Question 1: A nurse is caring for a patient who refuses a blood transfusion due to
religious beliefs. The patient's family is requesting the transfusion. The nurse's best
action is to:
A. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life.
B. Respect the patient's refusal and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Ask the family to leave the room and proceed with the transfusion.
D. Contact the hospital's legal department.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Respect the patient's refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment based on their religious beliefs.
The nurse must respect the patient's autonomy and advocate for their wishes.
Question 2: The nurse is preparing to perform a procedure on a patient. The patient
asks, "What are you going to do?" The nurse explains the procedure, including the risks
and benefits. This is an example of:
A. Informed consent
B. Beneficence
C. Malpractice
D. Non-maleficence
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Informed consent.
Rationale: Informed consent requires the provider to explain the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives to the patient. The nurse's role is to witness the consent
process and ensure the patient understands.
Question 3: A nurse administers a medication to a patient without checking the
patient's identification bracelet. The patient has an allergic reaction to the medication.
This is an example of:
A. Negligence
B. Malpractice
C. Assault
D. Battery
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Malpractice.
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence, which is the failure to act as a
reasonable, prudent nurse would act under similar circumstances. Failing to check a
patient's ID is a breach of the standard of care.
,Question 4: A nurse is discussing a patient's case with a colleague in the hospital
cafeteria. This is a violation of:
A. The Patient Self-Determination Act
B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
D. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA).
Rationale: HIPAA protects the privacy and security of patients' health information.
Discussing patient information in a public place is a violation of this law.
Question 5: A patient is in cardiac arrest, and a nurse performs CPR without consent.
This is an example of:
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. Implied consent
D. Negligence
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Implied consent.
Rationale: In an emergency where the patient is unable to consent, implied consent is
assumed. The law assumes that a reasonable person would consent to life-saving
treatment.
Question 6: The nurse manager is reviewing a sta nurse's actions. The nurse
administered a medication that was ordered, but the dose was incorrect. The nurse's
action is an example of:
A. An error in judgment
B. An error in execution
C. A system error
D. A violation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. An error in judgment.
Rationale: An error in judgment is a clinical decision-making error. The nurse followed
the order but failed to recognize an incorrect dose.
,Question 7: A patient is being discharged and asks for a copy of their medical record.
The nurse should:
A. Provide the patient with a copy of the medical record.
B. Refuse the patient's request.
C. Tell the patient to talk to the healthcare provider.
D. Provide the patient with a summary of the record.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Provide the patient with a copy of the medical record.
Rationale: Patients have the right to access their medical records. The nurse should
facilitate this request.
Question 8: A nurse restrains a patient without a physician's order. This is an example
of:
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False imprisonment
D. Defamation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. False imprisonment.
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified restraint of a person without legal
warrant. Restraining a patient without an order is a violation of their rights.
Question 9: A nurse is caring for a patient who is a danger to themselves. The nurse
places the patient on suicide precautions. This is an example of:
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Beneficence.
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and to act in the patient's best interest.
Placing a patient on suicide precautions is an act of beneficence to prevent harm.
Question 10: A nurse witnesses a colleague administering a medication incorrectly. The
nurse's legal and ethical duty is to:
, A. Ignore the colleague's actions.
B. Report the colleague to the nursing supervisor.
C. Confront the colleague privately.
D. Both B and C.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both B and C.
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to report unsafe practice to a supervisor and to address
the issue with the colleague professionally.
Question 11: A nurse is documenting in a patient's chart. The nurse should document:
A. Objectively and accurately.
B. Subjectively and vaguely.
C. Only negative findings.
D. Only positive findings.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Objectively and accurately.
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, accurate, and complete. It should
reflect the patient's condition and the care provided.
Question 12: A patient signs a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order. The patient's family
disagrees with the order. The nurse should:
A. Follow the DNR order.
B. Follow the family's wishes.
C. Ask the healthcare provider to decide.
D. Ignore the DNR order.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Follow the DNR order.
Rationale: A DNR order is a legal document that reflects the patient's wishes. The nurse
must honor the patient's choice, even if the family disagrees.
Question 13: A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a vulnerable population.
The nurse should:
A. Provide the same care as any other patient.
B. Advocate for the patient's specific needs.
C. Treat the patient as if they are not vulnerable.
D. Ignore the patient's vulnerability.
religious beliefs. The patient's family is requesting the transfusion. The nurse's best
action is to:
A. Administer the transfusion to save the patient's life.
B. Respect the patient's refusal and notify the healthcare provider.
C. Ask the family to leave the room and proceed with the transfusion.
D. Contact the hospital's legal department.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Respect the patient's refusal and notify the healthcare
provider.
Rationale: Patients have the right to refuse treatment based on their religious beliefs.
The nurse must respect the patient's autonomy and advocate for their wishes.
Question 2: The nurse is preparing to perform a procedure on a patient. The patient
asks, "What are you going to do?" The nurse explains the procedure, including the risks
and benefits. This is an example of:
A. Informed consent
B. Beneficence
C. Malpractice
D. Non-maleficence
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Informed consent.
Rationale: Informed consent requires the provider to explain the procedure, risks,
benefits, and alternatives to the patient. The nurse's role is to witness the consent
process and ensure the patient understands.
Question 3: A nurse administers a medication to a patient without checking the
patient's identification bracelet. The patient has an allergic reaction to the medication.
This is an example of:
A. Negligence
B. Malpractice
C. Assault
D. Battery
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Malpractice.
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence, which is the failure to act as a
reasonable, prudent nurse would act under similar circumstances. Failing to check a
patient's ID is a breach of the standard of care.
,Question 4: A nurse is discussing a patient's case with a colleague in the hospital
cafeteria. This is a violation of:
A. The Patient Self-Determination Act
B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
C. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA)
D. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA).
Rationale: HIPAA protects the privacy and security of patients' health information.
Discussing patient information in a public place is a violation of this law.
Question 5: A patient is in cardiac arrest, and a nurse performs CPR without consent.
This is an example of:
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. Implied consent
D. Negligence
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Implied consent.
Rationale: In an emergency where the patient is unable to consent, implied consent is
assumed. The law assumes that a reasonable person would consent to life-saving
treatment.
Question 6: The nurse manager is reviewing a sta nurse's actions. The nurse
administered a medication that was ordered, but the dose was incorrect. The nurse's
action is an example of:
A. An error in judgment
B. An error in execution
C. A system error
D. A violation
CORRECT ANSWER: A. An error in judgment.
Rationale: An error in judgment is a clinical decision-making error. The nurse followed
the order but failed to recognize an incorrect dose.
,Question 7: A patient is being discharged and asks for a copy of their medical record.
The nurse should:
A. Provide the patient with a copy of the medical record.
B. Refuse the patient's request.
C. Tell the patient to talk to the healthcare provider.
D. Provide the patient with a summary of the record.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Provide the patient with a copy of the medical record.
Rationale: Patients have the right to access their medical records. The nurse should
facilitate this request.
Question 8: A nurse restrains a patient without a physician's order. This is an example
of:
A. Assault
B. Battery
C. False imprisonment
D. Defamation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. False imprisonment.
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified restraint of a person without legal
warrant. Restraining a patient without an order is a violation of their rights.
Question 9: A nurse is caring for a patient who is a danger to themselves. The nurse
places the patient on suicide precautions. This is an example of:
A. Beneficence
B. Non-maleficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Beneficence.
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to do good and to act in the patient's best interest.
Placing a patient on suicide precautions is an act of beneficence to prevent harm.
Question 10: A nurse witnesses a colleague administering a medication incorrectly. The
nurse's legal and ethical duty is to:
, A. Ignore the colleague's actions.
B. Report the colleague to the nursing supervisor.
C. Confront the colleague privately.
D. Both B and C.
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Both B and C.
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to report unsafe practice to a supervisor and to address
the issue with the colleague professionally.
Question 11: A nurse is documenting in a patient's chart. The nurse should document:
A. Objectively and accurately.
B. Subjectively and vaguely.
C. Only negative findings.
D. Only positive findings.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Objectively and accurately.
Rationale: Documentation should be objective, accurate, and complete. It should
reflect the patient's condition and the care provided.
Question 12: A patient signs a "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) order. The patient's family
disagrees with the order. The nurse should:
A. Follow the DNR order.
B. Follow the family's wishes.
C. Ask the healthcare provider to decide.
D. Ignore the DNR order.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Follow the DNR order.
Rationale: A DNR order is a legal document that reflects the patient's wishes. The nurse
must honor the patient's choice, even if the family disagrees.
Question 13: A nurse is caring for a patient who is a member of a vulnerable population.
The nurse should:
A. Provide the same care as any other patient.
B. Advocate for the patient's specific needs.
C. Treat the patient as if they are not vulnerable.
D. Ignore the patient's vulnerability.
