Chapter 03 Legal and Ethical Issues of Nursing

Chapter 03 Legal and Ethical Issues of Nursing

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.1)Licensed nurses are often encouraged to carry their own professional liability insurance in additionto what may be offered by their employer. A nurse would be advised to have this insurance ifplanning to use his or her skills in which of the following roles? (Select all that apply.)1)A)Being available for any first aid needs for his or her child’s school basketball teamB)Agreeing to tutor nursing students in nursing care planningC)Employed at a small walk-in clinic as the triage nurseD)Contracting to do blood pressure screening at a pharmacyE)Volunteering to do health education for early detection of cancer at a community health fairF)Employed as a clinical nursing instructor in medical-surgical nursing for a local LPN/LVNprogramAnswer:A, C, D, E, FExplanation:A)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplicationB)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplicationC)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplication1
D)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplicationE)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplicationF)Although an employer may have liability insurance that covers all employees, it isadvisable that nurses not rely solely on this. The nurse who volunteers to providefirst aid for a sports team or to do health education at a community health fair ispotentially providing nursing services outside of employment-related activitiesand is professionally liable for his or her actions. When tutoring nursing students,no direct nursing service is being offered. Even though a nurse may be protectedfrom liability under the Good Samaritan Acts when nursing service isvolunteered, it is not wise to rely on this.PlanningSafe, Effective Care Environment-Coordinated CareApplication2)A nurse’s neighbor has purchased an over-the-counter antihistamine at a pharmacy and has askedthe nurse about the effects and possible side effects of this medication. It is most important that thenurse tell the neighbor that this medication:2)A)Has accompanying literature for the neighbor to read.B)Is an antihistamine.C)Can cause sedation.D)Can cause dry mouth.Answer:C2
Explanation:A)One of the nurse’s legal responsibilities is as a citizen and the nurse is legallyresponsible for his or her actions. It is appropriate for the nurse to offerinformation that is based on knowledge of antihistamines and focuses on safety.The nurse is not offering advice or opinions. The neighbor already knows that themedication is an antihistamine. Suggesting that the neighbor read theaccompanying literature, although important, does not focus on safety. Of the twochoices that are side effects of the medication, dry mouth is a less important sideeffect than sedation.ImplementationSafe, Effective Care Environment-Safety and Infection ControlAnalysisB)One of the nurse’s legal responsibilities is as a citizen and the nurse is legallyresponsible for his or her actions. It is appropriate for the nurse to offerinformation that is based on knowledge of antihistamines and focuses on safety.The nurse is not offering advice or opinions. The neighbor already knows that themedication is an antihistamine. Suggesting that the neighbor read theaccompanying literature, although important, does not focus on safety. Of the twochoices that are side effects of the medication, dry mouth is a less important sideeffect than sedation.ImplementationSafe, Effective Care Environment-Safety and Infection ControlAnalysisC)One of the nurse’s legal responsibilities is as a citizen and the nurse is legallyresponsible for his or her actions. It is appropriate for the nurse to offerinformation that is based on knowledge of antihistamines and focuses on safety.The nurse is not offering advice or opinions. The neighbor already knows that themedication is an antihistamine. Suggesting that the neighbor read theaccompanying literature, although important, does not focus on safety. Of the twochoices that are side effects of the medication, dry mouth is a less important sideeffect than sedation.ImplementationSafe, Effective Care Environment-Safety and Infection ControlAnalysisD)One of the nurse’s legal responsibilities is as a citizen and the nurse is legallyresponsible for his or her actions. It is appropriate for the nurse to offerinformation that is based on knowledge of antihistamines and focuses on safety.The nurse is not offering advice or opinions. The neighbor already knows that themedication is an antihistamine. Suggesting that the neighbor read theaccompanying literature, although important, does not focus on safety. Of the twochoices that are side effects of the medication, dry mouth is a less important sideeffect than sedation.ImplementationSafe, Effective Care Environment-Safety and Infection ControlAnalysis3)A student nurse is caring for a one-day postoperative client who has had hip replacement surgery.The client is taking oral food and fluids, has an indwelling catheter, and has an abductor pillow inplace when in bed. The client is to ambulate twice during the shift. Which of the following actions,if done by the student nurse during the course of care, identify the correct application of nursingknowledge to the nursing care? (Select all that apply.)3)A)The head of the bed is rolled up to semi-Fowler’s position when the client is eating.B)Pillows are placed under the shoulders, hips, and heels while the client is in bed to preventskin breakdown and promote comfort.3
C)The client’s lungs and abdomen are assessed at least twice during the shift.D)The abductor pillow is placed between the knees and the ankles when the client is in bed.E)The client sits on the side of the bed for a few minutes before ambulating.F)The catheter drainage bag is kept below the level of the bladder at all times.Answer:C, FExplanation:A)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplicationB)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplicationC)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplication4
D)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplicationE)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplicationF)All actions except keeping the drainage bag below the level of the bladder andassessing the client’s lungs and abdomen at least twice during the shift place theclient at risk for injury or postoperative complications. To minimize liability, thestudent nurse (and all nurses) must know and apply the principles of nursing carewith each client (care with an indwelling catheter and expected assessments of apostoperative client). After hip replacement surgery, the client should not flex thehips, which would occur in the semi-Fowler’s position and sitting on the side ofthe bed. An abductor pillow is placed to prevent internal rotation of the hips andplacing it between the lower legs does not accomplish this. Placing pillows underpotential pressure areas often increases pressure, especially with the client in asupine position.EvaluationPhysiological Integrity-Reduction of Risk PotentialApplication