Chapter7 Nursing and The Law What
Are the rules Assessment Questions
2025 With Actual Complete Answers.
1. To function within the scope of the law, the nurse must know that the legal duties and
functions of the nurse in a given state are determined by the
a. U.S. Constitution.
b. Bill of Rights.
c. bylaws of the professional organization.
d. Nurse Practice Act of the state. - Answer ANS: D
The Nurse Practice Act of each state determines the scope of practice of RNs and LPN/LVNs in
that state. The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are incorrect answers, because matters
dealing with the health and welfare of its citizens are states' rights. Professional organizations
may issue position papers, but these do not have the force of law.
2. An example of a criminal action committed by a nurse is
a. restraining a patient without a physician's order.
b. releasing information without the patient's consent.
c. discontinuing a ventilator without a physician's order.
d. making a medication error. - Answer ANS: C
Commission of a felony, such as murder, is clearly a criminal act. The other options represent
examples of torts, or matters of civil concern.
3. A new LPN/LVN passes the NCLEX-PN examination and obtains licensure in state X. The
LPN/LVN wishes to work in a state other than state X but is unsure of how to proceed. Which
statement provides sound advice in this situation?
a. The effect of current national licensure allows a nurse licensed in one state to work in any
other state for a maximum of 2 years without applying for endorsement.
b. The nurse can work legally in any state that borders state X without applying for
endorsement.
c. The nurse should contact the state board of nursing of the state in which she wishes to work
to determine whether they have multistate licensure with state X.
d. The nurse should apply to take the NCLEX-PN examination in the state in which she wishes to
work. - Answer ANS: C
, take the NCLEX-PN examination; nurses can obtain endorsement without retaking the NCLEX-PN
examination.
4. A resident asks an LPN/LVN, "What is meant by the practical/vocational nurse's standard of
care in a long-term care agency?" The LPN/LVN should respond, "The practical/vocational nurse
who provides care for residents in a long-term care agency must implement care that is
consistent with
a. shortcuts acceptable to the agency that allow nurses to assume larger and more complex
patient assignments."
b. care that an ordinary, prudent LPN/LVN with the same education and experience would
perform in similar circumstances."
c. the minimum competency necessary to function as a health care giver in the state in which
the nurse resides."
d. customs of the agency in which the nurse is employed." - Answer ANS: B
This is the standard used by the courts, and it is the same regardless of the type of agency in
which the nurse is employed. The other options do not define the nurse's standard of care.
5. Civil law is concerned with
a. acts that threaten society.
b. decision making based on the nursing process.
c. intentional and unintentional torts.
d. guilt associated with criminal behavior. - Answer ANS: C
Torts are civil wrongs and may be intentional (intended to cause harm) or unintentional (did not
mean to do harm to the patient). Acts that threaten society are considered criminal acts. Civil
law is not directly concerned with the nursing process. Civil law is concerned with liability rather
than guilt.
6. A nurse is found liable for battery. What does this mean?
a. The nurse threatened the patient, causing fear of bodily harm.
b. The nurse, without consent, touched the patient in a way that caused harm.
c. The nurse detained the patient against his will.
d. The nurse incorrectly performed a procedure that is within her scope of practice. - Answer
ANS: B
Battery is touch that causes actual physical harm to someone. Threatening a patient, causing
fear of bodily harm, is assault. Detaining a patient against his will is false imprisonment.
Incorrectly performing a procedure that is within the nurse's scope of practice is malpractice.
Are the rules Assessment Questions
2025 With Actual Complete Answers.
1. To function within the scope of the law, the nurse must know that the legal duties and
functions of the nurse in a given state are determined by the
a. U.S. Constitution.
b. Bill of Rights.
c. bylaws of the professional organization.
d. Nurse Practice Act of the state. - Answer ANS: D
The Nurse Practice Act of each state determines the scope of practice of RNs and LPN/LVNs in
that state. The U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are incorrect answers, because matters
dealing with the health and welfare of its citizens are states' rights. Professional organizations
may issue position papers, but these do not have the force of law.
2. An example of a criminal action committed by a nurse is
a. restraining a patient without a physician's order.
b. releasing information without the patient's consent.
c. discontinuing a ventilator without a physician's order.
d. making a medication error. - Answer ANS: C
Commission of a felony, such as murder, is clearly a criminal act. The other options represent
examples of torts, or matters of civil concern.
3. A new LPN/LVN passes the NCLEX-PN examination and obtains licensure in state X. The
LPN/LVN wishes to work in a state other than state X but is unsure of how to proceed. Which
statement provides sound advice in this situation?
a. The effect of current national licensure allows a nurse licensed in one state to work in any
other state for a maximum of 2 years without applying for endorsement.
b. The nurse can work legally in any state that borders state X without applying for
endorsement.
c. The nurse should contact the state board of nursing of the state in which she wishes to work
to determine whether they have multistate licensure with state X.
d. The nurse should apply to take the NCLEX-PN examination in the state in which she wishes to
work. - Answer ANS: C
, take the NCLEX-PN examination; nurses can obtain endorsement without retaking the NCLEX-PN
examination.
4. A resident asks an LPN/LVN, "What is meant by the practical/vocational nurse's standard of
care in a long-term care agency?" The LPN/LVN should respond, "The practical/vocational nurse
who provides care for residents in a long-term care agency must implement care that is
consistent with
a. shortcuts acceptable to the agency that allow nurses to assume larger and more complex
patient assignments."
b. care that an ordinary, prudent LPN/LVN with the same education and experience would
perform in similar circumstances."
c. the minimum competency necessary to function as a health care giver in the state in which
the nurse resides."
d. customs of the agency in which the nurse is employed." - Answer ANS: B
This is the standard used by the courts, and it is the same regardless of the type of agency in
which the nurse is employed. The other options do not define the nurse's standard of care.
5. Civil law is concerned with
a. acts that threaten society.
b. decision making based on the nursing process.
c. intentional and unintentional torts.
d. guilt associated with criminal behavior. - Answer ANS: C
Torts are civil wrongs and may be intentional (intended to cause harm) or unintentional (did not
mean to do harm to the patient). Acts that threaten society are considered criminal acts. Civil
law is not directly concerned with the nursing process. Civil law is concerned with liability rather
than guilt.
6. A nurse is found liable for battery. What does this mean?
a. The nurse threatened the patient, causing fear of bodily harm.
b. The nurse, without consent, touched the patient in a way that caused harm.
c. The nurse detained the patient against his will.
d. The nurse incorrectly performed a procedure that is within her scope of practice. - Answer
ANS: B
Battery is touch that causes actual physical harm to someone. Threatening a patient, causing
fear of bodily harm, is assault. Detaining a patient against his will is false imprisonment.
Incorrectly performing a procedure that is within the nurse's scope of practice is malpractice.
