Chapter 17 Legal And Ethical Issues in Nursing 6th Edition by Ginny Wacker Guido

Chapter 17 Legal And Ethical Issues in Nursing 6th Edition by Ginny Wacker Guido

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

Question 1

Type: MCSA

What is the nurse’s legal duty with regard to implementing a physician’s order?

1. The nurse should follow the order unless the nurse believes some other course of action would be better.
2. The nurse should follow the order unless the nurse has reason to believe that the patient could come to harm if the order is followed.
3. The nurse should discuss each order with the physician, since physicians are only human.
4. The nurse should follow all orders as written.

Correct Answer: 2

Rationale 1: Prescribing treatment is not within the scope of nursing practice.

Rationale 2: Unless the nurse has a valid reason to question an order, the order should be followed.

Rationale 3: It is not feasible or necessary to discuss each order with the physician.

Rationale 4: The nurse should question unclear or unsafe orders.

Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Applying

Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment

Client Need Sub: Management of Care

Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation

Learning Outcome: 17.1 Describe the changing health care environment that has created responsibility for staff nurses.

Question 2

Type: MCSA

What is the principal reason that a higher standard of care may be required for safeguarding mentally ill persons?

1. Mentally ill persons bring more lawsuits than those with no mental illness.
2. The standards of care for mentally ill patients are higher than those for physically ill patients.
3. Mentally ill persons cannot fully appreciate their exposure to potential harm.
4. These patients require more care than do those who are physically ill.

Correct Answer: 3

Rationale 1: These patients are not known to bring more suits than others.

Rationale 2: The standards of care for mentally ill patients are not necessarily higher than those for physically ill patients but are different.

Rationale 3: The mentally ill are considered a vulnerable population due to their behavioral and cognitive impairments. Therefore, their judgments and actions may be altered, and they may not be able to recognize the risks of circumstances regarding their care.

Rationale 4: These patients do not necessarily require more care than those that are physically ill.

Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Applying

Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment

Client Need Sub: Management of Care

Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning

Learning Outcome: 17.2 Describe the unique nature of the care of psychiatric and vulnerable patients.

Question 3

Type: MCMA

Hostile or angry patients present unique nursing challenges from a legal perspective. Which basic interventions can a nurse take when caring for a hostile or angry patient?

Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

Standard Text: Select all that apply.

1. Allow the patient to be alone and have long periods of quiet time.
2. Spend additional time with the patient, showing that he or she is important.
3. Ensure that family members are always present to calm the patient.
4. Sedate the patient to diffuse further encounters with the patient.
5. Include the patient in discussions of treatment plans.

Correct Answer: 2

Rationale 1: Isolating the patient with time alone can exacerbate the problem of aggression.

Rationale 2: Spending additional time with the patient and showing that he or she is important provides the opportunity to express concern for the patient’s issues and allows the nurse the opportunity to identify strategies for resolution of the patient’s problems.

Rationale 3: The nurse cannot divert professional responsibility for patient observation onto the family.

Rationale 4: Sedation of the patient does not solve the problem and may be seen as improper use of chemical restraints.

Rationale 5: The nurse should respect the patient’s autonomy by addressing concerns and ensuring that the patient is educated about their condition and treatment plan.

Global Rationale:

Cognitive Level: Applying

Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment

Client Need Sub: Management of Care

Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation

Learning Outcome: 17.2 Describe the unique nature of the care of psychiatric and vulnerable patients.