Chapter 02: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing
Cooper: Foundations of Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a
Document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?
a. Deposition
b. Appeal
c. Complaint
d. Summons
ANS: C
A document called a complaint is filed in an appropriate court as the first step in
Litigation. A deposition is when witnesses are required to undergo questioning by the
Attorneys. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision by a higher court. A
Summons is a court order that notifies the defendant of the legal action.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: 24 OBJ: 1
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for a
Patient’s care. What is this legally binding situation?
a. Nurse-patient relationship
b. Accountability
c. Advocacy
d. Standard of care
ANS: A
When the nurse assumes responsibility for a patient’s care, the nurse-patient relationship
Is formed. This is a legally binding “contract” for which the nurse must take
Responsibility. Accountability is being responsible for one’s own actions. An advocate is
One who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another. Standards of care define
Acts whose performance is required, permitted, or prohibited.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 24 OBJ: 3
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all nursing
Interventions?
a. Scope of practice
b. Advocacy
c. Standard of care
d. Prudent practice
ANS: C Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing
Interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness of
Performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing practice are
Called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on
Behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or wise practice.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: 22 OBJ: 4
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to a
Patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before initiating this
Intervention?
a. Standards of care
b. Regulation of practice
c. American Nurses’ Association Code
d. Nurse practice act
ANS: D
It is the nurse’s responsibility to know the nurse practice act in his or her state. Standards
Of care, regulation of practice, and the American Nurses’ code are not laws that the nurse
Should refer to before initiating this treatment.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 26 OBJ: 5
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
Cooper: Foundations of Nursing, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a
Document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?
a. Deposition
b. Appeal
c. Complaint
d. Summons
ANS: C
A document called a complaint is filed in an appropriate court as the first step in
Litigation. A deposition is when witnesses are required to undergo questioning by the
Attorneys. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision by a higher court. A
Summons is a court order that notifies the defendant of the legal action.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: 24 OBJ: 1
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
2. The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for a
Patient’s care. What is this legally binding situation?
a. Nurse-patient relationship
b. Accountability
c. Advocacy
d. Standard of care
ANS: A
When the nurse assumes responsibility for a patient’s care, the nurse-patient relationship
Is formed. This is a legally binding “contract” for which the nurse must take
Responsibility. Accountability is being responsible for one’s own actions. An advocate is
One who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another. Standards of care define
Acts whose performance is required, permitted, or prohibited.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: 24 OBJ: 3
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all nursing
Interventions?
a. Scope of practice
b. Advocacy
c. Standard of care
d. Prudent practice
ANS: C Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing
Interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness of
Performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing practice are
Called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on
Behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or wise practice.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: 22 OBJ: 4
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to a
Patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before initiating this
Intervention?
a. Standards of care
b. Regulation of practice
c. American Nurses’ Association Code
d. Nurse practice act
ANS: D
It is the nurse’s responsibility to know the nurse practice act in his or her state. Standards
Of care, regulation of practice, and the American Nurses’ code are not laws that the nurse
Should refer to before initiating this treatment.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: 26 OBJ: 5
TOP: Legal KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
