Exam 8: Legal and Ethical Context of Psychiatric Nursing Care

A patient in the process of being involuntarily committed demands to be evaluated by his own private psychiatrist.To preserve the patient's rights,the treatment team must:

A patient,who is homeless and known to be schizophrenic,was arrested after vandalizing parked cars while naked.Which behaviors will be considered when determining if the patient should be involuntarily committed for care? Select all that apply.

The parents of a patient with schizophrenia ask whether their child is likely to become violent.The best answer the nurse can give is that the vast majority of mentally ill individuals are:

Regardless of the type of commitment,which right is guaranteed to a hospitalized psychiatric patient?

While making a home visit,a community health nurse sees evidence that the child of a patient has been abused.What rationale should be the basis for the nurse's nursing action?

A patient was admitted involuntarily.What assumption can the nurse make about the patient?

A patient signed a sales contract to purchase a new home and 1 week later was voluntarily hospitalized for treatment of depression.The sales contract is now most likely:

A patient with a history of assaulting several family members is voluntarily admitted for alcohol detoxification.A nurse suggests use of physical restraints to minimize the risk to the milieu and to manage the patient's anticipated aggressive behavior.The primary principle guiding the manager's response is:

Two nurses are discussing the rights of hospitalized psychiatric patients.Which of their beliefs requires follow-up by the nurse manager?

A patient is about to receive electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) when a nurse sees that a consent form for treatment has not been signed.Which fact should determine the nurse's immediate action?

Although not assessed to be dangerous to self or others,a patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder has created many problems on the unit and consistently refuses to accept prescribed medication.Nursing actions must be guided by the realization that legally this patient may:

A patient tells a nurse,"My children had me ruled incompetent.I'm going to ask the doctor to reverse that ruling." The nurse's reply should be based on the fact that:

Which action by a nurse violates the rights of a psychiatric patient?

A psychiatric nurse working in a community health center receives a call asking whether a family friend has been a patient in the facility.The nurse should:

Which patient is apt to display violent behavior directed at others? (Select all that apply.)

A nurse was sued for malpractice but not convicted.Which fact from the case would have been decisive in determining its outcome?

A patient with severe depression signed permission for electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).Later,the patient tells the nurse,"I signed permission for treatment after my spouse told me I could be deported if my depression can't be cured." The nurse assesses that:

A patient claims to have been denied the right to confidentiality.To best preserve the patient's rights,the treatment team must:

A patient was admitted voluntarily to the psychiatric unit.A nurse must understand that voluntary status confers the right of the patient to:

The staff members notify the police that a court-committed patient has eloped.What is the initial action for the staff to take when the patient is returned to the hospital?