Question 1

A nurse tells a patient,"If you don't stop getting out of that chair,I'm going to put some restraints on you." What may this nurse be accused of?

Accepted Answer

A)  False imprisonment 
B)  Defamation 
C)  Invasion of privacy 
D)  Malpractice 
A)  False imprisonment 
B)  Defamation 
C)  Invasion of privacy 
D)  Malpractice A

Question 2

What action must occur to prove a breach of duty?

Accepted Answer

A)  Liability testimony of physician 
B)  Testimony from state board of nurses 
C)  Expert testimony 
D)  Testimony of coworkers 
A)  Liability testimony of physician 
B)  Testimony from state board of nurses 
C)  Expert testimony 
D)  Testimony of coworkers C

Question 3

A nurse has relocated to another state and wants to find a full-time nursing job.What action should be taken first in order to provide care as a nurse?

Accepted Answer

A)  Begin applying for jobs at the local hospital. 
B)  Contact the board of nursing in the nurse's new state to obtain licensure to practice. 
C)  Begin practicing immediately,as the nurse is still licensed in the formerly lived in state. 
D)  Begin practice on a part-time basis so that a new license is not needed. 
A)  Begin applying for jobs at the local hospital. 
B)  Contact the board of nursing in the nurse's new state to obtain licensure to practice. 
C)  Begin practicing immediately,as the nurse is still licensed in the formerly lived in state. 
D)  Begin practice on a part-time basis so that a new license is not needed. B

Question 4

A nurse is providing care to a 6-year-old child with a broken arm.The nurse notices multiple bruises.The child says,"my father got mad because I was bad,and he hit and broke my arm so that I would remember to be good." What is the best nursing action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Chart that the child is a victim of abuse. 
B)  Do nothing because the nurse cannot prove the child was abused. 
C)  Report the situation to the appropriate authorities. 
D)  Ignore what the child said because little children often lie. 
A)  Chart that the child is a victim of abuse. 
B)  Do nothing because the nurse cannot prove the child was abused. 
C)  Report the situation to the appropriate authorities. 
D)  Ignore what the child said because little children often lie.

Question 5

The nurse has an adequate understanding of nurse practice acts when stating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Nurse practice acts do not help guide nurses." 
B)  "Nurse practice acts describe how to prepare for the NCLEX exam." 
C)  "Nurse practice acts describe how and when to renew a nursing license." 
D)  "Nurse practice acts provide a list of job openings." 
A)  "Nurse practice acts do not help guide nurses." 
B)  "Nurse practice acts describe how to prepare for the NCLEX exam." 
C)  "Nurse practice acts describe how and when to renew a nursing license." 
D)  "Nurse practice acts provide a list of job openings."

Question 6

A student nurse is studying assault and battery.The student interprets assault and battery to include

Accepted Answer

A)  the nurse,without consent,touched the patient in an offensive,insulting,or injurious way. 
B)  the nurse threatened to put the patient in restraints if they did not stay in bed. 
C)  the nurse said the bill has to be paid before the patient can leave. 
D)  the nurse failed to perform an act expected of a reasonable nurse. 
A)  the nurse,without consent,touched the patient in an offensive,insulting,or injurious way. 
B)  the nurse threatened to put the patient in restraints if they did not stay in bed. 
C)  the nurse said the bill has to be paid before the patient can leave. 
D)  the nurse failed to perform an act expected of a reasonable nurse.

Question 7

Which actions take place in organizations to monitor quality improvement? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  Evaluation of what nurses are doing for patients 
B)  Development of policies and procedures 
C)  Employee evaluations 
D)  Intermittent monitoring 
E)  Continuing education 
A)  Evaluation of what nurses are doing for patients 
B)  Development of policies and procedures 
C)  Employee evaluations 
D)  Intermittent monitoring 
E)  Continuing education

Question 8

Which error in judgment would be the most serious for the nurse defendant in a legal case?

Accepted Answer

A)  Discussing the case with the plaintiff 
B)  Tampering with the chart 
C)  Hiding information from the plaintiff's attorney 
D)  Being discourteous on the witness stand 
A)  Discussing the case with the plaintiff 
B)  Tampering with the chart 
C)  Hiding information from the plaintiff's attorney 
D)  Being discourteous on the witness stand

Question 9

The nurse enters a patient's room to complete the discharge paperwork and finds the patient in tears.The patient reports that someone from the business office stated they could not leave the hospital until the bill was paid.What is the best nursing action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Comfort the patient and continue the preparations for discharge. 
B)  Call the social worker for a financial evaluation. 
C)  Call the family to arrange for the payment. 
D)  Cancel the discharge plans and notify the physician of the situation. 
A)  Comfort the patient and continue the preparations for discharge. 
B)  Call the social worker for a financial evaluation. 
C)  Call the family to arrange for the payment. 
D)  Cancel the discharge plans and notify the physician of the situation.

Question 10

In transcribing orders for a patient,the nurse finds a new order for aspirin,500 mg,QID.The patient has a long history of gastrointestinal bleeding.What is the best nursing action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Give the medication. 
B)  Withhold the medication and chart why it was not given. 
C)  Call the physician and question the order in light of the patient's history. 
D)  Ask if the patient is allergic to aspirin. 
A)  Give the medication. 
B)  Withhold the medication and chart why it was not given. 
C)  Call the physician and question the order in light of the patient's history. 
D)  Ask if the patient is allergic to aspirin.

Question 11

Which statement by the nurse indicates understanding of the nurse practice act?

Accepted Answer

A)  "The nurse practice act defends any action the nurse may take." 
B)  "The nurse practice act defines the scope of practice for each level of licensure." 
C)  "The nurse practice act details pay raises for each year of service to an organization." 
D)  "The nurse practice act has language that grants nurses vacation time." 
A)  "The nurse practice act defends any action the nurse may take." 
B)  "The nurse practice act defines the scope of practice for each level of licensure." 
C)  "The nurse practice act details pay raises for each year of service to an organization." 
D)  "The nurse practice act has language that grants nurses vacation time."

Question 12

Which of the following would be considered a criminal action?

Accepted Answer

A)  A nurse who steals narcotics from the hospital 
B)  A nurse who gets into a verbal disagreement with a visitor 
C)  A nurse who restrains a patient who is considered a threat to himself 
D)  A nurse who refuses to allow a visitor onto the unit who appears intoxicated 
A)  A nurse who steals narcotics from the hospital 
B)  A nurse who gets into a verbal disagreement with a visitor 
C)  A nurse who restrains a patient who is considered a threat to himself 
D)  A nurse who refuses to allow a visitor onto the unit who appears intoxicated

Question 13

A nurse places a heating pad on the lower leg of a patient with peripheral vascular disease.When the heating pad is removed,it is apparent that the patient has sustained partial-thickness burns to the area covered by the pad,and the nurse is sued for malpractice.Which statement is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  All elements are present to find the nurse liable for damages. 
B)  Proximate cause cannot be established,so the nurse will not be found liable. 
C)  The standard of care in such a situation cannot be established,so the nurse will not be found liable. 
D)  No duty to the patient exists,so the nurse will not be held liable. 
A)  All elements are present to find the nurse liable for damages. 
B)  Proximate cause cannot be established,so the nurse will not be found liable. 
C)  The standard of care in such a situation cannot be established,so the nurse will not be found liable. 
D)  No duty to the patient exists,so the nurse will not be held liable.

Question 14

In a legal suit,what element is necessary to prove a tort has been committed?

Accepted Answer

A)  Intent 
B)  Assault 
C)  Injury 
D)  Malpractice 
A)  Intent 
B)  Assault 
C)  Injury 
D)  Malpractice

Question 15

What is a significant action a nurse can take to prevent being named in malpractice suits?

Accepted Answer

A)  Refuse to care for suit-prone patients. 
B)  Carry professional liability insurance. 
C)  Maintain updated professional knowledge and skills. 
D)  Check with a nursing supervisor before undertaking care. 
A)  Refuse to care for suit-prone patients. 
B)  Carry professional liability insurance. 
C)  Maintain updated professional knowledge and skills. 
D)  Check with a nursing supervisor before undertaking care.

Question 16

A nurse understands informed consent when making which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Informed consent is a binding agreement." 
B)  "Informed consent involves filling out an incident report." 
C)  "Informed consent occurs when the patient receives information about a procedure before giving consent." 
D)  "Informed consent is a name for a written legal policy." 
A)  "Informed consent is a binding agreement." 
B)  "Informed consent involves filling out an incident report." 
C)  "Informed consent occurs when the patient receives information about a procedure before giving consent." 
D)  "Informed consent is a name for a written legal policy."

Question 17

The nurse has an adequate understanding of risk management when stating which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

A)  "Risk management becomes involved when incidents occur." 
B)  "Risk management becomes involved when untoward events occur." 
C)  "Risk management becomes involved to discipline the nurse." 
D)  "Risk managers gather evidence surrounding the event." 
E)  "Risk managers will interview those involved in an event." 
A)  "Risk management becomes involved when incidents occur." 
B)  "Risk management becomes involved when untoward events occur." 
C)  "Risk management becomes involved to discipline the nurse." 
D)  "Risk managers gather evidence surrounding the event." 
E)  "Risk managers will interview those involved in an event."

Question 18

A graduate nurse is preparing to start a first nursing job.What action would be the best legal safeguard for the graduate nurse to take?

Accepted Answer

A)  Competent practice 
B)  A legal contract 
C)  A valid license 
D)  Following management policies 
A)  Competent practice 
B)  A legal contract 
C)  A valid license 
D)  Following management policies

Question 19

At the time of admission,a patient gave a history of allergy to penicillin that was duly noted in all critical areas of the patient's record.While giving medications,a nurse accidentally administered penicillin to this patient.The patient had a severe reaction but recovered.What is the implication of the nurse's action?

Accepted Answer

A)  The nurse cannot be sued for malpractice because the patient did not directly the nurse of the allergy. 
B)  The nurse failed to act in a reasonable and prudent fashion and thus is liable for malpractice. 
C)  The nurse who gave the medication can bring a countersuit against the nurse who took the history. 
D)  There is no cause for concern because the action did not result in the patient's death. 
A)  The nurse cannot be sued for malpractice because the patient did not directly the nurse of the allergy. 
B)  The nurse failed to act in a reasonable and prudent fashion and thus is liable for malpractice. 
C)  The nurse who gave the medication can bring a countersuit against the nurse who took the history. 
D)  There is no cause for concern because the action did not result in the patient's death.

Question 20

During a life-threatening emergency,a nurse hurriedly gives the patient a medication by IV push.There is extravasation of medication.Later,necrosis and tissue sloughing take place.The nurse's behavior may be the basis for what action?

Accepted Answer

A)  Felony charge 
B)  Misdemeanor charge 
C)  Tort suit 
D)  Defamation suit 
A)  Felony charge 
B)  Misdemeanor charge 
C)  Tort suit 
D)  Defamation suit

Exam 20: Legal Issues

A nurse tells a patient,"If you don't stop getting out of that chair,I'm going to put some restraints on you." What may this nurse be accused of?

What action must occur to prove a breach of duty?

A nurse has relocated to another state and wants to find a full-time nursing job.What action should be taken first in order to provide care as a nurse?

A nurse is providing care to a 6-year-old child with a broken arm.The nurse notices multiple bruises.The child says,"my father got mad because I was bad,and he hit and broke my arm so that I would remember to be good." What is the best nursing action?

The nurse has an adequate understanding of nurse practice acts when stating which of the following?

A student nurse is studying assault and battery.The student interprets assault and battery to include

Which actions take place in organizations to monitor quality improvement? (Select all that apply.)

Which error in judgment would be the most serious for the nurse defendant in a legal case?

The nurse enters a patient's room to complete the discharge paperwork and finds the patient in tears.The patient reports that someone from the business office stated they could not leave the hospital until the bill was paid.What is the best nursing action?

In transcribing orders for a patient,the nurse finds a new order for aspirin,500 mg,QID.The patient has a long history of gastrointestinal bleeding.What is the best nursing action?

Which statement by the nurse indicates understanding of the nurse practice act?

Which of the following would be considered a criminal action?

A nurse places a heating pad on the lower leg of a patient with peripheral vascular disease.When the heating pad is removed,it is apparent that the patient has sustained partial-thickness burns to the area covered by the pad,and the nurse is sued for malpractice.Which statement is true?

In a legal suit,what element is necessary to prove a tort has been committed?

What is a significant action a nurse can take to prevent being named in malpractice suits?

A nurse understands informed consent when making which of the following statements?

The nurse has an adequate understanding of risk management when stating which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

A graduate nurse is preparing to start a first nursing job.What action would be the best legal safeguard for the graduate nurse to take?

During a life-threatening emergency,a nurse hurriedly gives the patient a medication by IV push.There is extravasation of medication.Later,necrosis and tissue sloughing take place.The nurse's behavior may be the basis for what action?

Role Transitions

Personal Management: Time and Self-Care Strategies

Mentorship, Preceptorship, and Nurse Residency Programs

Employment Considerations: Opportunities, Resumes, and Interviewing

NCLEX-RN Examination and the New Graduate

Historical Perspectives: Influences on the Present

Nursing Education

Nursing Theory

Image of Nursing: Influences of the Present

Challenges of Nursing Management and Leadership

Building Nursing Management Skills

Effective Communication and Team Building

Conflict Management

Delegation in the Clinical Setting

The Health Care Organization and Patterns of Nursing Care Delivery

Economics of the Health Care Delivery System

Political Action in Nursing

Collective Bargaining: Traditional (Union)and Nontraditional Approaches

Ethical Issues

Cultural and Spiritual Awareness

Quality Patient Care

Nursing Informatics

Using Nursing Research in Practice

Workplace Issues

Emergency Preparedness

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