Chapter 3: Laws and Ethics |Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts 12th Edition, Timby

MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. A student nurse who is not yet licensed: a. may not perform nursing actions until he or she has passed the licensing examination. b. is not responsible for his or her actions as a student under the state licensing law. c. may perform nursing actions only under the supervision of a licensed nurse. d. must apply for a temporary student nurse permit to practice as a student. ANS: C Students may perform nursing actions before they are licensed but only under the supervision of a licensed nurse. The student is responsible for his or her own actions; however, the supervising nurse may also be responsible, depending on the situation. No special permit is required to practice as a student in an approved school of nursing. DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: dm 30 OBJ: Theory #1 TOP: Practice Regulations for the Student Nurse KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 2. During an employment interview, the interviewer asks the nurse applicant about HIV status. The nurse applicant can legally respond: a. No, even though he or she has a positive HIV test. b. I don’t know, but I would be willing to be tested. c. I don’t know, and I refuse to be tested. d. You do not have a right to ask me that question. ANS: D In employment practice, it is illegal to discriminate against people with certain diseases or conditions. Asking a question about health status, especially HIV or AIDS infection, is illegal. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: dm 31 OBJ: Clinical Practice #1 TOP: Discrimination KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 3. An example of a violation of criminal law by a nurse is: a. taking a controlled substance from agency supply for personal use. b. accidentally administering a drug to the wrong patient, who then has a serious reaction. c. advising a patient to sue the doctor for a supposed mistake the doctor made. d. writing a letter to the newspaper outlining questionable or unsafe hospital practices. ANS: A Theft of a controlled substance is a federal crime and consequently a crime against society. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: dm 30 OBJ: Theory #2 TOP: Criminal Law KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A 4. The LPN (LVN) assigns part of the care for her patients to a nursing assistant. The LPN is legally required to perform which of the following for the residents assigned to the assistant? a. Toilet the residents every 2 hours and as needed. b. Feed breakfast to one of the residents who needs assistance. c. Give medications to the residents at the prescribed times. d. Transport the residents to the physical therapy department.