Question 1

Various states recognize that nurses can render a nursing diagnosis. Where a defendant physician ignores a nurse's assessment of a patient's diagnosis and the patient is injured, the court would most likely determine that ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   such a delay in treatment of the patient was acceptable behavior
B)   a registered nurse cannot make an assessment of a patient's needs
C)   the physician, by ignoring the nurse's assessment, contributed to a delay in treatment and injury to the patient
D)   the physician need not respond to the nurse's observations C

Question 2

A solution was prepared by an employee and injected into the patient by a physician. The physician made no examination of the fluid, and the patient suffered permanent injuries as a result of the injection. The court determined that the physician is ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   responsible for the injury because he should have known what was in the syringe
B)   responsible for the preparation of drugs by employees
C)   responsible for testing all drugs prepared by an employee before administering them
D)   not responsible for drugs prepared by an employee unless he knowingly could have prevented injury to the patient D

Question 3

Failure to monitor a patient's vital signs can lead to a/an ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   injury to a patient followed by a lawsuit
B)   lawsuit for perjury
C)   lawsuit for slander
D)   monetary award for negligent injection A

Question 4

Nurse licensing boards have the authority to suspend or revoke the license of a nurse who is found to have __________.

Accepted Answer

A)   failed to have violated specified norms of conduct
B)   procured a license fraudulently
C)   failed to have taken the required rest breaks as provided in nursing contracts
D)   failed to follow hospital parking restrictions

Question 5

_________ enacted the first exclusive Nurse Practice Act.

Accepted Answer

A)   New York
B)   North Carolina
C)   New Jersey
D)   New Hampshire

Question 6

Mrs. Ard noticed that her husband was having difficulty breathing. He was reeling from side to side in bed. Believing that her husband was dying, she continued to call for help, estimating that she rang the call bell for 1.25 hours before anyone responded. A code was eventually called. Unfortunately, Mr. Ard did not survive the code. The court most likely determined that ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the failure of the nurses to respond did not affect Mr. Ard's chance of survival
B)   Mr. Ard's chance of survival had been diminished by the nurse's failure to respond
C)   Mrs. Ard was wrong in her assessment of her husband
D)   the patient's condition was improving

Question 7

A nurse ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   has no right to question a physician's decision to discharge a patient
B)   has no right to delay or question a physician's decision to discharge a patient
C)   who has reason to believe a discharge order could be injurious to the patient has a right to question the physician's decision
D)   who has reason to believe a discharge order could be injurious to the patient is no position to question a well educated physician

Question 8

A navy veteran successfully underwent coronary bypass surgery at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. However, he was injured as a result of being left unattended for several hours by nursing personnel in the intensive care unit. The veteran suffered anoxic brain injury following a complication with his endotracheal tube. A lawsuit was filed and the court determined ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   the trial court properly required the federal government to make an immediate lump-sum payment of future medical damages to the veteran
B)   there was no evidence of wrongdoing
C)   the trial court awards for damages should be lowered
D)   the trial court was found to have erred by awarding the patient a lump sum-payment

Question 9

The courts in several decisions have taken the position that anyone, including students that perform duties customarily performed by professional nurses, can be held to the same standards of care as ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   nurse practitioners
B)   nursing aides
C)   student nurses
D)   professional nurses

Question 10

Failure to identify the correct patient can result in ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   identification of the correct patient
B)   patient injury
C)   improved patient care
D)   the correct administration of medications

Question 11

The scope of practice, referring to the permissible boundaries of practice for health care professionals, is often defined in ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   state constitutions
B)   state statutes
C)   county ordinances
D)   penal codes

Question 12

A nurse can be found negligent for ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   reporting a patient's symptoms
B)   timely reporting a patient' symptoms
C)   correctly transcribing telephone orders
D)   failure to report defective equipment

Question 13

A nurse trained in the delivery of primary health care and the assessment of psychosocial and physical health problems such as the performance of routine examinations and the ordering of routine diagnostic tests is a ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   clinical nurse specialist
B)   student nurse
C)   nurse practitioner
D)   nursing supervisor

Question 14

A nurse who rotates from unit to unit based on staffing needs is referred to as a ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   nursing assistant
B)   specialty nurse
C)   float nurse
D)   specialty-duty nurse

Question 15

Some states will not recognize out-of-state licensed nurses and make it mandatory that all applicants ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   take an examination
B)   provide an endorsement by a colleague
C)   be provided a waiver of examination
D)   be granted reciprocity

Question 16

A nurse who is uncertain about a physician's order should first clarify the order with the ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   chief of staff
B)   evening administrator
C)   emergency room physician
D)   prescribing physician

Question 17

___________ was the first state to approve nurses performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Accepted Answer

A)   New York
B)   Hawaii
C)   California
D)   North Carolina

Question 18

The formal or informal agreement between states whereby a nurse licensing board in one state recognizes licensees of another state is referred to as ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   examination
B)   waiver
C)   endorsement
D)   reciprocity

Question 19

A nurse who fails to follow the doctor's verbal orders to watch the patient closely ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   cannot be liable for his or her negligent acts if the patient is injured
B)   can be liable for his or her negligent acts if the patient is injured
C)   is absolutely not at fault for negligent behavior
D)   is personally immune from any liable action

Question 20

A nurse hired by a patient or the patient's family to perform nursing services is a ___________.

Accepted Answer

A)   special duty nurse
B)   student nurse
C)   clinical nurse specialist
D)   nurse practitioner
E)   nursing care coordinator

Exam 9: Nursing and the Law