
A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing through special testing
A client with depression who is undergoing a colonoscopy tomorrow is receiving preoperative education regarding the procedure. Which nursing task best describes the explanation of the procedure and the associated risks and benefits?
Acquiring informed consent
Which action constitutes battery?
An older adult client refuses an intramuscular injection, but the nurse administers it.
A client informs the nurse about leaving the health care facility because the client is not satisfied with the treatment. The nurse knows that the client's treatment is incomplete and further testing and evaluations are scheduled. Which action by the nurse would be most appropriate to prevent false imprisonment?
Ask the client to sign a release without medical approval
Which statement about gonorrhea is correct?
Gonorrhea is a reportable sexually transmitted infection.
The nurse used a secure access code to obtain a morphine 2 mg/ml vial from the computerized automated dispensing cabinet (ADC). Before exiting the system, the nurse is prompted to count the remaining vials. The nurse counts 10 remaining vials, but the system reads 9 remaining vials. What is the next action by the nurse?
Ask another nurse to assist with following the procedure to resolve the discrepancy
A 9-year-old child presents to a school nurse and reports arm and leg pain. Upon assessment, the nurse identifies numerous purple to yellow ecchymotic areas. When asked, the child says that the bruises are the result of "being in trouble at home." Which action by the nurse is mostappropriate?
Contact the authorities immediately
A nurse is working in a clinic where a family member's spouse is treated for a sexually transmitted disease. The nurse is concerned about the risk to family members. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Encourage the client to speak with the family member about the diagnosis if the client has not already done so
Which are appropriate actions for protecting clients' identities? Select all that apply.
Have conversations about clients in private places where they cannot be overheard. Document all personnel who have accessed a client's record. Place light boxes for examining X-rays with the client's name in private areas.
Which statement is not true regarding a medication administration record (MAR)?
If the client declines the dose, the nurse does not have to document this on the MAR
A nurse talks with family members about an AIDS client from the clinic where the nurse works. Which tort has the nurse committed?
Invasion of privacy
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
A woman at 15 weeks' gestation is about to undergo amniocentesis. Which nursing intervention should be made first?
Obtain a signed consent form
Which is true of the Occupational Safety and Health Act?
It helps to reduce workforce injuries and illness in the workplace.
Which statements are true concerning syphilis? Select all that apply.
It is a reportable systemic sexually transmitted infection (STI). The disease is more prevalent in men. Primary spread of the disease is through direct contact with lesions
The birth defects associated with thalidomide (Thalomid) resulted in legislation known as the:
Kefauver-Harris Act of 1962.
A nurse is conducting a physical assessment on an adolescent who does not want her parents informed that she had an abortion in the past. Which statement best describes the information security measures the nurse would implement in this situation?
Respect the adolescent's wishes and maintain her confidentiality
A 14-year-old adolescent tells the nurse about being in love with a 22-year-old neighbor and that they've had sex on several occasions. The client doesn't want the parents to know because the client is in love and is afraid the parents will be angry. What is the nurse's best course of action?
Tell the adolescent that the law requires the nurse to report the sexual contact because of the age difference.
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 preparing a client for a colonoscopy at the hospital. Who does the nurse understand is responsible for obtaining the informed consent from this client?
The health care provider
Regarding medication administration, what must occur at the change of shifts?
The narcotics for the division are counted.
A nurse chooses a quiet, private area to conduct an end-of-shift report to the oncoming nurse. Following this procedure is necessary because of what ethical problem in nursing?
The right of confidentiality is essential to protect each client's private information.
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.
Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for which reason?
To protect the safety of the public
A client has been a resident of a long-term care facility for several years. The client's condition has deteriorated to the point that the client is now unable to eat. The physician has recommended surgical implantation of a feeding tube. The client's family has a legal document outlining the client's wishes in regard to measures such as this. What is this document?
advance directive
The nurse is obtaining informed consent from a client. To adhere to ethical and legal standards, the nurse must ensure that the informed consent consists of what? Select all that apply.
discussion of pertinent information the client's agreement to the plan of care freedom from coercion
A nurse is caring for a client who is in acute respiratory distress from pneumonia but refuses to stay for treatment. It is the nurse's responsibility to:
notify the physician, discuss the outcomes of the client's decision, and have the client sign a release form.
A nurse is overheard in the hospital cafeteria making false, derogatory comments about a client. The nurse is guilty of:
slander
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
The children of a male client with late-stage Alzheimer disease have informed the nurse on the unit that their father possesses a living will. The nurse should recognize that this document is most likely to:
specify the treatment measures that the client wants and does not want.
The nurse needs to renew a registered nurse license. What evidence of competence may be required with each license renewal? Select all that apply.
submitting to a criminal background check providing evidence of continuing education
A mentally incapacitated client is scheduled for surgery. Considering the principle of autonomy, who should give the consent for surgery?
surrogate decision maker
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