HESI RN LEGAL ISSUES IN NURSING ACCURATE
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse observes a colleague diverting a patient’s narcotic medication for
personal use. What is the nurse’s initial legal obligation?
A. Confront the colleague directly
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor
C. Document the suspicion in the patient’s chart
D. Call the state board of nursing after the shift
B
Rationale: The nurse has a legal and ethical duty to report suspected
impairment or diversion through the proper chain of command to protect
patients. Confronting the colleague may cause escalation or concealment;
documentation belongs in administrative channels, not the patient record; the
board is notified by the employer after investigation.
2. Which action by a nurse constitutes battery?
A. Threatening to restrain a patient who refuses care
B. Administering an injection against a competent patient’s stated refusal
C. Telling a patient that leaving the hospital will worsen the condition
,D. Failing to monitor a patient after giving a sedative
B
Rationale: Battery is unlawful touching without consent. Administering
treatment after a competent patient refuses is intentional unauthorized contact.
A threat is assault; telling a patient leaving will worsen is intimidation or false
imprisonment if it detains them; failure to monitor is negligence.
3. A patient asks to review their medical record. Which response is legally
appropriate?
A. Deny access because records belong to the hospital
B. Provide access after verifying the request complies with facility policy and
HIPAA
C. Allow review only after discharge and physician approval
D. Require the patient to submit a subpoena
B
Rationale: Under HIPAA, patients have a right to access their designated record
set. The nurse must follow facility procedures to verify identity and protect
confidentiality while honoring the request.
4. A nurse fails to raise the side rails on a confused patient’s bed, and the patient
falls. What tort may apply?
A. Libel
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. False imprisonment
C
Rationale: Negligence occurs when a nurse breaches the standard of care,
causing harm. Failure to use safety measures for a confused patient reflects a
breach of duty resulting in injury.
5. A patient tells the nurse, “If you tell anyone what I did, I will hurt you.” Which
legal term describes this statement?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Slander
D. Malpractice
,B
Rationale: Assault is an intentional threat that creates apprehension of harmful
or offensive contact. No physical contact is required.
6. A nurse restrains a competent patient who insists on leaving against medical
advice. Which intentional tort may apply?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Negligence
D. Defamation
B
Rationale: False imprisonment is unjustified confinement or restraint of a person
without legal authority. A competent patient has the right to refuse or leave;
using restraints improperly violates that right.
7. Which scenario most clearly meets the definition of malpractice?
A. A nursing assistant reports a low urine output and the nurse ignores it
B. A nurse documents an assessment that was not performed
C. A nurse is rude to a patient’s family
D. A nurse accidentally drops a basin of water on the floor
A
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence requiring duty, breach,
causation, and damages. Ignoring a report that a reasonable nurse would act
upon can lead to patient harm. Falsifying documentation is fraud; rudeness may
be an ethical issue; dropping a basin is simple negligence if no harm results.
8. The nurse receives a verbal order for a medication during an emergency. What
is the best legal action?
A. Administer the medication without documentation
B. Refuse the order until it is entered electronically
C. Repeat the order back, document it as verbal, and ensure provider signs within
the time required by policy
D. Ask another nurse to witness the medication administration only
C
Rationale: In emergencies, verbal orders are acceptable when the nurse uses
, read-back, documents accurately, and obtains provider authentication
according to facility policy and state law.
9. A nurse accidentally administers a double dose of a medication and the patient
suffers no apparent harm. What is the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Do not document the error to avoid alarming the patient
B. Document the dose given and notify the provider
C. Document that the correct dose was given
D. Wait to see if symptoms develop before acting
B
Rationale: The nurse must report and document the actual dose given, notify the
provider, and follow the facility’s error-reporting process. Failing to document or
falsifying the record is illegal and unethical.
10. Which patient may legally sign an informed consent for surgery?
A. A 16-year-old who is married and living independently
B. An adult who received preoperative lorazepam and is drowsy
C. An adult who has mild dementia but understands the procedure risks and
benefits
D. A patient who states, “I do not really understand this, but I will sign”
C
Rationale: Informed consent requires the capacity to understand the procedure,
risks, benefits, and alternatives. A patient with mild dementia may still have
capacity for a specific decision. A sedated patient or one who does not
understand cannot give valid consent; emancipated minors may consent
depending on state law.
11. A nurse leaves a postoperative patient unattended to take a personal phone
call. The patient develops respiratory depression. Which legal claim is most likely?
A. Slander
B. Abandonment
C. Libel
D. Fraud
B
Rationale: Abandonment occurs when the nurse terminates the nurse-patient
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM WITH ALL
POSSIBLE APPROVED WELL ELABORATED
PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
PLUS EXPERT ANSWER KEY (100% CORRECT
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS) 2026-2027 CURRENTLY
UPDATED VERSION Q&A GUARANTEED PASS A+
INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A nurse observes a colleague diverting a patient’s narcotic medication for
personal use. What is the nurse’s initial legal obligation?
A. Confront the colleague directly
B. Report the observation to the nurse manager or supervisor
C. Document the suspicion in the patient’s chart
D. Call the state board of nursing after the shift
B
Rationale: The nurse has a legal and ethical duty to report suspected
impairment or diversion through the proper chain of command to protect
patients. Confronting the colleague may cause escalation or concealment;
documentation belongs in administrative channels, not the patient record; the
board is notified by the employer after investigation.
2. Which action by a nurse constitutes battery?
A. Threatening to restrain a patient who refuses care
B. Administering an injection against a competent patient’s stated refusal
C. Telling a patient that leaving the hospital will worsen the condition
,D. Failing to monitor a patient after giving a sedative
B
Rationale: Battery is unlawful touching without consent. Administering
treatment after a competent patient refuses is intentional unauthorized contact.
A threat is assault; telling a patient leaving will worsen is intimidation or false
imprisonment if it detains them; failure to monitor is negligence.
3. A patient asks to review their medical record. Which response is legally
appropriate?
A. Deny access because records belong to the hospital
B. Provide access after verifying the request complies with facility policy and
HIPAA
C. Allow review only after discharge and physician approval
D. Require the patient to submit a subpoena
B
Rationale: Under HIPAA, patients have a right to access their designated record
set. The nurse must follow facility procedures to verify identity and protect
confidentiality while honoring the request.
4. A nurse fails to raise the side rails on a confused patient’s bed, and the patient
falls. What tort may apply?
A. Libel
B. Assault
C. Negligence
D. False imprisonment
C
Rationale: Negligence occurs when a nurse breaches the standard of care,
causing harm. Failure to use safety measures for a confused patient reflects a
breach of duty resulting in injury.
5. A patient tells the nurse, “If you tell anyone what I did, I will hurt you.” Which
legal term describes this statement?
A. Battery
B. Assault
C. Slander
D. Malpractice
,B
Rationale: Assault is an intentional threat that creates apprehension of harmful
or offensive contact. No physical contact is required.
6. A nurse restrains a competent patient who insists on leaving against medical
advice. Which intentional tort may apply?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Negligence
D. Defamation
B
Rationale: False imprisonment is unjustified confinement or restraint of a person
without legal authority. A competent patient has the right to refuse or leave;
using restraints improperly violates that right.
7. Which scenario most clearly meets the definition of malpractice?
A. A nursing assistant reports a low urine output and the nurse ignores it
B. A nurse documents an assessment that was not performed
C. A nurse is rude to a patient’s family
D. A nurse accidentally drops a basin of water on the floor
A
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence requiring duty, breach,
causation, and damages. Ignoring a report that a reasonable nurse would act
upon can lead to patient harm. Falsifying documentation is fraud; rudeness may
be an ethical issue; dropping a basin is simple negligence if no harm results.
8. The nurse receives a verbal order for a medication during an emergency. What
is the best legal action?
A. Administer the medication without documentation
B. Refuse the order until it is entered electronically
C. Repeat the order back, document it as verbal, and ensure provider signs within
the time required by policy
D. Ask another nurse to witness the medication administration only
C
Rationale: In emergencies, verbal orders are acceptable when the nurse uses
, read-back, documents accurately, and obtains provider authentication
according to facility policy and state law.
9. A nurse accidentally administers a double dose of a medication and the patient
suffers no apparent harm. What is the nurse’s primary responsibility?
A. Do not document the error to avoid alarming the patient
B. Document the dose given and notify the provider
C. Document that the correct dose was given
D. Wait to see if symptoms develop before acting
B
Rationale: The nurse must report and document the actual dose given, notify the
provider, and follow the facility’s error-reporting process. Failing to document or
falsifying the record is illegal and unethical.
10. Which patient may legally sign an informed consent for surgery?
A. A 16-year-old who is married and living independently
B. An adult who received preoperative lorazepam and is drowsy
C. An adult who has mild dementia but understands the procedure risks and
benefits
D. A patient who states, “I do not really understand this, but I will sign”
C
Rationale: Informed consent requires the capacity to understand the procedure,
risks, benefits, and alternatives. A patient with mild dementia may still have
capacity for a specific decision. A sedated patient or one who does not
understand cannot give valid consent; emancipated minors may consent
depending on state law.
11. A nurse leaves a postoperative patient unattended to take a personal phone
call. The patient develops respiratory depression. Which legal claim is most likely?
A. Slander
B. Abandonment
C. Libel
D. Fraud
B
Rationale: Abandonment occurs when the nurse terminates the nurse-patient
