NCSBN STUDY SHEET RESOURCES 2026
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS READY
◍ advance directive. Answer: A written document intended to guide
medical treatment decisions when a person becomes unable to make
decisions for him/herself. Two types of advance directives are living
wills and medical powers of attorney. A living will, or treatment
directive, states an individual's personal wishes about end-of-life
medical treatment in the event that he or she loses the ability to
communicate or to make decisions. In a medical power of attorney, an
individual appoints someone (often called a health care agent) to
make treatment decisions for him or her.
◍ living will. Answer: An advanced directive in which a client can
spell out specifics about what care can or cannot be provided. This
document often addresses end-of-life decisions.
◍ DNR (do not resuscitate). Answer: Do not resuscitate (DNR) is a
medical order, usually written by a physician. It instructs health care
providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a
client's breathing stops or if the client's heart stops beating. The DNR
order may also include identification of medications that may be
given without any defibrillation attempts.
The client or health care proxy can withdraw the order at any time.
,◍ Allow natural death (AND). Answer: Allow natural death (AND) is
a medical term limiting or prohibiting the use of life-extending
measures.
This order acknowledges that the client is dying and everything that is
being done for the client, including the withdrawal of nutrition and
hydration, will allow the dying process to occur as comfortably as
possible.
◍ Organ Donation. Answer: Nurses advocate for and support families
throughout the organ and tissue donation process.
Nurses involved in the process of organ and tissue donation should be
knowledgeable of the ethical, cultural, religious and social issues
related to organ and tissue donation.
◍ Informed Consent. Answer: Grants permission to perform a test or
procedure. The health care provider is legally obligated to provide a
complete description of the test or procedure, as well as the possible
risks and benefits. Informed consent is also important for clients who
wish to leave a health care facility against medical advice (AMA).
The client must have the capacity to understand:
The purpose of the procedure and expected results
Anticipated risks and discomforts
Potential benefits
Any reasonable alternative treatments
,The informed consent form must be signed by a competent adult. The
person signing the document must be able to understand the
information given by the health care professional. If the person is
unable to understand the information due to a language barrier or
hearing impairment, a trained medical interpreter must be present.
Nurses will cosign the document, attesting that they witnessed the
client or designated person sign the consent form.
The client and/or designated proxy can withdraw consent at any time
◍ Client's role in Informed Consent. Answer: A client needs to
understand the following information before giving consent:
The diagnosis
The nature and purpose of the treatment or procedure
Any reasonable alternatives, regardless of the cost or whether or not
the alternative is covered by insurance
Risks, consequences and benefits of the procedure and the
alternative(s)
Risks and consequences if the treatment or procedure is refused
◍ nurses role in informed consent. Answer: The nurse's role is:
To be the client's advocate
To protect the client's dignity
To identify any fears
, To determine the client's degree of comprehension and approval of the
care he or she is to receive
The nurse may be assigned the task of obtaining and witnessing the
client's signature
The nurse who is concerned about the validity of an informed consent
has a legal obligation to tell the physician and the nursing supervisor
about the concern
The nurse is not responsible for providing details about the treatment
or procedure
◍ Freedom from restraint. Answer: A restraint is a measure or
condition that limits a client's movement. Restraints can also help
keep a client from getting hurt or doing harm to others.
◍ professional misconduct. Answer: Professional accountability can
be defined as a condition in which nurses maintain the established
standards of practice in order to provide safe, appropriate and ethical
care.
Professional misconduct involves an act of breaking or failing to
observe a law, agreement or ethical code of conduct. This conduct
may involve deceiving, defrauding or harming the public.
Professional negligence (also known as malpractice) is failing to act
as other prudent nurses with a similar background, knowledge and
education would act under similar circumstances. It involves an action
or inaction that results in unintended harm to the client.
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS READY
◍ advance directive. Answer: A written document intended to guide
medical treatment decisions when a person becomes unable to make
decisions for him/herself. Two types of advance directives are living
wills and medical powers of attorney. A living will, or treatment
directive, states an individual's personal wishes about end-of-life
medical treatment in the event that he or she loses the ability to
communicate or to make decisions. In a medical power of attorney, an
individual appoints someone (often called a health care agent) to
make treatment decisions for him or her.
◍ living will. Answer: An advanced directive in which a client can
spell out specifics about what care can or cannot be provided. This
document often addresses end-of-life decisions.
◍ DNR (do not resuscitate). Answer: Do not resuscitate (DNR) is a
medical order, usually written by a physician. It instructs health care
providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if a
client's breathing stops or if the client's heart stops beating. The DNR
order may also include identification of medications that may be
given without any defibrillation attempts.
The client or health care proxy can withdraw the order at any time.
,◍ Allow natural death (AND). Answer: Allow natural death (AND) is
a medical term limiting or prohibiting the use of life-extending
measures.
This order acknowledges that the client is dying and everything that is
being done for the client, including the withdrawal of nutrition and
hydration, will allow the dying process to occur as comfortably as
possible.
◍ Organ Donation. Answer: Nurses advocate for and support families
throughout the organ and tissue donation process.
Nurses involved in the process of organ and tissue donation should be
knowledgeable of the ethical, cultural, religious and social issues
related to organ and tissue donation.
◍ Informed Consent. Answer: Grants permission to perform a test or
procedure. The health care provider is legally obligated to provide a
complete description of the test or procedure, as well as the possible
risks and benefits. Informed consent is also important for clients who
wish to leave a health care facility against medical advice (AMA).
The client must have the capacity to understand:
The purpose of the procedure and expected results
Anticipated risks and discomforts
Potential benefits
Any reasonable alternative treatments
,The informed consent form must be signed by a competent adult. The
person signing the document must be able to understand the
information given by the health care professional. If the person is
unable to understand the information due to a language barrier or
hearing impairment, a trained medical interpreter must be present.
Nurses will cosign the document, attesting that they witnessed the
client or designated person sign the consent form.
The client and/or designated proxy can withdraw consent at any time
◍ Client's role in Informed Consent. Answer: A client needs to
understand the following information before giving consent:
The diagnosis
The nature and purpose of the treatment or procedure
Any reasonable alternatives, regardless of the cost or whether or not
the alternative is covered by insurance
Risks, consequences and benefits of the procedure and the
alternative(s)
Risks and consequences if the treatment or procedure is refused
◍ nurses role in informed consent. Answer: The nurse's role is:
To be the client's advocate
To protect the client's dignity
To identify any fears
, To determine the client's degree of comprehension and approval of the
care he or she is to receive
The nurse may be assigned the task of obtaining and witnessing the
client's signature
The nurse who is concerned about the validity of an informed consent
has a legal obligation to tell the physician and the nursing supervisor
about the concern
The nurse is not responsible for providing details about the treatment
or procedure
◍ Freedom from restraint. Answer: A restraint is a measure or
condition that limits a client's movement. Restraints can also help
keep a client from getting hurt or doing harm to others.
◍ professional misconduct. Answer: Professional accountability can
be defined as a condition in which nurses maintain the established
standards of practice in order to provide safe, appropriate and ethical
care.
Professional misconduct involves an act of breaking or failing to
observe a law, agreement or ethical code of conduct. This conduct
may involve deceiving, defrauding or harming the public.
Professional negligence (also known as malpractice) is failing to act
as other prudent nurses with a similar background, knowledge and
education would act under similar circumstances. It involves an action
or inaction that results in unintended harm to the client.
