NURS 465 Practice questions for legal issues 22

A nurse is preparing to witness informed consent for a client who is preoperative. The client asks the nurse, "Are there any other options besides surgery?" Which of the following responses should the nurse make? 1. "It is time to sign the consent so your treatment can begin." 2. "I would not have this type of surgery if I were you." 3. "Have you discussed other treatments with your provider." 4. "I can inform the surgeon you do not want the surgery."

"Have you discussed other treatments with your provider." The nurse should seek clarification to determine what the client may or may not know about alternatives to the surgical procedure. The nurse should notify the provider about the need to discuss alternatives to surgery if necessary. Informed consent requires that the client is aware of the limitations and alternatives to the procedure.

A nurse is providing teaching about confidentiality with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching? 1. "The courts might require me to discuss confidential information." 2. "I am required to provide confidential information to insurance companies." 3. If questioned during a police investigation, I am required to divulge confidential information." 4. "I am legally allowed to discuss confidential information with the client's former therapist."

"The courts might require me to discuss confidential information." In some states, the court may enact a court order requiring the nurse to discuss confidential client information.

A nurse is caring for several clients. For which of the following situations should the nurse complete an incident report? 1. The nurse identifies a broken piece of equipment 2. A staff member does not show up to work her assigned shift 3. A client discovers that his dentures are missing 4. The nurse has a disagreement with the nursing supervisor about inadequate staffing

A client discovers that his dentures are missing This situation represents a variation from the normal standard of care. A change in the client's plan of care may be necessary if the client has difficulty eating or speaking without the dentures. In addition, the facility may be liable for replacing the missing dentures.

A nurse is reviewing the medication administration records from the previous shift. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse a need for an incident report? 1. A client received gentamicin intermittent IV bolus over 1 hr. 2. A nurse used a 25-gauge 3/8 inch needle to administer a heparin injection. 3. A nurse injected Demerol IM into the vastus lateralis site of adult. 4. A client received a crushed bupropion XL tablet mixed with applesauce.

A client received a crushed bupropion XL tablet mixed with applesauce. Extended or sustained release medications are intended to release medication levels over a long period of time to sustain therapeutic relief. Crushing, breaking, or chewing an extended release medication releases the medication at once into the bloodstream and could be life-threatening. Mixing this medication in applesauce deviates from standard of care and requires the nurse to complete an incident report.

A nurse is caring for a group of client's in an acute mental health facility. Which of the following clients has the legal right to refuse treatment? 1. A 16-year-old client whose parents have requested treatment 2. An adult client who has delusions and refuses treatment for religious reasons 3. An older adult client who was voluntarily admitted 4. A client who is competent but was involuntarily admitted.

An older adult client who was voluntarily admitted Competent clients admitted voluntarily are legally able to refuse treatment at any time during the course of their care.

A client receives a wrong medication. The nurse made the medication error should take which of the following actions first? 1. Call the client's provider 2. Assess the client 3. Notify the nurse manager 4. Complete an incident report

Assess the client The first action the nurse should take using the nursing process is to assess the client. The nurse must first determine whether or not the error has caused the client any harm and also provide any relevant interventions.

A nurse is caring for a client who is preoperative. The nurse signs as a witness on the client's consent form. The nurse's signature on the consent form indicates which of the following? 1. Determines the client does not have a mental illness 2. Confirms the client appears competent to provide consent 3. Asserts the nurse has explained the risks and benefits of the procedure 4. Records that the clients spouse agrees the procedure is necessary

Confirms the client appears competent to provide consent By signing as a witness on a procedural consent form, the nurse is confirming the client was the one who signed the consent form and that he seems to be competent to give consent.

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for surgery. The nurse's role in regard to informed consent is which of the following? 1. Ensuring the charge nurse is available to witness the client's signature on the consent form 2. Explaining the risks involved with the procedure 3. Discussing alternate treatment options 4. Determining the client's level of understanding about the procedure

Determining the client's level of understanding about the procedure In the role of client advocate, the nurse is responsible for ensuring the client understands the information provided by the surgeon and must notify the surgeon if the client has questions.

A nurse manager has received information from the facility's risk management department that a former client is pursuing a lawsuit. The nurse manager should anticipate a deposition will be required during which phase of the legal process? 1. Complaint phase 2. Discovery phase 3. Decision phase 4. Trial phase

Discovery phase During the discovery phase, both attorneys for the plaintiff and the defendant obtain relevant information about the case. This includes witnesses' depositions.

A nurse is assessing a client who will undergo abdominal surgery in 2 hr. The client reports being nervous about the surgery, last had food and fluids at 2330 the previous evening, and signed the surgical consent 2 days ago. Which of the following is an appropriate nursing action regarding these findings? 1. Call the anesthesiologist to sedate the client 2. Notify the surgeon of the client's food and fluid consumption 3. Witness the surgical consent 4. Document the findings in the client's medical record.

Document the findings in the client's medical record. Whenever a nurse collects data from a client, documentation is essential. However, in this case, all these findings are expectations for a client who is preoperative, so there is no need for the nurse to take any action other than documenting.

A nurse is caring for a client who is confused and uncooperative. The client hit the nurse when she attempted to give him his medication. The nurse asks the charge nurse if she can restrain the client. The charge nurse should tell the nurse this action is a violation of the client's rights and is an example of which of the following? 1. Slander 2. Invasion of Privacy 3. Defamation of Character 4. False Imprisonment

False Imprisonment Unlawfully restraining a client is false imprisonment. Clients have the right to refuse treatment.

A nurse is preparing an educational program for a group of newly licensed nurses about client confidentiality. The nurse should explain that nurses may share a client's protected health information with which of the following groups? 1. The client's immediate family 2. Clergy affiliated with the facility 3. The facility's administrators 4. Health care team members caring for the client.

Health care team members caring for the client. To coordinate safe and effective care delivery, the nurse may share details of a client's health status and treatment plan with others who are responsible for delivering client care. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) allows sharing of information necessary for treating clients.

A nurse manager is reviewing the Good Samaritan laws with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following statements by the nurse manager is appropriate? 1. "If you render aid in an accident, do not leave the scene until another competent person can take over." 2. Good Samaritan laws prohibit the victim from filing a lawsuit against the nurse." 3. "Federal laws require a licensed nurse to render aid in an emergency." 4. "A nurse volunteers at a summer camp for children is covered by Good Samaritan laws."

If you render aid in an accident, do not leave the scene until another competent person can take over. Once the nurse renders aid, she has entered a nurse-client relationship and must continue to provide care until competent help arrives.

A nurse identifies a pressure ulcer after a client had a long, extensive recovery following a surgical procedure. When completing an incident report about the pressure ulcer, the nurse should take which of the following actions? 1. Document what the nurse believes was the cause of the ulcer development 2. Include any relevant statements the client made about the ulcer 3. Document in the client's medical record that she completed an incident report 4. Question the charge nurse about care deficits that might have contributed to the ulcer's development.

Include any relevant statements the client made about the ulcer The nurse should document any relevant statements the client makes about the ulcer and use quotation marks to indicate that they are the client's words and not the nurse's.

A nurse is providing care to a client who is on strict bed rest following surgery. The nurse assists the patient to the bedside commode and the client sustains an injury to the operative area. Which of the following types of torts has the nurse committed? 1. Battery 2. Negligence 3. Malpractice 4. Assault

Negligence Negligence is the failure to provide the expected standard of care. The expected standard of care was strict bedrest.

A nurse plans to leave her scheduled shift an hour early without permission or notification of the charge nurse. The client's in the nurse's assignment are stable. Which of the following legal torts applies to this situation? 1. Negligence 2. Libel 3. Battery 4. Slander

Negligence The nurse's conduct displays negligence, which is providing client care below the standard of care and placing the clients at risk for harm.

A nurse has completed an informed consent form with a client. The client then states, "I have changed my mind and do not want to have the procedure done." Which of the following actions should the nurse take? 1. Remind the client that a signed informed consent form is a legally binding document 2. Notify the surgeon that the client wishes to withdrawal informed consent for the procedure. 3. Inform the surgical team to cancel the client's surgery 4. Proceed with preparation of the patient for the surgical procedure.

Notify the surgeon that the client wishes to withdrawal informed consent for the procedure. The client has the right to withdraw informed consent; therefore, the surgeon who is the one to obtain the informed consent should be notified of the request.

A nurse is performing care activities for a client in the zone of touch that requires his consent. Which of the following activities should the nurse perform in this zone? (Select all that apply.) 1. Removing the client's dentures 2. Checking capillary refill beneath the client's fingernail 3. Palpating for pedal edema 4. Counting radial pulse 5. Assessing a mole of the client's shoulder

Removing a clients dentures Palpating for pedal edema Counting a radial pulse

A nurse is giving a presentation about client confidentiality to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following actions is an example of a violation of confidentiality? 1. Discussing a client's surgical procedure with the nurse manager 2. Reporting laboratory findings to a member of the client's family 3. Notifying the provider of physical examination findings 4. Identifying the client by name when making a referral for home health services.

Reporting laboratory findings to a member of the client's family Confidentiality is the nondisclosure of information except to an authorized person, that is, someone involved in the client's care or someone the client has given permission for informing. Reporting laboratory findings to a family member without the client's permission violates client confidentiality.

A nurse enters the room of a client who becomes verbally abusive. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? 1. Inform the client of consequences 2. Speak slowly in a low, calm voice 3. Forbid the client from speaking in an abusive manner 4. Remain a distance of 1 ft away from the client.

Speak slowly in a low, calm voice Speaking in this manner conveys to the client that the nurse is controlled, nonthreatening, and caring.

A nurse is caring for a client who falls in his room. After the nurse assesses the client, notifies the client's provider, and completes an incident report, which of the following actions should the nurse take? 1. Make a copy of the incident report for the provider 2. Submit a copy of the incident report to the risk manager 3. Place the incident report in the client's chart 4. Document in the chart that an incidence report has been filed.

Submit a copy of the incident report to the risk manager The purpose of an incident report is to provide information to the risk manager who will investigate the incident and work with other members of the health care team to control risks of client injury.

A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of dementia. The client is alert and oriented to person, place, and time, and has advance directives. The client is scheduled for a procedure that requires informed consent. Which of the following persons should sign the informed consent? 1. The client's partner 2. The client 3. The client's daughter, who is the primary caregiver 4. The client's son, who is the durable power of attorney

The client If the client appears competent, and understands the procedure, the client can sign for informed consent. The nurse should verify that the client gives consent voluntarily, the signature on the consent is the client's, and the client appears competent. If the client were disoriented and not competent, the person who has durable power of attorney should sign informed consent.

A nurse is obtaining informed consent from a client who is preoperative. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.) 1. Establish that the client is able to pay for the surgical procedure. 2. Explain the surgical procedure to the client 3. Validate the signature is authentic 4. Verify the client understands the surgical procedure. 5. Confirm that the consent is voluntary.

Validate the signature is authentic Verify the client understands the surgical procedure. Confirm that the consent is voluntary.

A nurse is caring for a client who is scheduled for an elective surgical procedure. Which of the following actions should the nurse take regarding informed consent? 1. Obtain the client's consent 2. Witness the client's signature 3. Explain the risks and benefits of the procedure 4. Explain the procedure to the client if they do not understand

Witness the client's signature It is the nurse's responsibility to witness the client's signing of the consent form, and to verify that the client is consenting voluntarily and appears to be competent to do so.

A nurse is teaching a class on torts. The nurse should instruct the class that administrating an antibiotic medication to a competent client after the client has refused it is an example of which of the following torts? 1. Assault 2. False Imprisonment 3. Negligence 4. Battery

Battery Battery is physical contact without the client's consent. Administering a medication against a client's wishes is an example of battery.