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Nursing 354 Legal Nursing Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which source of law primarily establishes the legal scope of nursing
practice?
A. Hospital policy
B. Nurse's personal standards
C. State nurse practice act
D. Patient's preference
Answer: State nurse practice act
Rationale: The state nurse practice act defines the legal scope of nursing
practice, licensure requirements, and professional responsibilities within that
state.
2. A nurse administers a medication to the wrong patient because the nurse
failed to verify the patient's identity. Which element of negligence is most
clearly demonstrated?
A. Damages
B. Duty
,C. Causation
D. Breach of duty
Answer: Breach of duty
Rationale: The nurse had a duty to provide safe medication administration and
breached that duty by failing to properly identify the patient.
3. Which statement best describes informed consent?
A. The nurse independently explains all risks of a surgical procedure.
B. The patient receives sufficient information to make an informed decision
about treatment.
C. The patient's family automatically provides consent for an adult patient.
D. Consent is unnecessary for routine procedures.
Answer: The patient receives sufficient information to make an informed
decision about treatment.
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate information about the proposed
intervention, including relevant risks, benefits, and alternatives, so the patient
can make an informed decision.
4. Which action by a nurse would constitute battery?
A. Failing to document an assessment
B. Accidentally administering the wrong dose
C. Performing a procedure on a competent patient who explicitly refused it
D. Discussing a patient's condition with the healthcare provider
Answer: Performing a procedure on a competent patient who explicitly refused
it
Rationale: Battery involves intentional physical contact or treatment without
valid consent.
5. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion. What
should the nurse do?
,A. Ask the family to override the decision.
B. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary.
C. Request that security restrain the patient.
D. Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare provider.
Answer: Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
Rationale: Competent adults generally have the right to refuse treatment, even
when refusal could result in serious harm.
6. Which situation is an example of professional negligence?
A. A nurse follows the prescribed treatment plan.
B. A nurse documents care immediately after providing it.
C. A nurse fails to monitor a patient as required, resulting in patient injury.
D. A nurse reports a change in patient condition.
Answer: A nurse fails to monitor a patient as required, resulting in patient injury.
Rationale: Professional negligence occurs when a nurse fails to meet the
applicable standard of care and the patient suffers harm as a result.
7. Which action is most appropriate when a nurse makes an error in patient
care?
A. Alter the medical record to remove evidence of the error.
B. Avoid telling anyone about the error.
C. Blame another healthcare professional.
D. Report the error promptly according to organizational policy and document
accurately.
Answer: Report the error promptly according to organizational policy and
document accurately.
Rationale: Patient safety requires prompt reporting, appropriate assessment
and intervention, and truthful documentation.
8. What is the primary purpose of a nurse's documentation?
, A. To protect the hospital from lawsuits
B. To satisfy insurance companies
C. To communicate patient care and provide an accurate legal record of care
provided
D. To replace verbal communication
Answer: To communicate patient care and provide an accurate legal record of
care provided
Rationale: The health record communicates patient information among
healthcare professionals and serves as a legal record of assessment, decisions,
interventions, and responses.
9. Which documentation entry is most appropriate?
A. "Patient seems much better."
B. "Patient is difficult and uncooperative."
C. "Patient reports pain of 6/10 in the lower abdomen."
D. "Patient had a normal day."
Answer: "Patient reports pain of 6/10 in the lower abdomen."
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, specific, factual, and based on
patient statements or observable findings.
10.A nurse discovers an incorrect entry in a paper medical record. What is the
appropriate action?
A. Erase the original entry completely.
B. Use correction fluid.
C. Tear out the page.
D. Correct the entry according to organizational policy while preserving the
original information.
Answer: Correct the entry according to organizational policy while preserving
the original information.
Nursing 354 Legal Nursing Practice
Exam Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A Instant Download Pdf
___________________________________________________________________
1. Which source of law primarily establishes the legal scope of nursing
practice?
A. Hospital policy
B. Nurse's personal standards
C. State nurse practice act
D. Patient's preference
Answer: State nurse practice act
Rationale: The state nurse practice act defines the legal scope of nursing
practice, licensure requirements, and professional responsibilities within that
state.
2. A nurse administers a medication to the wrong patient because the nurse
failed to verify the patient's identity. Which element of negligence is most
clearly demonstrated?
A. Damages
B. Duty
,C. Causation
D. Breach of duty
Answer: Breach of duty
Rationale: The nurse had a duty to provide safe medication administration and
breached that duty by failing to properly identify the patient.
3. Which statement best describes informed consent?
A. The nurse independently explains all risks of a surgical procedure.
B. The patient receives sufficient information to make an informed decision
about treatment.
C. The patient's family automatically provides consent for an adult patient.
D. Consent is unnecessary for routine procedures.
Answer: The patient receives sufficient information to make an informed
decision about treatment.
Rationale: Informed consent requires adequate information about the proposed
intervention, including relevant risks, benefits, and alternatives, so the patient
can make an informed decision.
4. Which action by a nurse would constitute battery?
A. Failing to document an assessment
B. Accidentally administering the wrong dose
C. Performing a procedure on a competent patient who explicitly refused it
D. Discussing a patient's condition with the healthcare provider
Answer: Performing a procedure on a competent patient who explicitly refused
it
Rationale: Battery involves intentional physical contact or treatment without
valid consent.
5. A competent adult patient refuses a recommended blood transfusion. What
should the nurse do?
,A. Ask the family to override the decision.
B. Administer the transfusion because it is medically necessary.
C. Request that security restrain the patient.
D. Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare provider.
Answer: Respect the patient's informed refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
Rationale: Competent adults generally have the right to refuse treatment, even
when refusal could result in serious harm.
6. Which situation is an example of professional negligence?
A. A nurse follows the prescribed treatment plan.
B. A nurse documents care immediately after providing it.
C. A nurse fails to monitor a patient as required, resulting in patient injury.
D. A nurse reports a change in patient condition.
Answer: A nurse fails to monitor a patient as required, resulting in patient injury.
Rationale: Professional negligence occurs when a nurse fails to meet the
applicable standard of care and the patient suffers harm as a result.
7. Which action is most appropriate when a nurse makes an error in patient
care?
A. Alter the medical record to remove evidence of the error.
B. Avoid telling anyone about the error.
C. Blame another healthcare professional.
D. Report the error promptly according to organizational policy and document
accurately.
Answer: Report the error promptly according to organizational policy and
document accurately.
Rationale: Patient safety requires prompt reporting, appropriate assessment
and intervention, and truthful documentation.
8. What is the primary purpose of a nurse's documentation?
, A. To protect the hospital from lawsuits
B. To satisfy insurance companies
C. To communicate patient care and provide an accurate legal record of care
provided
D. To replace verbal communication
Answer: To communicate patient care and provide an accurate legal record of
care provided
Rationale: The health record communicates patient information among
healthcare professionals and serves as a legal record of assessment, decisions,
interventions, and responses.
9. Which documentation entry is most appropriate?
A. "Patient seems much better."
B. "Patient is difficult and uncooperative."
C. "Patient reports pain of 6/10 in the lower abdomen."
D. "Patient had a normal day."
Answer: "Patient reports pain of 6/10 in the lower abdomen."
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, specific, factual, and based on
patient statements or observable findings.
10.A nurse discovers an incorrect entry in a paper medical record. What is the
appropriate action?
A. Erase the original entry completely.
B. Use correction fluid.
C. Tear out the page.
D. Correct the entry according to organizational policy while preserving the
original information.
Answer: Correct the entry according to organizational policy while preserving
the original information.
