NUR 221 PrepU Ch 7 Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice
During a nursing shift, which events warrant completion of an incident report? Select all that apply.
A visitor slipped and fell in the hallway, but was not injured. A client falls while being transferred from the bed to the chair. An intravenous antibiotic was administered 2 hours late because the IV site infiltrated.
Which process evaluates and recognizes educational programs as having met certain standards?
Accreditation
When talking with family over dinner, the nurse shares about a client with infertility at the hospital, identifying the person by name. Which tort has the nurse committed?
Invasion of privacy
A nurse confides in a nurse friend, "I never report minor incidents. The charge nurse always wants a variance report filled out and they take so much time." Which responses by the friend are indicated? Select all that apply.
"Having documentation might keep you out of trouble someday." "Reporting helps us fix problems that result in danger to clients."
A nursing student administers an overdose of an opioid to a client and the client arrests. When discussing the incident with nursing faculty, which statements made by the student indicate the need for further teaching? Select all that apply.
"I am glad I am a student because nursing faculty will be blamed, not me." "I cannot be held liable because this is only my second time at this facility."
While a client admitted to the medical-surgical unit is in the radiology department, a visitor claiming to be the client's cousin arrives on the medical-surgical unit and asks the nurse to provide a brief outline of the client's illness. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate, both legally and professionally?
"I cannot give you that information due to client confidentiality."
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."
Nursing students are discussing the requirement that they carry personal professional liability insurance as students. The nurse instructor should offer additional information when which statements are made? Select all that apply.
"Since I am a student, my instructor is the one liable if I make a mistake." "I will be protected both as a student and at my CNA job." "I think this is an unnecessary expense." "I thought we would be covered by the hospital's malpractice insurance."
Which statements made by a nurse would indicate to a nurse manager that the nurse requires further training? Select all that apply.
"Since I am a student, my instructor is the one liable if I make a mistake." "I thought we would be covered by the hospital's malpractice insurance." "I think this is an unnecessary expense." "I will be protected both as a student and at my CNA job."
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."
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 best interest to obtain which document?
A living will
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 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 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 new graduate wants to be knowledgeable about state-mandated rules to better practice within the scope of nursing. What are the best resources for this nurse to research? Select all that apply.
Nurse practice acts Nursing educational requirements Composition and disciplinary authority of board of nursing
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 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.
What governing body has the authority to revoke or suspend a nurse's license?
The State Board of Nurse Examiners
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.
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.
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 has signed the consent form.
A client newly diagnosed with congestive heart failure has a prescription for digoxin. The nurse counts the heart rate before administration of the medication and obtains a heart rate of 51 beats per minute. Which action by the nurse demonstrates adherence to the standards of nursing care?
The nurse withholds the medication and notifies the health care practitioner.
Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for which reason?
To protect the safety of the public
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
Which are examples of a nurse appropriately protecting a client's privacy? Select all that apply
With the client's permission, the nurse explains the client's diagnosis to the client's spouse. The nurse moves the client from the emergency department waiting room to a private area to collect assessment data.
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.
The nursing supervisor is preparing to delegate some aspects of the nursing care plan interventions to other health care providers on the unit. The nursing supervisor has which responsibility(ies)? Select all that apply.
ensuring that care is delivered accurately and appropriately. assigning to registered nurses rather than unlicensed assistive personnel the practice-pervasive functions of assessment. knowing the job descriptions and capabilities of each person on the team in depth.
Nurses practicing in a critical care unit must acquire specialized skills and knowledge to provide care to the critically ill client. These nurses can validate this specialty competence through what process?
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
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
Which are torts rather than crimes? Select all that apply.
Assault Defamation of character Negligence
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
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
In some cases, the act of providing nursing care in unexpected situations is covered by the Good Samaritan laws. Which nursing action would most likely be covered by these laws?
Emergency care for a choking victim in a restaurant
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.
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 nurse is named as a defendant in a malpractice lawsuit. Which action would be recommended for this nurse?
Do not volunteer any information on the witness stand.
During the orientation to the hospital, the staff development educator discusses unit and institutional-based policies. What is the source of the practice rules that result in unit and institutional-based policies?
Health care institution
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 documents all client care in a timely manner. The nurse educates the client about what to expect during the hospital stay.. The nurse confirms informed consent was give by the client to perform a procedure..
An RN is working on a medical-surgical unit with a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN). Which action by the RN is considered negligent if injury results from this action?
asking the LPN/LVN to teach a new diabetic client how to administer insulin
A nurse is overheard in the hospital cafeteria making false, derogatory comments about a client. The nurse is guilty of:
slander.
