Ethics EAQ
The count of hydrocodone (Vicodin) is incorrect. After several minutes of searching the
medication cart and Physiological Aspects of Care records, no explanation is found.
Who should the primary nurse notify about the discrepancy?
Correct1
Nursing unit manager
2
Hospital administrator
3
Quality control manager
4
Health care provider prescribing the medication - answerCorrect1
Nursing unit manager
Controlled substance issues for a particular nursing unit are the responsibility of that
unit's nurse manager. Responsibility flows directly from the staff of a nursing unit to the
nurse manager; the nurse manager reports to a nurse administrator. There is no direct
flow of accountability from the primary nurse to the quality control manager. Health care
providers are responsible for medical management issues, not issues associated with
management of a nursing unit.
A spouse of a client, while visiting at the hospital, slips and falls on a recently washed
floor in the hallway leading to the client's room. To meet the criteria of ethical practice,
what action should the nurse that witnessed the occurrence take?
Correct1
Initiate an agency incident report.
2
Report the fall to the state health department.
3
Write a brief description of the incident to be kept by the nurse manager.
4
Determine that no documentation is needed because the visitor is not a client in the
hospital. - answerHealth care agencies document the occurrence of any event out of the
ordinary that results in or has the potential to harm a client, employee, or visitor. Falls by
visitors are not required to be reported to state health departments. However, incident
reports are required to be presented to accrediting agencies for review when an agency
is in the process of being accredited. Writing a brief description of the incident to be kept
by the nurse manager is not a requirement of ethical practice. However, a nurse who is
involved in an incident or is a witness to an incident should write an accurate description
of the event along with the names of individuals involved. This documentation should be
kept by the nurse at home. Lawsuits may take several years before they come to trial
and personal notes may help the nurse recall the event. The documentation must
, accurately contain the same elements included in the formal incident report. Taking no
action is irresponsible. All events out of the ordinary that result in or have the potential
to harm a visitor should be documented in an agency incident report.
Which of the following legal defenses is the most important for a nurse to develop?
1
Dedication
2
Certification
3
Assertiveness
Correct4
Accountability - answerCorrect4
Accountability
The concept of accountability is of high priority in nursing practice. As a licensed
professional, the nurse is always accountable, which means liable and answerable for
his or her actions. Dedication means to be committed, and assertiveness means to be
confident. These are desired characteristics in a nurse but not legal defenses.
Certification relates to achieving a higher level of knowledge or proficiency in one's area
of specialization and is also not a legal defense.
A nursing team leader identifies that a nurse is coming to work after drinking alcohol.
What is the most appropriate way for the team leader to approach this ethical situation?
1
Counsel the nurse about the problem.
2
Ignore the problem until it happens again.
Correct3
Notify the nurse manager about the problem.
4
Resolve the problem by sending the nurse home. - answerCorrect3
Notify the nurse manager about the problem.
The assessment phase of problem solving consists of collecting data. The next step
involves exploring options to address the problem; this is best accomplished in
collaboration with the nurse manager. Counseling the nurse about the problem is not
the role of a nurse; the nurse who has been drinking needs professional counseling.
Ignoring the problem until it happens again is unsafe; clients may be placed in jeopardy.
Resolving the problem by sending the nurse home delays addressing the problem.
A nurse on the medical-surgical unit tells other staff members, "That client can just wait
for the lorazepam (Ativan); I get so annoyed when people drink too much." What does
this nurse's comment reflect?
Correct1
Demonstration of a personal bias.
The count of hydrocodone (Vicodin) is incorrect. After several minutes of searching the
medication cart and Physiological Aspects of Care records, no explanation is found.
Who should the primary nurse notify about the discrepancy?
Correct1
Nursing unit manager
2
Hospital administrator
3
Quality control manager
4
Health care provider prescribing the medication - answerCorrect1
Nursing unit manager
Controlled substance issues for a particular nursing unit are the responsibility of that
unit's nurse manager. Responsibility flows directly from the staff of a nursing unit to the
nurse manager; the nurse manager reports to a nurse administrator. There is no direct
flow of accountability from the primary nurse to the quality control manager. Health care
providers are responsible for medical management issues, not issues associated with
management of a nursing unit.
A spouse of a client, while visiting at the hospital, slips and falls on a recently washed
floor in the hallway leading to the client's room. To meet the criteria of ethical practice,
what action should the nurse that witnessed the occurrence take?
Correct1
Initiate an agency incident report.
2
Report the fall to the state health department.
3
Write a brief description of the incident to be kept by the nurse manager.
4
Determine that no documentation is needed because the visitor is not a client in the
hospital. - answerHealth care agencies document the occurrence of any event out of the
ordinary that results in or has the potential to harm a client, employee, or visitor. Falls by
visitors are not required to be reported to state health departments. However, incident
reports are required to be presented to accrediting agencies for review when an agency
is in the process of being accredited. Writing a brief description of the incident to be kept
by the nurse manager is not a requirement of ethical practice. However, a nurse who is
involved in an incident or is a witness to an incident should write an accurate description
of the event along with the names of individuals involved. This documentation should be
kept by the nurse at home. Lawsuits may take several years before they come to trial
and personal notes may help the nurse recall the event. The documentation must
, accurately contain the same elements included in the formal incident report. Taking no
action is irresponsible. All events out of the ordinary that result in or have the potential
to harm a visitor should be documented in an agency incident report.
Which of the following legal defenses is the most important for a nurse to develop?
1
Dedication
2
Certification
3
Assertiveness
Correct4
Accountability - answerCorrect4
Accountability
The concept of accountability is of high priority in nursing practice. As a licensed
professional, the nurse is always accountable, which means liable and answerable for
his or her actions. Dedication means to be committed, and assertiveness means to be
confident. These are desired characteristics in a nurse but not legal defenses.
Certification relates to achieving a higher level of knowledge or proficiency in one's area
of specialization and is also not a legal defense.
A nursing team leader identifies that a nurse is coming to work after drinking alcohol.
What is the most appropriate way for the team leader to approach this ethical situation?
1
Counsel the nurse about the problem.
2
Ignore the problem until it happens again.
Correct3
Notify the nurse manager about the problem.
4
Resolve the problem by sending the nurse home. - answerCorrect3
Notify the nurse manager about the problem.
The assessment phase of problem solving consists of collecting data. The next step
involves exploring options to address the problem; this is best accomplished in
collaboration with the nurse manager. Counseling the nurse about the problem is not
the role of a nurse; the nurse who has been drinking needs professional counseling.
Ignoring the problem until it happens again is unsafe; clients may be placed in jeopardy.
Resolving the problem by sending the nurse home delays addressing the problem.
A nurse on the medical-surgical unit tells other staff members, "That client can just wait
for the lorazepam (Ativan); I get so annoyed when people drink too much." What does
this nurse's comment reflect?
Correct1
Demonstration of a personal bias.
