Deck 12: Upholding Legal and Ethical Principles

Question 1

A nurse educator is preparing a presentation on professional negligence. The nurse determines that all of the following actions would be considered professional negligence except

A) administering the wrong medication.
B) failure to obtain informed consent.
C) taking a picture of a patient without his or her consent.
D) refusing to permit the patient to walk without assistance.

Answer 1

D
Refusing to permit the patient to walk without assistance is an appropriate nursing intervention. Administering the wrong medication is an act of commission; failure to obtain informed consent is negligence. Taking a picture of a patient without his or her consent is considered invasion of privacy.

Question 2

An RN administers an ordered dose of medication over the patient's refusal. On review, the manager interprets this action to be

A) assault.
B) battery.
C) negligence.
D) malpractice.

Answer 2

B
Battery is the actual touching of another, including administering a medication over the patient's refusal. Assault is the threat to do so. Negligence is the failure to act as an ordinary and reasonably prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. Malpractice is a specialized kind of negligence and is defined as the violation of a professional duty.

Question 3

Which statement made by the nursing student indicates an accurate understanding of culturally competent care?

A) "It means having knowledge of the health-related beliefs and practices of all cultures."
B) "It is the ability to care only for individuals from one's own culture."
C) "It means working within the cultural context of individuals, families, and communities."
D) "It means avoiding discussing the patient's practices or beliefs because they may not agree with your own."

Answer 3

C
Working within the cultural context of individuals, families, and communities is the definition of culturally competent nursing care. Knowing the health-related beliefs and practices of all cultures is unrealistic. The ability to care only for those from one's own culture or avoiding discussing the patient's beliefs is not within the definition of culturally competent care.

Question 4

The nurse threatens to place a verbally abusive patient in restraints. The patient could press charges against the nurse for which of the following?

A) Battery
B) Assault
C) Malpractice
D) Negligence

Question 5

A nurse is working the night shift on a respiratory floor. She is walking toward a patient's room when she sees a nursing assistant performing patient care with the curtain and door open. The nurse knows that the nursing assistant is violating which legal principle?

A) Right to privacy
B) False imprisonment
C) Failure to rescue
D) Informed consent

Question 6

The student understands the bioethical decision-making theory of utilitarianism when she makes which statement?

A) "Utilitarianism is concerned only with duty."
B) "Utilitarianism is also called Kantian ethics."
C) "Utilitarianism judges actions based on possible consequences."
D) "Utilitarianism judges actions based on intent."

Question 7

The nurse who respects the patient's right to refuse treatment is following which bioethical principle?

A) Justice
B) Beneficence
C) Autonomy
D) Fidelity

Question 8

The RN understands administrative law when she says, "Administrative law governs

A) federal treaties."
B) the operations of government."
C) the conduct of judges."
D) the United States Supreme Court."

Question 9

The nurse working in family practice is assessing an elderly female patient and notices bruises on the patient's arm and back. Which action is the most appropriate for the nurse to take?

A) Ignore the bruises because her daughter tells you that her mother is clumsy.
B) Do nothing because you cannot prove anything.
C) Report the suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities.
D) Confront and accuse the daughter of elder abuse.

Question 10

The nursing student is listening to a lecture on ethics. Which statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

A) "Ethics is a branch of sociology."
B) "Ethics is a branch of law."
C) "Ethics is a branch of philosophy."
D) "Ethics is a branch of medicine."

Question 11

For the RN to practice ethical decision-making, it is most important for him or her to

A) base decision-making on whether an action is right or wrong.
B) base decision-making on possible consequences.
C) accurately assess a situation.
D) seek the assistance of an ethics committee.

Question 12

A nurse is working with a patient who is well known to the public. Shortly before lunch, a news reporter walks into the nursing unit and begins questioning the nurse. The nurse knows that if she gives out patient information without the patient's consent, she would be failing to comply with which law?

A) Informed consent
B) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996
C) Hospital policy
D) Common law

Question 13

The nurse accidentally administers the wrong dose of a medication. Her first action would be to

A) notify the physician.
B) fill out an incident report.
C) assess the patient.
D) tell her supervisor.

Question 14

Steps the RN can take to reduce the risk of malpractice include all of the following except

A) administer drugs carefully.
B) document accurately.
C) do not delegate any tasks.
D) think before you speak.

Question 15

Which statement is correct about the bioethical decision-making theory of deontology?

A) It is concerned only with consequences.
B) It judges actions based on motive or intent.
C) It emphasizes treating others as a means to an end.
D) It cannot be applied to research.

Question 16

A nurse manager is preparing a presentation on negligence to present at the next staff meeting. She would not consider which as a form of negligence?

A) Malfeasance
B) Nonmalfeasance
C) Misfeasance
D) Nonfeasance

Question 17

The nurse who fails to remove a patient from an unsafe situation has violated which bioethical principle?

A) Justice
B) Fidelity
C) Veracity
D) Beneficence

Question 18

The student understands the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics for Nurses when she identifies which statement as incorrect? The Code of Ethics for Nurses

A) provides a framework for ethical decision-making.
B) is non-negotiable.
C) is applicable to most practice settings.
D) helps with professional self-regulation.

Question 19

The RN is listening to a lecture on malpractice. Which statement indicates that the teaching has been effective?

A) "The elements that must be present to prove malpractice are: duty, breach of duty, actual injury and insurance."
B) "The elements that must be present to prove malpractice are: duty, breach of duty, actual injury and battery."
C) "The elements that must be present to prove malpractice are: duty, breach of duty, actual injury and intent."
D) "The elements that must be present to prove malpractice are: duty, breach of duty, actual injury and causation."

Question 20

The RN student has been studying ethics in health care. Based on what she has learned, how would she explain the bioethical principle of autonomy?

A) It states that the physician knows what is best for the patient.
B) It does not apply to informed consent.
C) It refers to patient self-determination.
D) It states that every patient has a right to health care.

Question 21

A nurse is working in the surgical recovery unit and is caring for a patient who is still under anesthesia. She notes that the patient's oxygen level is 82% on room air. What would the nurse be guilty of if she were to withhold oxygen from this patient?

A) Commission of an act
B) Nothing, because the patient will naturally recover from the anesthesia
C) Professional negligence
D) Assault and battery

Question 22

The nurse manager shows an understanding of preventable medical errors when she makes which statement?

A) "There are only a few deaths related to medical errors per year."
B) "Medical errors are made only by nurses who are not focused."
C) "About 20,000 patients die each year from preventable medical errors in the United States."
D) "Each year between 44,000 and 98,000 patients die from preventable medical errors."

Question 23

A new nurse has just been hired to work at a local hospital. Which actions by the nurse show her understanding of the Patient's Bill of Rights? (Select all that apply.)

A) Allowing the patient access to health records
B) Responding to patient care requests in a timely manner
C) Explaining to another nurse the patient's right to refuse treatment
D) Maintaining the patient's confidentiality
E) Ensuring that the patient is informed about his or her medical condition

Question 24

The nurse has an adequate understanding of a tort when she makes which statement?

A) "A tort is a legal wrong committed against another person or their property."
B) "A tort refers to the nurse's duty to practice within the boundaries of the nurse's role."
C) "A tort is a principle concerned with being fair or just."
D) "A tort refers to truth telling and not intentionally misleading patients."

Question 25

A nurse is caring for an elderly patient with terminal cancer. The patient has just told his family that he wants to end treatment and be kept comfortable for the remainder of his life. His family is very upset and does not agree with his decision. Both the patient and his family have confided their wishes to the nurse privately, and the family has asked the nurse to intervene. How would you classify the ethical dilemma that the nurse is experiencing?

A) Right to life
B) Informed consent
C) Right to die
D) Medical futility

Question 26

The nurse on a busy surgical floor is preparing her patient for surgery. The patient refuses to sign the surgical consent form because he has not spoken to the surgeon regarding the procedure. When the nurse speaks to the surgeon on the phone, he tells her that he is too busy to come to the floor. If the nurse were to insist that the patient sign the consent anyway, she would be violating which of the patient's rights?

A) Right to refuse treatment
B) Confidentiality
C) Right to informed consent
D) Right to privacy

Question 27

A nurse is working the night shift in the ICU. She notices cardiac alarms sounding for one of the patients, and on arriving to the patient's room, finds him in full cardiac arrest. It is later determined that the patient's assigned nurse was at the front desk sleeping. The nurse realizes the important of reporting this issue but does not want to face backlash from her co-worker. Which describes what the nurse is experiencing?

A) Decision-making
B) Ethical dilemma
C) Preconceived beliefs
D) Discrimination

Question 28

Which statements by the nursing student describe how ethics help nurses solve dilemmas in health care? (Select all that apply.)

A) "Ethics requires us to analyze our actions or potential actions critically."
B) "Ethics assists us in determining the right course of action to take."
C) "Ethics allows nurses to let others more qualified make decisions for us."
D) "Ethics allows nurses to take a break from the situation by waiting for the ethics committee."
E) "Ethics causes problems in health care rather than helps."

Question 29

The RN understands the importance of providing culturally competent nursing care when she does which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A) Uses flexibility to accommodate the patient
B) Becomes knowledgeable about other cultures
C) Lets go of negative attitudes about other cultures
D) Believes that her culture is superior
E) Avoids patients of different cultures