Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice Questions With
Correct Solutions
Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for
which reason?
a) To limit the number of nurses in practice
b) To ensure that practicing nurses are of good moral standing
c) To protect the safety of the public
d) To ensure that enough new nurses are always available Right Ans - c
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?
a) Libel
b) Slander
c) Negligence
d) Malpractice Right Ans - b--slander is spoken false statements
libel is PUBLISHED false statements
Nurses complete incident reports as dictated by the agency protocol. What is
the primary reason nurses fill out an incident report?
a) To document everyday occurrences
b) To document the need for disciplinary action
c) To improve quality of care
d) To initiate litigation Right Ans - c
During a nursing shift, which events warrant completion of an incident
report? Select all that apply.
a) A nurse reports that a client is crying and distraught over a diagnosis of
metastatic cancer.
b) An intravenous antibiotic was administered 2 hours late because the IV site
infiltrated.
c) A visitor slipped and fell in the hallway, but was not injured.
d) A client falls while being transferred from the bed to the chair.
e) A registered nurse asks an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to feed a
client. Right Ans - c,d
,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?
a) A colleague
b) The agency's risk manager
c) The plaintiff's lawyer
d) The local press Right Ans - b
A physician is called to see a client with angina. During the visit the physician
advises the nurse to decrease the dosage of atenolol to 12.5 mg. However,
because the physician is late for another visit, the physician requests that the
nurse write down the order for the physician. What should be the appropriate
nursing action in this situation?
a) The nurse should ask the physician to come back and write the order.
b) The nurse should write the order and implement it.
c) The nurse should inform the client of the change in medication.
d) The nurse should remind the physician later to write the work order.
Right Ans - a
Which scenario is an example of certification?
a) A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing
through special testing
b) A graduate of a nursing education program who passes NCLEX-RN
c) An education program that meets standards of the National League for
Nursing
d) A hospital that meets the standards of the Joint Commission Right Ans -
a
A nurse enters the client's room and finds the client lying on the floor
experiencing a seizure. After stabilizing the client, the nurse informs the
physician. The physician advises the nurse to prepare an incident report.
What is the purpose of an incident report?
a) To determine the nurse's fault in the incident
b) To evaluate the quality of care provided and assess the potential risks for
injury to the client
c) To provide information to local, state, and federal agencies
d) To evaluate the immediate care provided by the nurse to the client Right
Ans - b
, A nurse asks a coworker about the condition of the nurse's next-door
neighbor, who has been admitted to the unit. If the coworker shares the
neighbor's client information with the nurse, the coworker could be held
liable for committing which act?
a) Invasion of privacy
b) Negligence
c) Assault
d) Defamation of character Right Ans - a
A nurse is caring for a client following endotracheal intubation. Before
applying soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from pulling out the
endotracheal tube, what is the most appropriate action of the nurse?
a) Sedate the client.
b) Get written consent.
c) Obtain a medical order.
d) Notify the family. Right Ans - c
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?
a) Misdemeanor
b) Felony
c) Tort
d) Fraud Right Ans - c--tort: people are liable for the consequences for their
actions, whether intentional or not
misdemeanor--minor wrongdoing
felony--major wrongdoing, typically involving violence
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?
a) Certification
b) Accreditation
c) Licensure
d) Litigation Right Ans - a
Correct Solutions
Professional regulations and laws that govern nursing practice are in place for
which reason?
a) To limit the number of nurses in practice
b) To ensure that practicing nurses are of good moral standing
c) To protect the safety of the public
d) To ensure that enough new nurses are always available Right Ans - c
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?
a) Libel
b) Slander
c) Negligence
d) Malpractice Right Ans - b--slander is spoken false statements
libel is PUBLISHED false statements
Nurses complete incident reports as dictated by the agency protocol. What is
the primary reason nurses fill out an incident report?
a) To document everyday occurrences
b) To document the need for disciplinary action
c) To improve quality of care
d) To initiate litigation Right Ans - c
During a nursing shift, which events warrant completion of an incident
report? Select all that apply.
a) A nurse reports that a client is crying and distraught over a diagnosis of
metastatic cancer.
b) An intravenous antibiotic was administered 2 hours late because the IV site
infiltrated.
c) A visitor slipped and fell in the hallway, but was not injured.
d) A client falls while being transferred from the bed to the chair.
e) A registered nurse asks an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to feed a
client. Right Ans - c,d
,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?
a) A colleague
b) The agency's risk manager
c) The plaintiff's lawyer
d) The local press Right Ans - b
A physician is called to see a client with angina. During the visit the physician
advises the nurse to decrease the dosage of atenolol to 12.5 mg. However,
because the physician is late for another visit, the physician requests that the
nurse write down the order for the physician. What should be the appropriate
nursing action in this situation?
a) The nurse should ask the physician to come back and write the order.
b) The nurse should write the order and implement it.
c) The nurse should inform the client of the change in medication.
d) The nurse should remind the physician later to write the work order.
Right Ans - a
Which scenario is an example of certification?
a) A nurse who demonstrates advanced expertise in a content area of nursing
through special testing
b) A graduate of a nursing education program who passes NCLEX-RN
c) An education program that meets standards of the National League for
Nursing
d) A hospital that meets the standards of the Joint Commission Right Ans -
a
A nurse enters the client's room and finds the client lying on the floor
experiencing a seizure. After stabilizing the client, the nurse informs the
physician. The physician advises the nurse to prepare an incident report.
What is the purpose of an incident report?
a) To determine the nurse's fault in the incident
b) To evaluate the quality of care provided and assess the potential risks for
injury to the client
c) To provide information to local, state, and federal agencies
d) To evaluate the immediate care provided by the nurse to the client Right
Ans - b
, A nurse asks a coworker about the condition of the nurse's next-door
neighbor, who has been admitted to the unit. If the coworker shares the
neighbor's client information with the nurse, the coworker could be held
liable for committing which act?
a) Invasion of privacy
b) Negligence
c) Assault
d) Defamation of character Right Ans - a
A nurse is caring for a client following endotracheal intubation. Before
applying soft wrist restraints to prevent the client from pulling out the
endotracheal tube, what is the most appropriate action of the nurse?
a) Sedate the client.
b) Get written consent.
c) Obtain a medical order.
d) Notify the family. Right Ans - c
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?
a) Misdemeanor
b) Felony
c) Tort
d) Fraud Right Ans - c--tort: people are liable for the consequences for their
actions, whether intentional or not
misdemeanor--minor wrongdoing
felony--major wrongdoing, typically involving violence
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?
a) Certification
b) Accreditation
c) Licensure
d) Litigation Right Ans - a
