Legal Issues in Nursing Practice – 100-
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1. Which legal doctrine requires nurses to avoid causing harm to
patients?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical and legal principle that
requires healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients.
Nurses must carefully follow standards of care, medication
administration procedures, and safety protocols to prevent injury or
negligence. Fidelity refers to faithfulness, autonomy relates to patient
choice, and justice concerns fairness in healthcare delivery.
, 2. A nurse fails to raise the side rails of a confused patient’s bed,
and the patient falls and fractures a hip. This situation is an
example of:
A. Assault
B. Negligence
C. Libel
D. Defamation
Answer: B. Negligence
Rationale: Negligence occurs when a nurse fails to act as a reasonably
prudent nurse would under similar circumstances, resulting in patient
harm. In this case, the nurse failed to implement appropriate safety
precautions for a confused patient. Assault involves threats, while libel
and defamation involve false statements damaging a person’s
reputation.
3. Which action by a nurse could be considered battery?
A. Explaining a procedure to a patient
B. Touching a patient without consent
C. Documenting abnormal findings
D. Refusing unsafe physician orders
Answer: B. Touching a patient without consent
Rationale: Battery is intentional physical contact without the patient’s
permission. Even if the procedure benefits the patient, performing it
without consent may constitute battery. Nurses must obtain informed
consent before procedures whenever applicable.
4. A patient refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons.
What is the nurse’s legal responsibility?
A. Administer the transfusion anyway
B. Notify the provider and respect the patient’s wishes
,C. Ask family members to override the decision
D. Ignore the refusal
Answer: B. Notify the provider and respect the patient’s wishes
Rationale: Competent adults have the legal right to refuse treatment,
even if refusal may result in harm or death. Nurses must respect
patient autonomy and communicate the refusal to the healthcare
provider while documenting the interaction accurately.
5. What is the primary purpose of informed consent?
A. Protect nurses from lawsuits
B. Ensure patients understand treatment risks and benefits
C. Reduce hospital expenses
D. Allow family members to make decisions
Answer: B. Ensure patients understand treatment risks and benefits
Rationale: Informed consent protects patient autonomy by ensuring
patients understand the procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, and
potential outcomes before agreeing to treatment. Nurses may witness
signatures and verify understanding but are generally not responsible
for obtaining informed consent itself.
6. Which situation requires mandatory reporting by a nurse?
A. A patient refuses medication
B. Suspected child abuse
C. A coworker arrives late
D. Family disagreements
Answer: B. Suspected child abuse
Rationale: Nurses are legally obligated to report suspected abuse of
children, older adults, or vulnerable individuals according to state
laws. Failure to report may result in legal penalties and patient harm.
, 7. A nurse documents care immediately after providing
treatment. This action helps reduce:
A. Beneficence
B. Confidentiality
C. Liability risk
D. Veracity
Answer: C. Liability risk
Rationale: Timely and accurate documentation creates a legal record
of nursing care and reduces liability risk. Proper charting
demonstrates adherence to standards of care and supports
communication among healthcare providers.
8. Which nursing action violates patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
B. Reporting communicable diseases as required by law
C. Sharing patient information in a public elevator
D. Documenting findings in the chart
Answer: C. Sharing patient information in a public elevator
Rationale: Discussing patient information in public areas violates
confidentiality and privacy regulations. Nurses must protect patient
information and discuss care only in secure, professional settings.
9. Which law protects the privacy of patient health information
in the United States?
A. HIPAA
B. OSHA
C. ADA
D. EMTALA
Answer: A. HIPAA
Question Practice Exam Merged With
Correct Verified And Well Analyzed
Solutions | Already Graded A+ | 2026
Latest Update!!!
1. Which legal doctrine requires nurses to avoid causing harm to
patients?
A. Fidelity
B. Autonomy
C. Nonmaleficence
D. Justice
Answer: C. Nonmaleficence
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical and legal principle that
requires healthcare professionals to avoid causing harm to patients.
Nurses must carefully follow standards of care, medication
administration procedures, and safety protocols to prevent injury or
negligence. Fidelity refers to faithfulness, autonomy relates to patient
choice, and justice concerns fairness in healthcare delivery.
, 2. A nurse fails to raise the side rails of a confused patient’s bed,
and the patient falls and fractures a hip. This situation is an
example of:
A. Assault
B. Negligence
C. Libel
D. Defamation
Answer: B. Negligence
Rationale: Negligence occurs when a nurse fails to act as a reasonably
prudent nurse would under similar circumstances, resulting in patient
harm. In this case, the nurse failed to implement appropriate safety
precautions for a confused patient. Assault involves threats, while libel
and defamation involve false statements damaging a person’s
reputation.
3. Which action by a nurse could be considered battery?
A. Explaining a procedure to a patient
B. Touching a patient without consent
C. Documenting abnormal findings
D. Refusing unsafe physician orders
Answer: B. Touching a patient without consent
Rationale: Battery is intentional physical contact without the patient’s
permission. Even if the procedure benefits the patient, performing it
without consent may constitute battery. Nurses must obtain informed
consent before procedures whenever applicable.
4. A patient refuses a blood transfusion for religious reasons.
What is the nurse’s legal responsibility?
A. Administer the transfusion anyway
B. Notify the provider and respect the patient’s wishes
,C. Ask family members to override the decision
D. Ignore the refusal
Answer: B. Notify the provider and respect the patient’s wishes
Rationale: Competent adults have the legal right to refuse treatment,
even if refusal may result in harm or death. Nurses must respect
patient autonomy and communicate the refusal to the healthcare
provider while documenting the interaction accurately.
5. What is the primary purpose of informed consent?
A. Protect nurses from lawsuits
B. Ensure patients understand treatment risks and benefits
C. Reduce hospital expenses
D. Allow family members to make decisions
Answer: B. Ensure patients understand treatment risks and benefits
Rationale: Informed consent protects patient autonomy by ensuring
patients understand the procedure, risks, benefits, alternatives, and
potential outcomes before agreeing to treatment. Nurses may witness
signatures and verify understanding but are generally not responsible
for obtaining informed consent itself.
6. Which situation requires mandatory reporting by a nurse?
A. A patient refuses medication
B. Suspected child abuse
C. A coworker arrives late
D. Family disagreements
Answer: B. Suspected child abuse
Rationale: Nurses are legally obligated to report suspected abuse of
children, older adults, or vulnerable individuals according to state
laws. Failure to report may result in legal penalties and patient harm.
, 7. A nurse documents care immediately after providing
treatment. This action helps reduce:
A. Beneficence
B. Confidentiality
C. Liability risk
D. Veracity
Answer: C. Liability risk
Rationale: Timely and accurate documentation creates a legal record
of nursing care and reduces liability risk. Proper charting
demonstrates adherence to standards of care and supports
communication among healthcare providers.
8. Which nursing action violates patient confidentiality?
A. Discussing patient care with the healthcare team
B. Reporting communicable diseases as required by law
C. Sharing patient information in a public elevator
D. Documenting findings in the chart
Answer: C. Sharing patient information in a public elevator
Rationale: Discussing patient information in public areas violates
confidentiality and privacy regulations. Nurses must protect patient
information and discuss care only in secure, professional settings.
9. Which law protects the privacy of patient health information
in the United States?
A. HIPAA
B. OSHA
C. ADA
D. EMTALA
Answer: A. HIPAA
