ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES NCLEX QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST 2024 VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
e. The client's left lower medial leg wound is 3 cm in length without redness, drainage, or edema - ans8.
A, B, E- Factual documentation contains descriptive, objective information about what the nurse sees,
hears, feels, or smells. The use of inferences without supporting factual data is not acceptable because it
can be misunderstood. The use of vague terms, such as seemed or appears is not acceptable because
these words suggest that the nurse is stating an opinion.
d. The client became restless and tried to get out of bed. - ans1. C- The incident report should contain
the client's name, age, and diagnosis. The report should contain a factual description of the incident, any
injuries experienced by those involved, and the outcome of the situation. The correct option is the only
one that describes the facts as observed by the nurse. Options 1, 2, and 4 are interpretations of the
situation and are not factual information as observed by the nurse.
d. The client appears to become anxious when it is time for respiratory treatments
d. Observing care provided to the client without the client's permission - ans9. D- Invasion of privacy
occurs with unreasonable intrusion into an individual's private affairs. Performing a procedure without
consent is an example of battery. Threatening to a give a client a medication constitutes assault. Telling
the client that the client cannot leave the hospital constitutes false imprisonment.
d. Negligence - ans10. B- Defamation is a false communication or a careless disregard for the truth that
causes damage to someone's reputation, either in writing (Libel) or verbally (slander). An assault occurs
when a person puts another person in fear of a harmful or an offensive contact. Negligence involves the
actions of professionals that fall below standard of care for a specific professional group
d. Lock the co-worker in the medication room until help is obtain - ans5. C- Nurse practice acts require
reporting impaired nurses. The board of nursing has jurisdiction over the practice of nursing and may
develop plans for treatment and supervision of the impaired nurse. This incident needs to be reported to
the nursing supervisor, who will then report to the board of nursing and other authorities, such as the
police, as required. The nurse may call security if a disturbance occurs, but no information in the
question supports this need, and so this is not the appropriate action. Option 4 is an inappropriate and
unsafe action.
d. Identify tasks that can be performed safely in the ICU - ans4. D- Floating is an acceptable legal practice
used by hospitals to solve understaffing problems. Legally, the nurse cannot refuse to float unless a
union contract guarantees that nurses can work only in a specified area or the nurse can prove the lack
of knowledge for the performance of assigned tasks. When encountering this situation, the nurse should
set priorities and identify potential areas of harm to the client. The nursing supervisor is called if the
nurse is expected to perform tasks that he or she cannot safely perform. Calling the hospital lawyer is a
premature action.
d. Drawing one line through the error, initialing and dating, and then documenting the correct
information. - ans7. D- If the nurse makes an error in narrative documentation in the client's record, the
nurse should follow agency policies to correct the error. This includes drawing one line through the error,
initializing and dating the line, and then documenting the correct information. A late entry is used to
, ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES NCLEX QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST 2024 VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
document additional information not remembered at the initial time of documentation. Erasing data
from the client's record and the use of whiteout are prohibited
d. Contact the nursing supervisor to update information regarding the fall - ans3. A- After a client's fall,
the nurse must frequently reassess the client because potential complications do not always appear
immediately after the fall. The client's fall should be treated as private information and shared on a
"need to know" basis. Communication regarding the event should involve only the individuals
participating in the client's care. An incident report is a problem-solving document; however, its
completion is not documented in the nurse's notes. If the nursing supervisor has been made aware of
the incident, the supervisor will contact the nurse if status update is necessary.
d. Call the police to identify the client and locate the family. - ans2. C- In general, there are two situations
in which informed consent of an adult client is not needed. One is when an emergency is present and
delaying treatment for the purpose of obtaining informed consent would result in injury or death to the
client. The second is when the client waives the right to give informed consent. Option 1 will delay
emergency treatment, and option 2 is inappropriate. Although option 4 may be pursued, it is not the
best action
d. Call the laboratory and ask for the individual's name who sent the photograph - ans13. C- Ensuring a
safe workplace is a responsibility of an employing institution. Sexual harassment in the workplace is
prohibited by state and federal laws. Sexually suggestive jokes, touching, pressuring a co-worker for a
date, and open displays of or transmitting sexually oriented photographs or posters are examples of
conducts that could be considered sexual harassment by another worker. If the nurse believes that he or
she is being subjected to unwelcome sexual conduct, these concerns should be reported to the nursing
supervisor immediately. Option 1 is unnecessary at this time. Options 2 and 4 are inappropriate initial
actions.
d. Administer the recommended dose until the HCP can be located - ans12. A- If the HCP writes a
prescription that requires clarification, the nurse's responsibility is to contact the HCP. If there is no
resolution regarding the prescription because the HCP cannot be located or because the prescription
remains as it was written after talking with the HCP, the nurse should contact the nurse manager or
nursing supervisor for further clarification as to what the next step should be. Under no circumstances
should the nurse proceed to carry out the prescription until obtaining clarification.
d. "I will call the nursing supervisor to seek assistance regarding your request." - ans6. D- Living wills, also
known as natural death acts in some states, are required to be in writing and signed by the client. The
client's signature must be witnessed by specified individuals or notarized. Laws and guidelines regarding
living wills vary from state to state, and it is the responsibility of the nurse to know the laws. Many states
prohibit any employee, including the nurse of a facility where the client is receiving care, from being a
witness. Option 2 is nontherapeutic and not a helpful response. The nurse should seek the assistance of
the nursing supervisor.
d. "As a nurse, I am legally bound to report abuse. I will stay with you while you give the report and help
find a safe place for you to stay. - ans11. D- The nurse must report situations related to child or elder
AND ANSWERS LATEST 2024 VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
e. The client's left lower medial leg wound is 3 cm in length without redness, drainage, or edema - ans8.
A, B, E- Factual documentation contains descriptive, objective information about what the nurse sees,
hears, feels, or smells. The use of inferences without supporting factual data is not acceptable because it
can be misunderstood. The use of vague terms, such as seemed or appears is not acceptable because
these words suggest that the nurse is stating an opinion.
d. The client became restless and tried to get out of bed. - ans1. C- The incident report should contain
the client's name, age, and diagnosis. The report should contain a factual description of the incident, any
injuries experienced by those involved, and the outcome of the situation. The correct option is the only
one that describes the facts as observed by the nurse. Options 1, 2, and 4 are interpretations of the
situation and are not factual information as observed by the nurse.
d. The client appears to become anxious when it is time for respiratory treatments
d. Observing care provided to the client without the client's permission - ans9. D- Invasion of privacy
occurs with unreasonable intrusion into an individual's private affairs. Performing a procedure without
consent is an example of battery. Threatening to a give a client a medication constitutes assault. Telling
the client that the client cannot leave the hospital constitutes false imprisonment.
d. Negligence - ans10. B- Defamation is a false communication or a careless disregard for the truth that
causes damage to someone's reputation, either in writing (Libel) or verbally (slander). An assault occurs
when a person puts another person in fear of a harmful or an offensive contact. Negligence involves the
actions of professionals that fall below standard of care for a specific professional group
d. Lock the co-worker in the medication room until help is obtain - ans5. C- Nurse practice acts require
reporting impaired nurses. The board of nursing has jurisdiction over the practice of nursing and may
develop plans for treatment and supervision of the impaired nurse. This incident needs to be reported to
the nursing supervisor, who will then report to the board of nursing and other authorities, such as the
police, as required. The nurse may call security if a disturbance occurs, but no information in the
question supports this need, and so this is not the appropriate action. Option 4 is an inappropriate and
unsafe action.
d. Identify tasks that can be performed safely in the ICU - ans4. D- Floating is an acceptable legal practice
used by hospitals to solve understaffing problems. Legally, the nurse cannot refuse to float unless a
union contract guarantees that nurses can work only in a specified area or the nurse can prove the lack
of knowledge for the performance of assigned tasks. When encountering this situation, the nurse should
set priorities and identify potential areas of harm to the client. The nursing supervisor is called if the
nurse is expected to perform tasks that he or she cannot safely perform. Calling the hospital lawyer is a
premature action.
d. Drawing one line through the error, initialing and dating, and then documenting the correct
information. - ans7. D- If the nurse makes an error in narrative documentation in the client's record, the
nurse should follow agency policies to correct the error. This includes drawing one line through the error,
initializing and dating the line, and then documenting the correct information. A late entry is used to
, ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES NCLEX QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS LATEST 2024 VERSION VERIFIED
RATIONALE GRADED A+
document additional information not remembered at the initial time of documentation. Erasing data
from the client's record and the use of whiteout are prohibited
d. Contact the nursing supervisor to update information regarding the fall - ans3. A- After a client's fall,
the nurse must frequently reassess the client because potential complications do not always appear
immediately after the fall. The client's fall should be treated as private information and shared on a
"need to know" basis. Communication regarding the event should involve only the individuals
participating in the client's care. An incident report is a problem-solving document; however, its
completion is not documented in the nurse's notes. If the nursing supervisor has been made aware of
the incident, the supervisor will contact the nurse if status update is necessary.
d. Call the police to identify the client and locate the family. - ans2. C- In general, there are two situations
in which informed consent of an adult client is not needed. One is when an emergency is present and
delaying treatment for the purpose of obtaining informed consent would result in injury or death to the
client. The second is when the client waives the right to give informed consent. Option 1 will delay
emergency treatment, and option 2 is inappropriate. Although option 4 may be pursued, it is not the
best action
d. Call the laboratory and ask for the individual's name who sent the photograph - ans13. C- Ensuring a
safe workplace is a responsibility of an employing institution. Sexual harassment in the workplace is
prohibited by state and federal laws. Sexually suggestive jokes, touching, pressuring a co-worker for a
date, and open displays of or transmitting sexually oriented photographs or posters are examples of
conducts that could be considered sexual harassment by another worker. If the nurse believes that he or
she is being subjected to unwelcome sexual conduct, these concerns should be reported to the nursing
supervisor immediately. Option 1 is unnecessary at this time. Options 2 and 4 are inappropriate initial
actions.
d. Administer the recommended dose until the HCP can be located - ans12. A- If the HCP writes a
prescription that requires clarification, the nurse's responsibility is to contact the HCP. If there is no
resolution regarding the prescription because the HCP cannot be located or because the prescription
remains as it was written after talking with the HCP, the nurse should contact the nurse manager or
nursing supervisor for further clarification as to what the next step should be. Under no circumstances
should the nurse proceed to carry out the prescription until obtaining clarification.
d. "I will call the nursing supervisor to seek assistance regarding your request." - ans6. D- Living wills, also
known as natural death acts in some states, are required to be in writing and signed by the client. The
client's signature must be witnessed by specified individuals or notarized. Laws and guidelines regarding
living wills vary from state to state, and it is the responsibility of the nurse to know the laws. Many states
prohibit any employee, including the nurse of a facility where the client is receiving care, from being a
witness. Option 2 is nontherapeutic and not a helpful response. The nurse should seek the assistance of
the nursing supervisor.
d. "As a nurse, I am legally bound to report abuse. I will stay with you while you give the report and help
find a safe place for you to stay. - ans11. D- The nurse must report situations related to child or elder
