Potter & Perry Ch 23: Legal
Implications of Nursing Practice Test
Bank Questions All Solved Correct.
A nurse is caring for a patient who recently had coronary bypass surgery. Which are legal
sources of standards of care the nurse uses to deliver safe health care? (Select all that apply.)
1. Information provided by the head nurse
2. Policies and procedures of the employing hospital
3. State Nurse Practice Act
4. Regulations identified in The Joint Commission's manual
5. The American Nurses Association standards of nursing practice - Answer Answer: 2,3,4,5.
All of these sources govern the legal standards of care and are individualized by State and
agency. Policies and procedures of employing agencies and standards set by statutes,
accrediting agencies, and professional organizations describe the minimum requirements for
safe care.
A nurse is sued for negligence due to failure to monitor a patient appropriately after a
procedure. Which of the following statements are correct about this lawsuit? (Select all that
apply.)
1. The nurse does not need any representation.
2. The patient must prove injury, damage, or loss occurred.
3. The person filing the lawsuit has to show a compensable damage, such as lost wages,
occurred.
4. The patient must prove that a breach in the prevailing standard of care caused an injury.
5. The burden of proof is always the responsibility of the nurse. - Answer Answer: 3, 4.
The patient as plaintiff must prove that the defendant nurse had a duty, breached the duty, and
because of this breach caused the patient injury or damage.
A nurse stops to help in an emergency at the scene of an accident. The injured party files a suit,
and the nurse's employing institution insurance does not cover the nurse. What would probably
cover the nurse in this situation?
1. The nurse's automobile insurance
2. The nurse's homeowner's insurance
, A nurse is planning care for a patient going to surgery. Who is responsible for informing the
patient about the surgery along with possible risks, complications, and benefits?
1. Family member
2. Surgeon
3. Nurse
4. Nurse manager - Answer Answer: 2.
The person performing the procedure is responsible for informing the patient about the
procedure and its risks, benefits, and possible complic
A woman has severe life-threatening injuries and is hemorrhaging following a car accident. The
health care provider ordered 2 units of packed red blood cells to treat the woman's anemia. The
woman's husband refuses to allow the nurse to give his wife the blood for religious reasons.
What is the nurse's responsibility?
1. Obtain a court order to give the blood
2. Coerce the husband into giving the blood
3. Call security and have the husband removed from the hospital
4. More information is needed about the wife's preference and if the husband has her medical
power of attorney - Answer Answer 4.
Adult patients such as those with specific religious objection are able to refuse treatment for
personal religious reasons but there needs to be clear directions on who can make the decision.
A nurse notes that an advance directive is on a patient's medical record. Which statement
represents the best description of an advance directive guideline that the nurse will follow?
1. A living will allows an appointed person to make health care decisions when the patient is in
an incapacitated state.
2. A living will is invoked only when the patient has a terminal condition or is in a persistent
vegetative state.
3. The patient cannot make changes in the advance directive once admitted to the hospital.
4. A durable power of attorney for health care is invoked only when the patient has a terminal
condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. - Answer Answer: 2.
A living will does not assign another individual to make decisions for the patient. A durable
power of attorney for health care is active when the patient is incapacitated or cognitively
impaired. A cognitively intact patient may change an advance directive at any time.
Implications of Nursing Practice Test
Bank Questions All Solved Correct.
A nurse is caring for a patient who recently had coronary bypass surgery. Which are legal
sources of standards of care the nurse uses to deliver safe health care? (Select all that apply.)
1. Information provided by the head nurse
2. Policies and procedures of the employing hospital
3. State Nurse Practice Act
4. Regulations identified in The Joint Commission's manual
5. The American Nurses Association standards of nursing practice - Answer Answer: 2,3,4,5.
All of these sources govern the legal standards of care and are individualized by State and
agency. Policies and procedures of employing agencies and standards set by statutes,
accrediting agencies, and professional organizations describe the minimum requirements for
safe care.
A nurse is sued for negligence due to failure to monitor a patient appropriately after a
procedure. Which of the following statements are correct about this lawsuit? (Select all that
apply.)
1. The nurse does not need any representation.
2. The patient must prove injury, damage, or loss occurred.
3. The person filing the lawsuit has to show a compensable damage, such as lost wages,
occurred.
4. The patient must prove that a breach in the prevailing standard of care caused an injury.
5. The burden of proof is always the responsibility of the nurse. - Answer Answer: 3, 4.
The patient as plaintiff must prove that the defendant nurse had a duty, breached the duty, and
because of this breach caused the patient injury or damage.
A nurse stops to help in an emergency at the scene of an accident. The injured party files a suit,
and the nurse's employing institution insurance does not cover the nurse. What would probably
cover the nurse in this situation?
1. The nurse's automobile insurance
2. The nurse's homeowner's insurance
, A nurse is planning care for a patient going to surgery. Who is responsible for informing the
patient about the surgery along with possible risks, complications, and benefits?
1. Family member
2. Surgeon
3. Nurse
4. Nurse manager - Answer Answer: 2.
The person performing the procedure is responsible for informing the patient about the
procedure and its risks, benefits, and possible complic
A woman has severe life-threatening injuries and is hemorrhaging following a car accident. The
health care provider ordered 2 units of packed red blood cells to treat the woman's anemia. The
woman's husband refuses to allow the nurse to give his wife the blood for religious reasons.
What is the nurse's responsibility?
1. Obtain a court order to give the blood
2. Coerce the husband into giving the blood
3. Call security and have the husband removed from the hospital
4. More information is needed about the wife's preference and if the husband has her medical
power of attorney - Answer Answer 4.
Adult patients such as those with specific religious objection are able to refuse treatment for
personal religious reasons but there needs to be clear directions on who can make the decision.
A nurse notes that an advance directive is on a patient's medical record. Which statement
represents the best description of an advance directive guideline that the nurse will follow?
1. A living will allows an appointed person to make health care decisions when the patient is in
an incapacitated state.
2. A living will is invoked only when the patient has a terminal condition or is in a persistent
vegetative state.
3. The patient cannot make changes in the advance directive once admitted to the hospital.
4. A durable power of attorney for health care is invoked only when the patient has a terminal
condition or is in a persistent vegetative state. - Answer Answer: 2.
A living will does not assign another individual to make decisions for the patient. A durable
power of attorney for health care is active when the patient is incapacitated or cognitively
impaired. A cognitively intact patient may change an advance directive at any time.
