Exam 45: Legal Accountability

While you are admitting an adult patient,he asks you whether he should create an advance directive.To provide him adequate information to make an informed decision,you should tell the patient which of the following? Select all that apply.

The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with a brain tumor who is about to undergo surgery to have the tumor removed.Before the surgery,the patient signs a document giving instructions to his family regarding the level and extent of life-prolonging treatments he desires.Which of the choices below describe this legal directive? Select all that apply.

You are caring for an alert,oriented 47-year-old patient who is recovering from abdominal surgery.The patient becomes angry and upset and says,"I'm leaving this hospital.Remove my IV and surgical drains or I will do it myself." To keep him from removing his lines and leaving the hospital,you apply bilateral wrist restraints until you can contact the physician for an order for patient restraint.This is an example of which of the following?

You are caring for a patient with renal failure.His morning laboratory results reveal an abnormal potassium level of 6.8.This value is higher than it was on the previous day,when the level was within normal limits.You page the patient's provider,but he does not return your call right away.You become busy with another patient and forget to notify the provider again and fail to mention the critical laboratory value to the oncoming nurse during shift report.Which of the following does this scenario illustrate? Select all that apply.

A registered nurse administers the wrong medication to a patient.She does not notify anyone of the error and documents that the correct medication was administered.The nurse was reported to the state board of nursing.Which of the following actions can the state board of nursing take against the nurse in this situation?

A pregnant 15-year-old girl presents to the emergency department (ED)of the local private hospital.She has been transported by her mother and appears to be in active labor.The girl is crying uncontrollably and says she is scared and experiencing painful contractions.Her mother states,"We don't have any money or insurance,but this hospital is closer than the public hospital,and she needs help now." What is the first step that the ED staff should take?