Chapter 6 Ethical and Legal Issues
The nurse arrives at work and is told to report (float) to the ICU for the day because the ICU is understaffed and needs nurses to care for the clients. The nurse has never worked in the ICU. The nurse should take which best action? 1. Refuse to float to the ICU based on lack of unit orientation 2. Clarify the ICU client assignment with the team leader to ensure that is a safe assignment. 3. Ask the nursing supervisor to review the hospital policy on floating 4. Submit a written protest to nursing administration, and then call the hospital lawyer.
Answer: 2
A hospitalized client tells the nurse that an instructional directive is being prepared and that the lawyer will be bringing the document to the hospital today for witness signatures. The client asks the nurse for assistance in obtaining a witness to the will. Which is the most appropriate response to the client? 1. I will sign as a witness to your signature 2. You will need to find a witness on your own 3. Whoever is available at the time will sign as a witness for you 4. I will call the nursing supervisor to seek assistance regarding your request.
Answer: 4
Which identifies accurate nursing documentation notations? SATA 1. The client slept through the night. 2. Abdominal wound dressing is dry and intact without drainage. 3. The client seemed angry when awakened for vital sign measurement. 4. The client appears to become anxious when it is time for respiratory treatments. 5. The client's left lower medial leg wound is 3 cm in length without redness, drainage, or edema.
Answer: 1,2,5
The nurse calls the primary health care provider regarding a new medication prescription because the dosage prescribed is higher than the recommended dosage. The nurse is unable to locate the PHCP, and the medication is due to be administered. Which action should the nurse take? 1. Contact the nursing supervisor 2. Administer the dose prescribed 3. Hold the medication until the PHCP can be contacted 4. Administer the recommended dose until the PHCP can be located
Answer: 1
The nurse has just assisted a client back to bed after a fall. The nurse and PHCP have assessed the client and have determined that the client is not injured. After completing the occurrence report, the nurse should implement which action next? 1. Reassess the client. 2. Conduct a staff meeting to describe the fall. 3. Contact the nursing supervisor to update information regarding the fall. 4. Document in the nurse's notes that an occurrence report was completed.
Answer: 1
The nurse who works on the night shift enters the medication room and finds a coworker with a tourniquet wrapped around the upper arm. The coworker is about to insert a needle, attached to a syringe containing a clear liquid, into the antecubital area. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse? 1. Call security. 2. Call the police. 3. Call the nursing supervisor. 4. Lock the coworker in the medication room until help is obtained.
Answer: 3
A nursing instructor delivers a lecture to nursing students regarding the issue of clients' rights and asks a nursing student to identify a situation that represents an example of invasion of client privacy. Which situation, if identified by the student, indicates an understanding of a violation of this client's right? 1. Performing a procedure without consent. 2. Threatening to give a client a medication 3. Telling the client that he or she cannot leave the hospital 4. Observing care provided to the client without the client's permission
Answer: 4
An older woman is brought to the ED for treatment of a fractured arm. On physical assessment, the nurse notes old and new ecchymosis areas on the client's chest and legs and asks the client how the bruises were sustained. The client, although reluctant, tells the nurse in confidence that her son frequently hits her if supper is not prepared on time when he arrives from work. Which is the most appropriate nursing response? 1. Oh really? I will discuss this situation with your son. 2. Let's talk about the ways you can manage your time to prevent his from happening. 3. Do you have any friends who can help you out until you resolve these important issues with your son? 4. As a nurse, I am legally bound to report abuse. I will stay with you while you give the report and help find a safe place for you to stay.
Answer: 4
Nursing staff members are sitting in the lounge taking their morning break. Assistive personnel (AP) tell the group that she thinks that the unit secretary has acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and proceeds to tell the nursing staff that the secretary probably contracted the disease from her husband, who is supposedly a drug addict. The RN should inform the AP that making this accusation has violated which legal tort? 1. Libel 2. Slander 3. Assault 4. Negligence
Answer: 2
The employed in a hospital is waiting to receive a report from the laboratory via the fax machine. The fax machine activates, and the nurse expects the report, but instead receives a sexually oriented photograph. Which is the most appropriate initial nursing action? 1. Call the police 2. Cut up the photograph and throw it way 3. Call the nursing supervisor and report the occurence 4. Call the lab and ask for the nurse of the individual who sent the photograph
Answer: 3
The nurse hears a client calling out for help, hurries down the hallway to the client's room, and finds the client lying on the floor. The nurse performs an assessment, assists the client back to bed, notifies the PHCP, and completes an occurrence report. Which statement should the nurse document on the occurrence report? 1. The client fell out of bed. 2. The client climbed over the side rails. 3. The client was found lying on the floor. 4. The client became restless and tried to get out of bed.
Answer: 3
The nurse has made an error in documentation of the dose administered of an opioid pain medication the client's record. The nurse draws 1 mg from the vial and another registered nurse witnesses wasting of the 1 mg. When scanning the medication, the nurse entered into the MAR that 2 mg of hydromorphone was given instead of the actual dose administered, which was 1 mg. The nurse should take which actions to correct the error in the MAR? SATA 1. Complete and file an occurence report 2. Right click on the entry and modify it to reflect the correct information. 3. Document the correct information and end with the nurse's signature and title. 4. Obtain a cosignature from the RN who witnessed the waste of the remaining 1 mg. 5. Document in a nurse's note in the client's record detailing the correct information.
Answers: 2,3,4,5
A client is brough to the ED by EMS after being hit by a car. The name of the client is unknown; and the client has sustained a severe head injury and multiple fractures and is unconscious. An emergency craniotomy is required. Regarding informed consent for the surgical procedure, which is the best action? 1. Obtain a court order for the surgical procedure. 2. Ask the EMS team to sign the informed consent. 3. Transport the victim to the OR for surgery. 4. Call the police to identify the client and locate family.
Answer: 3
