LPN/LVN Legal, Ethical & Scope of Practice Issues (2026/2027 Update)
|SBON
1. Which legal term refers to the failure of a professional to act in a reasonable
and prudent manner?
A. Battery
B. Malpractice
C. Assault
D. Slander
Answer: B
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence that occurs when a professional’s
conduct falls below the standard of care, resulting in harm.
2. An LPN/LVN reinforces teaching for a patient regarding a new medication.
Which ethical principle is being upheld by ensuring the patient understands the
treatment?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make their own informed decisions.
Providing information empowers them to exercise this right.
,3. Under the Nurse Practice Act, which task is generally outside the scope of
practice for an LPN/LVN?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a focused physical assessment
C. Reinforcing patient education
D. Developing the initial nursing care plan
Answer: D
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the initial assessment and the development of the
nursing care plan; the LPN/LVN assists and provides input.
4. A nurse tells a patient, ‘If you don’t stay in bed, I will put you in restraints.’
This is an example of:
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. Libel
Answer: B
Rationale: Assault is a threat to touch a person without consent that causes fear of harm.
Battery is the actual physical contact.
5. Which document allows a patient to designate a specific person to make
medical decisions if they become incapacitated?
A. Living Will
B. Informed Consent
C. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
D. Incident Report
Answer: C
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Healthcare Proxy) designates an
individual to make decisions when the patient cannot.
, 6. A nurse observes a coworker taking a patient’s narcotic medication for
personal use. What is the nurse’s primary legal and ethical obligation?
A. Confront the coworker privately
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager
C. Wait to see if it happens again
D. Ignore it to maintain a good working relationship
Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses have a legal and ethical duty to report impaired coworkers to ensure
patient safety and comply with state board regulations.
7. Which ethical principle means ‘to do good’ and act in the best interest of the
patient?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Beneficence
C. Veracity
D. Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to promote good and act in ways that benefit the
patient.
8. A patient refuses their morning dose of antihypertensive medication. What
should the LPN/LVN do first?
A. Inform the patient they must take it to stay healthy
B. Explore the patient’s reasons for refusing the medication
C. Crush the pill and hide it in the patient’s food
D. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Answer: B
Rationale: The first step is to assess the reason for refusal, then educate on risks, and
finally document and notify the provider if they still refuse.
|SBON
1. Which legal term refers to the failure of a professional to act in a reasonable
and prudent manner?
A. Battery
B. Malpractice
C. Assault
D. Slander
Answer: B
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence that occurs when a professional’s
conduct falls below the standard of care, resulting in harm.
2. An LPN/LVN reinforces teaching for a patient regarding a new medication.
Which ethical principle is being upheld by ensuring the patient understands the
treatment?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Justice
C. Fidelity
D. Autonomy
Answer: D
Rationale: Autonomy refers to the patient’s right to make their own informed decisions.
Providing information empowers them to exercise this right.
,3. Under the Nurse Practice Act, which task is generally outside the scope of
practice for an LPN/LVN?
A. Administering oral medications
B. Performing a focused physical assessment
C. Reinforcing patient education
D. Developing the initial nursing care plan
Answer: D
Rationale: The RN is responsible for the initial assessment and the development of the
nursing care plan; the LPN/LVN assists and provides input.
4. A nurse tells a patient, ‘If you don’t stay in bed, I will put you in restraints.’
This is an example of:
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. Libel
Answer: B
Rationale: Assault is a threat to touch a person without consent that causes fear of harm.
Battery is the actual physical contact.
5. Which document allows a patient to designate a specific person to make
medical decisions if they become incapacitated?
A. Living Will
B. Informed Consent
C. Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare
D. Incident Report
Answer: C
Rationale: A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare (Healthcare Proxy) designates an
individual to make decisions when the patient cannot.
, 6. A nurse observes a coworker taking a patient’s narcotic medication for
personal use. What is the nurse’s primary legal and ethical obligation?
A. Confront the coworker privately
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager
C. Wait to see if it happens again
D. Ignore it to maintain a good working relationship
Answer: B
Rationale: Nurses have a legal and ethical duty to report impaired coworkers to ensure
patient safety and comply with state board regulations.
7. Which ethical principle means ‘to do good’ and act in the best interest of the
patient?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Beneficence
C. Veracity
D. Justice
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to promote good and act in ways that benefit the
patient.
8. A patient refuses their morning dose of antihypertensive medication. What
should the LPN/LVN do first?
A. Inform the patient they must take it to stay healthy
B. Explore the patient’s reasons for refusing the medication
C. Crush the pill and hide it in the patient’s food
D. Document the refusal and notify the provider
Answer: B
Rationale: The first step is to assess the reason for refusal, then educate on risks, and
finally document and notify the provider if they still refuse.
