Chapter 2: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Chapter 2: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing

Complete Chapter Questions With Answers

Sample Questions Are Posted Below

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?

ANS:  C

A document called a complaint is filed in an appropriate court as the first step in litigation. A deposition is when witnesses are required to undergo questioning by the attorneys. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision by a higher court. A summons is a court order that notifies the defendant of the legal action.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Knowledge            REF:   Page               OBJ:   1

TOP:   Legal              KEY:  Nursing Process Step: N/A              MSC:  NCLEX: N/A

2. The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for a patient’s care. What is this legally binding situation?

ANS:  A

When the nurse assumes responsibility for a patient’s care, the nurse-patient relationship is formed. This is a legally binding “contract” for which the nurse must take responsibility. Accountability is being responsible for one’s own actions. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another. Standards of care define acts whose performance is required, permitted, or prohibited.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Comprehension     REF:   Page               OBJ:   3

TOP:   Legal              KEY:  Nursing Process Step: N/A              MSC:  NCLEX: N/A

3. What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all nursing interventions?

ANS:  C

Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness of performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing practice are called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or wise practice.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Knowledge            REF:   Page               OBJ:   4

TOP:   Legal              KEY:  Nursing Process Step: N/A              MSC:  NCLEX: N/A

4. An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to a patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before initiating this intervention?

ANS:  D

It is the nurse’s responsibility to know the nurse practice act in his or her state. Standards of care, regulation of practice, and the American Nurses’ code are not laws that the nurse should refer to before initiating this treatment.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   Page               OBJ:   5

TOP:   Legal              KEY:  Nursing Process Step: N/A              MSC:  NCLEX: N/A

5. A nurse fails to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the patient. This nurse could be found guilty of:

ANS:  A

The nurse can be held liable for malpractice for acts of omission. Failure to meet a legal duty, thus causing harm to another, is malpractice. The nurse practice act has general guidelines that can support the charge of malpractice.

DIF:    Cognitive Level: Application           REF:   Page               OBJ:   2

TOP:   Legal              KEY:  Nursing Process Step: N/A              MSC:  NCLEX: N/A