Texas Jurisprudence Exam Questions and
Answers () (Verified Answers)
TEXAS NURSING JURISPRUDENCE EXAM (TJE)
Long • Most-Tested • Most-Difficult Questions (With Rationales)
1. Scope of Practice Determination
A newly licensed RN accepts a position in a specialty clinic where she has never worked. The medical
director asks her to perform a procedure she has not previously been trained to do but states that it is
“commonly done here.” What is the RN’s legal obligation under the Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA)?
A. Perform the task under physician supervision
B. Perform the task after observing another nurse
C. Decline until she has verified competency and training
D. Perform the task if it is ordered by a provider
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Texas nurses are personally accountable for determining whether an act is within their scope based on
education, training, and competence. Employer expectations or provider orders do not override the
NPA.
2. Mandatory Reporting
Which situation requires mandatory reporting to the Texas Board of Nursing?
A. A nurse arrives late to work repeatedly
B. A nurse makes a documentation error and corrects it
C. A nurse practices while impaired by substances
D. A nurse disagrees with a physician’s order
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale:
The BON requires mandatory reporting of conduct that poses a risk to patient safety, including
substance abuse, diversion, or impairment while practicing.
3. Safe Harbor Peer Review
A nurse believes an assignment would place patients at risk due to unsafe staffing. To invoke Safe
Harbor, the nurse must:
A. Refuse the assignment and leave
B. Report the issue after the shift
C. Request Safe Harbor before engaging in the conduct
D. File a complaint with the BON
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Safe Harbor protection applies only when the nurse requests it prior to engaging in the questioned
conduct and follows facility policy.
4. Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)
Which task may be delegated to a UAP under Texas rules?
A. Initial patient assessment
B. Medication administration
C. Reinforcement of teaching
D. Obtaining routine vital signs on a stable patient
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
UAPs may perform non-invasive, routine tasks on stable patients. Assessment, teaching, and
medication administration require licensed nursing judgment.
5. Patient Abandonment
Which situation constitutes patient abandonment under Texas law?
A. Leaving work after giving proper handoff
B. Refusing an unsafe assignment before accepting it
C. Leaving a patient assignment without notice or coverage
D. Reporting unsafe staffing to management
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale:
Abandonment occurs when a nurse accepts responsibility for patient care and then leaves without
ensuring continuity of care.
6. Informed Consent
Under Texas law, the nurse’s role in informed consent is to:
A. Explain risks and benefits of surgery
B. Obtain the patient’s signature
C. Witness the signature and verify understanding is addressed by the provider
D. Decide if the patient is competent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The provider obtains informed consent. The nurse witnesses the signature and ensures the consent
process occurred, but does not independently provide medical explanations.
7. Confidentiality and HIPAA
Which action is a violation of patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
B. Accessing a record to provide care
C. Viewing a family member’s chart out of curiosity
D. Reporting abuse to authorities
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Accessing records without a legitimate treatment-related reason is a HIPAA and BON violation.
8. Standards of Nursing Practice
Which BON standard is most directly violated when a nurse fails to follow up on an abnormal lab result?
A. Professional boundaries
B. Duty to advocate
C. Accurate documentation
D. Patient confidentiality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Failing to act on abnormal findings violates the nurse’s duty to advocate and protect patient safety.
Answers () (Verified Answers)
TEXAS NURSING JURISPRUDENCE EXAM (TJE)
Long • Most-Tested • Most-Difficult Questions (With Rationales)
1. Scope of Practice Determination
A newly licensed RN accepts a position in a specialty clinic where she has never worked. The medical
director asks her to perform a procedure she has not previously been trained to do but states that it is
“commonly done here.” What is the RN’s legal obligation under the Texas Nursing Practice Act (NPA)?
A. Perform the task under physician supervision
B. Perform the task after observing another nurse
C. Decline until she has verified competency and training
D. Perform the task if it is ordered by a provider
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Texas nurses are personally accountable for determining whether an act is within their scope based on
education, training, and competence. Employer expectations or provider orders do not override the
NPA.
2. Mandatory Reporting
Which situation requires mandatory reporting to the Texas Board of Nursing?
A. A nurse arrives late to work repeatedly
B. A nurse makes a documentation error and corrects it
C. A nurse practices while impaired by substances
D. A nurse disagrees with a physician’s order
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale:
The BON requires mandatory reporting of conduct that poses a risk to patient safety, including
substance abuse, diversion, or impairment while practicing.
3. Safe Harbor Peer Review
A nurse believes an assignment would place patients at risk due to unsafe staffing. To invoke Safe
Harbor, the nurse must:
A. Refuse the assignment and leave
B. Report the issue after the shift
C. Request Safe Harbor before engaging in the conduct
D. File a complaint with the BON
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Safe Harbor protection applies only when the nurse requests it prior to engaging in the questioned
conduct and follows facility policy.
4. Delegation to Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP)
Which task may be delegated to a UAP under Texas rules?
A. Initial patient assessment
B. Medication administration
C. Reinforcement of teaching
D. Obtaining routine vital signs on a stable patient
Correct Answer: D
Rationale:
UAPs may perform non-invasive, routine tasks on stable patients. Assessment, teaching, and
medication administration require licensed nursing judgment.
5. Patient Abandonment
Which situation constitutes patient abandonment under Texas law?
A. Leaving work after giving proper handoff
B. Refusing an unsafe assignment before accepting it
C. Leaving a patient assignment without notice or coverage
D. Reporting unsafe staffing to management
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale:
Abandonment occurs when a nurse accepts responsibility for patient care and then leaves without
ensuring continuity of care.
6. Informed Consent
Under Texas law, the nurse’s role in informed consent is to:
A. Explain risks and benefits of surgery
B. Obtain the patient’s signature
C. Witness the signature and verify understanding is addressed by the provider
D. Decide if the patient is competent
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
The provider obtains informed consent. The nurse witnesses the signature and ensures the consent
process occurred, but does not independently provide medical explanations.
7. Confidentiality and HIPAA
Which action is a violation of patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
B. Accessing a record to provide care
C. Viewing a family member’s chart out of curiosity
D. Reporting abuse to authorities
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
Accessing records without a legitimate treatment-related reason is a HIPAA and BON violation.
8. Standards of Nursing Practice
Which BON standard is most directly violated when a nurse fails to follow up on an abnormal lab result?
A. Professional boundaries
B. Duty to advocate
C. Accurate documentation
D. Patient confidentiality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Failing to act on abnormal findings violates the nurse’s duty to advocate and protect patient safety.
