NSG 441 EXAM 2 STUDY GUIDE
Personal liability - Answer -defines each person's responsibility and accountability for
individual actions or omissions
Vicarious liability - Answer -makes employers accountable for the negligence of their
employees
Indemnification - Answer -institution has right to countersue the nurse for damages paid
to an injured patient
Corporate liability - Answer -the institution has responsibility and accountability for
maintaining an environment that ensures quality healthcare delivery for consumers.
Protective and Reporting Laws - Answer -Ensure the safety or rights of specific classes
of individuals. Ex: laws requiring reporting of suspected child and elder abuse and
reporting certain diseases and injuries
Informed Consent - Answer -Based on legal capacity, voluntary action, and
comprehension
Information required for informed consent - Answer -- An explanation of treatment or
procedure to be performed and expected results
- Description of risks involved
- Benefits likely
- Options to this course of action, including absence of treatment
- Name of the personal performing the treatment procedure
- Statement that the patient may withdraw his or her consent at any time
Privacy - Answer -the patient's right to protection against unreasonable and
unwarranted interference with his or her solitude
Confidentiality - Answer -the right to privacy of the health record
Negligence - Answer -failure to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful
person would use under similar circumstances
Malpractice - Answer -professional misconduct or unreasonable lack of skill
Omission - Answer -failure to do something that the reasonable prudent person or
nurse would do
Commission - Answer -acting in a way that causes injury to the patient
Elements of malpractice - Answer -Duty owed to patient
, Breach of Duty
Forseeability
Causation
Harm or injury
Damages
Delegation - Answer -the transfer of responsibility for the performance of an activity
from one individual to another, without the transfer of accountability
Assignment - Answer -the transfer of both the accountability and responsibility from one
person to another. Typically happens between professional staff members
Ethics - Answer -the study of standards of conduct and moral judgement. Right and
wrong decisions aren't possible, only better and worse decisions
How do ethics compare to law? - Answer -- internal to an individual
- looks at the ultimate good of the individual rather than society as a whole
- concerns the why of one's actions
Ethical principles - Answer -Autonomy
Beneficence
Nonmaleficence
Justice
Fidelity
Veracity
Autonomy - Answer -personal freedom and self-determination, the right to choose what
will happen to oneself as well as the accountability for making individual choices. Ex:
informed consent
Beneficence - Answer -actions should promote good. Ex: nurse manager encouraging
employee to seek more challenging clinical experiences
Nonmaleficence - Answer -Do no harm. Ex: nurse manager during evaluation should
emphasize employee's good qualities
Veracity - Answer -telling the truth and demands that truth be told completely
Justice - Answer -treating all persons equally and fairly. Most often arises in times of
short supplies or when competition for resources or benefits is occurring. Ex: nurse
manager deciding which staff members to promote
Fidelity - Answer -keeping one's promises or commitments. Ex: nurse manager
following through on promises
Personal liability - Answer -defines each person's responsibility and accountability for
individual actions or omissions
Vicarious liability - Answer -makes employers accountable for the negligence of their
employees
Indemnification - Answer -institution has right to countersue the nurse for damages paid
to an injured patient
Corporate liability - Answer -the institution has responsibility and accountability for
maintaining an environment that ensures quality healthcare delivery for consumers.
Protective and Reporting Laws - Answer -Ensure the safety or rights of specific classes
of individuals. Ex: laws requiring reporting of suspected child and elder abuse and
reporting certain diseases and injuries
Informed Consent - Answer -Based on legal capacity, voluntary action, and
comprehension
Information required for informed consent - Answer -- An explanation of treatment or
procedure to be performed and expected results
- Description of risks involved
- Benefits likely
- Options to this course of action, including absence of treatment
- Name of the personal performing the treatment procedure
- Statement that the patient may withdraw his or her consent at any time
Privacy - Answer -the patient's right to protection against unreasonable and
unwarranted interference with his or her solitude
Confidentiality - Answer -the right to privacy of the health record
Negligence - Answer -failure to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful
person would use under similar circumstances
Malpractice - Answer -professional misconduct or unreasonable lack of skill
Omission - Answer -failure to do something that the reasonable prudent person or
nurse would do
Commission - Answer -acting in a way that causes injury to the patient
Elements of malpractice - Answer -Duty owed to patient
, Breach of Duty
Forseeability
Causation
Harm or injury
Damages
Delegation - Answer -the transfer of responsibility for the performance of an activity
from one individual to another, without the transfer of accountability
Assignment - Answer -the transfer of both the accountability and responsibility from one
person to another. Typically happens between professional staff members
Ethics - Answer -the study of standards of conduct and moral judgement. Right and
wrong decisions aren't possible, only better and worse decisions
How do ethics compare to law? - Answer -- internal to an individual
- looks at the ultimate good of the individual rather than society as a whole
- concerns the why of one's actions
Ethical principles - Answer -Autonomy
Beneficence
Nonmaleficence
Justice
Fidelity
Veracity
Autonomy - Answer -personal freedom and self-determination, the right to choose what
will happen to oneself as well as the accountability for making individual choices. Ex:
informed consent
Beneficence - Answer -actions should promote good. Ex: nurse manager encouraging
employee to seek more challenging clinical experiences
Nonmaleficence - Answer -Do no harm. Ex: nurse manager during evaluation should
emphasize employee's good qualities
Veracity - Answer -telling the truth and demands that truth be told completely
Justice - Answer -treating all persons equally and fairly. Most often arises in times of
short supplies or when competition for resources or benefits is occurring. Ex: nurse
manager deciding which staff members to promote
Fidelity - Answer -keeping one's promises or commitments. Ex: nurse manager
following through on promises
