Patient Rights & Confidentiality
Competency Exam — Code: NUR-PRIV-
COMP | 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion after
the nurse explains the potential consequences. What is the nurse’s priority
action?
A. Ask the family to convince the patient
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary
D. Obtain consent from the patient’s next of kin
Answer: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
,Rationale: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment, even when the
refusal may result in serious harm. The nurse should ensure the refusal is
informed, document it accurately, and notify the appropriate provider.
2. A patient asks the nurse to explain why certain information is being
collected during admission. Which response best reflects the patient’s
rights?
A. “The hospital requires it, so you must provide it.”
B. “Only the physician needs to know why information is collected.”
C. “You have the right to understand how your information is used.”
D. “You can ask about it after discharge.”
Answer: C. You have the right to understand how your information is used.
Rationale: Patients have rights concerning transparency, access to information,
and understanding how their health information is collected, used, and
disclosed.
3. A nurse receives a request for a patient’s medical information from an
individual claiming to be the patient’s employer. What should the nurse
do?
A. Release the information because employers have a right to know
B. Provide only the diagnosis
C. Verify authorization before disclosing information
D. Provide the information if the employer sounds legitimate
Answer: C. Verify authorization before disclosing information
Rationale: Employment status alone does not authorize access to protected
health information. Disclosure requires an applicable legal basis or valid
authorization.
4. A patient asks to review their medical record and notices an inaccurate
entry. What is the most appropriate nursing response?
,A. Tell the patient records cannot be changed
B. Delete the incorrect entry immediately
C. Explain the process for requesting correction or amendment
D. Rewrite the entry without notifying anyone
Answer: C. Explain the process for requesting correction or amendment
Rationale: Patients generally have rights to access their health information and
request correction of inaccurate information. Clinical records should not be
improperly deleted or altered.
5. During a multidisciplinary meeting, a nurse discusses a patient’s diagnosis
in a hallway where visitors can hear. What principle has been violated?
A. Patient autonomy
B. Confidentiality
C. Informed consent
D. Beneficence
Answer: B. Confidentiality
Rationale: Patient information should be discussed only with individuals who
have a legitimate need to know and in locations that reasonably protect
privacy.
6. A patient has explicitly requested that no visitors receive information about
their condition. The patient’s sibling asks the nurse for an update. What
should the nurse do?
A. Provide a brief update because the sibling is family
B. Provide information only if the sibling promises confidentiality
C. Respect the patient’s restriction unless disclosure is legally required
D. Ask another family member for permission
Answer: C. Respect the patient’s restriction unless disclosure is legally required
, Rationale: Patients generally control disclosure of their health information
subject to applicable law. Family relationships alone do not automatically
establish authorization.
7. Which situation most clearly requires the nurse to protect a patient’s
privacy during physical assessment?
A. Closing the curtain or door
B. Using the patient’s preferred name
C. Asking about allergies
D. Checking the medication list
Answer: A. Closing the curtain or door
Rationale: Privacy includes protecting the patient’s body and personal space
during examination and care. Environmental measures such as doors, curtains,
and appropriate draping help preserve dignity.
8. A nurse accidentally sends a patient’s laboratory results to the wrong email
address. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Delete the sent message and ignore the incident
B. Notify the appropriate privacy or compliance authority according to policy
C. Ask the recipient to forward the results to the patient
D. Wait to see whether the recipient responds
Answer: B. Notify the appropriate privacy or compliance authority according to
policy
Rationale: An inappropriate disclosure may constitute a privacy incident.
Prompt reporting allows the organization to assess the event, mitigate harm,
and determine required follow-up.
9. A patient refuses to allow a nursing student to participate in care. What
should the nurse do?
A. Tell the patient participation is required for teaching hospitals
B. Respect the refusal
Competency Exam — Code: NUR-PRIV-
COMP | 100-Question Advanced
Practice Exam 2026 | Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
Complete Exam Prep & Study Guide
1. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion after
the nurse explains the potential consequences. What is the nurse’s priority
action?
A. Ask the family to convince the patient
B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
C. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary
D. Obtain consent from the patient’s next of kin
Answer: B. Document the refusal and notify the provider
,Rationale: A competent adult has the right to refuse treatment, even when the
refusal may result in serious harm. The nurse should ensure the refusal is
informed, document it accurately, and notify the appropriate provider.
2. A patient asks the nurse to explain why certain information is being
collected during admission. Which response best reflects the patient’s
rights?
A. “The hospital requires it, so you must provide it.”
B. “Only the physician needs to know why information is collected.”
C. “You have the right to understand how your information is used.”
D. “You can ask about it after discharge.”
Answer: C. You have the right to understand how your information is used.
Rationale: Patients have rights concerning transparency, access to information,
and understanding how their health information is collected, used, and
disclosed.
3. A nurse receives a request for a patient’s medical information from an
individual claiming to be the patient’s employer. What should the nurse
do?
A. Release the information because employers have a right to know
B. Provide only the diagnosis
C. Verify authorization before disclosing information
D. Provide the information if the employer sounds legitimate
Answer: C. Verify authorization before disclosing information
Rationale: Employment status alone does not authorize access to protected
health information. Disclosure requires an applicable legal basis or valid
authorization.
4. A patient asks to review their medical record and notices an inaccurate
entry. What is the most appropriate nursing response?
,A. Tell the patient records cannot be changed
B. Delete the incorrect entry immediately
C. Explain the process for requesting correction or amendment
D. Rewrite the entry without notifying anyone
Answer: C. Explain the process for requesting correction or amendment
Rationale: Patients generally have rights to access their health information and
request correction of inaccurate information. Clinical records should not be
improperly deleted or altered.
5. During a multidisciplinary meeting, a nurse discusses a patient’s diagnosis
in a hallway where visitors can hear. What principle has been violated?
A. Patient autonomy
B. Confidentiality
C. Informed consent
D. Beneficence
Answer: B. Confidentiality
Rationale: Patient information should be discussed only with individuals who
have a legitimate need to know and in locations that reasonably protect
privacy.
6. A patient has explicitly requested that no visitors receive information about
their condition. The patient’s sibling asks the nurse for an update. What
should the nurse do?
A. Provide a brief update because the sibling is family
B. Provide information only if the sibling promises confidentiality
C. Respect the patient’s restriction unless disclosure is legally required
D. Ask another family member for permission
Answer: C. Respect the patient’s restriction unless disclosure is legally required
, Rationale: Patients generally control disclosure of their health information
subject to applicable law. Family relationships alone do not automatically
establish authorization.
7. Which situation most clearly requires the nurse to protect a patient’s
privacy during physical assessment?
A. Closing the curtain or door
B. Using the patient’s preferred name
C. Asking about allergies
D. Checking the medication list
Answer: A. Closing the curtain or door
Rationale: Privacy includes protecting the patient’s body and personal space
during examination and care. Environmental measures such as doors, curtains,
and appropriate draping help preserve dignity.
8. A nurse accidentally sends a patient’s laboratory results to the wrong email
address. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Delete the sent message and ignore the incident
B. Notify the appropriate privacy or compliance authority according to policy
C. Ask the recipient to forward the results to the patient
D. Wait to see whether the recipient responds
Answer: B. Notify the appropriate privacy or compliance authority according to
policy
Rationale: An inappropriate disclosure may constitute a privacy incident.
Prompt reporting allows the organization to assess the event, mitigate harm,
and determine required follow-up.
9. A patient refuses to allow a nursing student to participate in care. What
should the nurse do?
A. Tell the patient participation is required for teaching hospitals
B. Respect the refusal
