Arkansas Nursing Jurisprudence
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. A registered nurse licensed in Arkansas is offered a position in a long-term
care facility that primarily serves a population diagnosed with dementia.
The nurse's previous employment was in a pediatric outpatient clinic.
Which of the following is the most critical first action for the nurse to take
to ensure compliance with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN)
regulations?
A. Review the facility's policy and procedure manual for managing
behavioral disturbances.
B. Complete the facility's mandatory orientation and skills competency
checklist.
C. Confirm that the nurse's current license is active and unencumbered for
practice in Arkansas.
D. Request a temporary change in assignment to a less acute unit within the
facility.
Answer: C
*Rationale: The Arkansas State Board of Nursing mandates that any nurse
practicing nursing in the state must hold a current, active, and unencumbered
license. While orientation and reviewing policies are important for safe practice,
the fundamental legal requirement is licensure. Practicing without a valid license is
a violation of the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act, regardless of the nurse's previous
experience or the facility's internal procedures.
, 2. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with prescriptive authority in
Arkansas is treating a patient with chronic pain. The patient requests a refill
of a Schedule II controlled substance. According to Arkansas law, which of
the following is a mandatory requirement for the APRN to issue this
prescription?
A. The prescription must be written on a tamper-resistant prescription pad.
B. The APRN must obtain a consultation with the patient's primary care
physician.
C. The prescription must be limited to a 30-day supply with no refills.
D. The APRN must document a treatment plan that includes the risks and
benefits of the medication.
Answer: A
*Rationale: Arkansas law requires that all prescriptions for Schedule II controlled
substances be issued on a tamper-resistant prescription pad to prevent forgery
and diversion. While documenting a treatment plan is a standard of care and a
Schedule II prescription cannot be refilled and is limited to a 30-day supply, the
specific legal mandate for the physical form of the prescription is the tamper-
resistant pad.
3. A nurse working in an Arkansas hospital receives a verbal order from a
physician for a medication that the nurse believes is contraindicated based
on the patient's current lab values. The physician is insistent and refuses to
discuss it further. What is the nurse's best initial legal and ethical course of
action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered and document the physician's
insistence.
B. Contact the nursing supervisor and the hospital's risk management
department.
C. Withhold the medication and inform the physician that the order will not
be executed.
D. Follow the facility's chain of command to address the concern and clarify
the order.
,Answer: D
*Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the patient from harm. The Arkansas
Nurse Practice Act and standards of nursing practice require the nurse to clarify
any unclear or potentially harmful order. Following the chain of command is the
correct and professional step to resolve the conflict, ensuring patient safety while
maintaining professional communication. Withholding the medication without
proper notification or clarification could be considered insubordination or
abandonment of duty.
4. A licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Arkansas is assigned to administer oral
medications to a group of stable patients on a medical-surgical unit. The
LPN notices that one of the patients has a newly inserted nasogastric (NG)
tube. Which of the following actions is within the LPN's scope of practice
under Arkansas law?
A. Administering medications via the NG tube after verifying tube
placement per facility policy.
B. Assessing the patient's bowel sounds to determine readiness for tube
feeding.
C. Performing the initial insertion of the NG tube for decompression.
D. Initiating the primary nursing care plan for the patient with the NG tube.
Answer: A
*Rationale: The Arkansas State Board of Nursing defines the LPN's role as
providing nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or physician.
Administering medications via an existing NG tube is a standard, delegated
nursing task that falls within the LPN's scope of practice, provided competency is
verified. The initial assessment, insertion of the tube, and initiation of the care
plan are generally considered within the RN's scope or require specific advanced
education and delegation.
5. An RN in Arkansas is the sole healthcare provider in a rural clinic. A patient
presents with symptoms of a myocardial infarction. The RN initiates
emergency care, including oxygen and aspirin, and calls 911. The patient's
condition deteriorates, and the RN administers an emergency medication
, from the clinic's standing orders. This action is legally justified under which
principle?
A. The Good Samaritan Act.
B. The doctrine of respondent superior.
C. The standard of the reasonably prudent nurse.
D. The provision for emergency care in the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act.
Answer: D
*Rationale: The Arkansas Nurse Practice Act includes provisions that allow a nurse
to provide emergency care in a life-threatening situation without a specific
physician's order, based on standing orders or protocols. This is different from the
Good Samaritan Act, which typically covers off-duty, volunteer care. The
"reasonably prudent nurse" standard applies to all actions, but the specific legal
justification here is the Act's provision for emergency care.
6. An APRN in Arkansas holds a certificate of prescriptive authority. The APRN
is moving to a new practice location within the state. What is the APRN's
obligation to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing regarding this change?
A. No notification is required as long as the practice remains within the
state.
B. The APRN must notify the Board in writing within 10 days of the change.
C. The APRN must submit a new application and fee for the prescriptive
authority.
D. The APRN must notify the Board within 30 days of the address change.
Answer: D
*Rationale: Licensees, including APRNs with prescriptive authority, are required by
Arkansas law to notify the Arkansas State Board of Nursing of any change in their
name or mailing address within 30 days. This ensures the Board can maintain
accurate records and communicate effectively with the licensee.
7. A nurse is preparing to delegate the task of ambulating a stable post-
operative patient to a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Which of the
following is an essential component of the delegation process that the
nurse must perform?
Examination Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. A registered nurse licensed in Arkansas is offered a position in a long-term
care facility that primarily serves a population diagnosed with dementia.
The nurse's previous employment was in a pediatric outpatient clinic.
Which of the following is the most critical first action for the nurse to take
to ensure compliance with the Arkansas State Board of Nursing (ASBN)
regulations?
A. Review the facility's policy and procedure manual for managing
behavioral disturbances.
B. Complete the facility's mandatory orientation and skills competency
checklist.
C. Confirm that the nurse's current license is active and unencumbered for
practice in Arkansas.
D. Request a temporary change in assignment to a less acute unit within the
facility.
Answer: C
*Rationale: The Arkansas State Board of Nursing mandates that any nurse
practicing nursing in the state must hold a current, active, and unencumbered
license. While orientation and reviewing policies are important for safe practice,
the fundamental legal requirement is licensure. Practicing without a valid license is
a violation of the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act, regardless of the nurse's previous
experience or the facility's internal procedures.
, 2. An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with prescriptive authority in
Arkansas is treating a patient with chronic pain. The patient requests a refill
of a Schedule II controlled substance. According to Arkansas law, which of
the following is a mandatory requirement for the APRN to issue this
prescription?
A. The prescription must be written on a tamper-resistant prescription pad.
B. The APRN must obtain a consultation with the patient's primary care
physician.
C. The prescription must be limited to a 30-day supply with no refills.
D. The APRN must document a treatment plan that includes the risks and
benefits of the medication.
Answer: A
*Rationale: Arkansas law requires that all prescriptions for Schedule II controlled
substances be issued on a tamper-resistant prescription pad to prevent forgery
and diversion. While documenting a treatment plan is a standard of care and a
Schedule II prescription cannot be refilled and is limited to a 30-day supply, the
specific legal mandate for the physical form of the prescription is the tamper-
resistant pad.
3. A nurse working in an Arkansas hospital receives a verbal order from a
physician for a medication that the nurse believes is contraindicated based
on the patient's current lab values. The physician is insistent and refuses to
discuss it further. What is the nurse's best initial legal and ethical course of
action?
A. Administer the medication as ordered and document the physician's
insistence.
B. Contact the nursing supervisor and the hospital's risk management
department.
C. Withhold the medication and inform the physician that the order will not
be executed.
D. Follow the facility's chain of command to address the concern and clarify
the order.
,Answer: D
*Rationale: The nurse has a duty to protect the patient from harm. The Arkansas
Nurse Practice Act and standards of nursing practice require the nurse to clarify
any unclear or potentially harmful order. Following the chain of command is the
correct and professional step to resolve the conflict, ensuring patient safety while
maintaining professional communication. Withholding the medication without
proper notification or clarification could be considered insubordination or
abandonment of duty.
4. A licensed practical nurse (LPN) in Arkansas is assigned to administer oral
medications to a group of stable patients on a medical-surgical unit. The
LPN notices that one of the patients has a newly inserted nasogastric (NG)
tube. Which of the following actions is within the LPN's scope of practice
under Arkansas law?
A. Administering medications via the NG tube after verifying tube
placement per facility policy.
B. Assessing the patient's bowel sounds to determine readiness for tube
feeding.
C. Performing the initial insertion of the NG tube for decompression.
D. Initiating the primary nursing care plan for the patient with the NG tube.
Answer: A
*Rationale: The Arkansas State Board of Nursing defines the LPN's role as
providing nursing care under the direction of a registered nurse or physician.
Administering medications via an existing NG tube is a standard, delegated
nursing task that falls within the LPN's scope of practice, provided competency is
verified. The initial assessment, insertion of the tube, and initiation of the care
plan are generally considered within the RN's scope or require specific advanced
education and delegation.
5. An RN in Arkansas is the sole healthcare provider in a rural clinic. A patient
presents with symptoms of a myocardial infarction. The RN initiates
emergency care, including oxygen and aspirin, and calls 911. The patient's
condition deteriorates, and the RN administers an emergency medication
, from the clinic's standing orders. This action is legally justified under which
principle?
A. The Good Samaritan Act.
B. The doctrine of respondent superior.
C. The standard of the reasonably prudent nurse.
D. The provision for emergency care in the Arkansas Nurse Practice Act.
Answer: D
*Rationale: The Arkansas Nurse Practice Act includes provisions that allow a nurse
to provide emergency care in a life-threatening situation without a specific
physician's order, based on standing orders or protocols. This is different from the
Good Samaritan Act, which typically covers off-duty, volunteer care. The
"reasonably prudent nurse" standard applies to all actions, but the specific legal
justification here is the Act's provision for emergency care.
6. An APRN in Arkansas holds a certificate of prescriptive authority. The APRN
is moving to a new practice location within the state. What is the APRN's
obligation to the Arkansas State Board of Nursing regarding this change?
A. No notification is required as long as the practice remains within the
state.
B. The APRN must notify the Board in writing within 10 days of the change.
C. The APRN must submit a new application and fee for the prescriptive
authority.
D. The APRN must notify the Board within 30 days of the address change.
Answer: D
*Rationale: Licensees, including APRNs with prescriptive authority, are required by
Arkansas law to notify the Arkansas State Board of Nursing of any change in their
name or mailing address within 30 days. This ensures the Board can maintain
accurate records and communicate effectively with the licensee.
7. A nurse is preparing to delegate the task of ambulating a stable post-
operative patient to a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Which of the
following is an essential component of the delegation process that the
nurse must perform?
