scope of practice
The newly licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/ LVN) has reviewed the nurse practice act (NPA) of the state of licensure. What is the purpose of this documentation?
1. Determine the quality of nursing care
2. Enforce the standards of nursing practice
3. Define the scope of nursing practice
4. Set the nurse’s educational requirements
3. Define the scope of nursing practice
The nurse believes that all patients should be treated as individuals. The ethical principle that this belief reflects is:
1. autonomy.
2. beneficence.
3. nonmaleficence.
4. respect for people
4. respect for people
The nurse working in a nursing home correctly recognizes that duties include patient advocacy. Which role is considered a primary duty of patient advocacy?
1. To complete all nursing responsibilities on time
2. To maintain the patient’s right to privacy
3. To safeguard the well-being of every patient
4. To act as the patient’s legal representative
3. To safeguard the well-being of every patient
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?
1. Deposition
2. Appeal
3. Complaint
4. Summons
3. Complaint
The patient admitted for surgery has a lump in her breast. The patient’s daughter asks the LPN/LVN if her mother should have the surgery. Which issue must be considered before responding?
1. Confidentiality and invasion of privacy
2. Informed consent, beneficence, and respect
3. Respect for people and personal autonomy
4. Nonmaleficence, justice, and liability
1. Confidentiality and invasion of privacy
What fundamental principle must the nurse first observe when confronted with an ethical decision?
Autonomy
Beneficence
Respect for people
Nonmaleficence
3. Respect for people
LPN/LVNs have a code of professional and personal ethics to follow. The purpose of a code of ethics is to:
1. establish penalties for any unethical behavior.
2. promote trustworthy, accountable LPN/LVNs.
3. make certain that all nurses are competent and always honest.
4. give the nurse guidelines for ethical decision making.
2. promote trustworthy, accountable LPN/LVNs.
The nurse’s first job as an LPN/LVN is on a unit that cares for terminally ill children. What action should be taken by the nurse before helping families cope with their children’s illnesses?
1. Study the nurse practice act to find rules relating to the medical care of terminally ill children
2. Spend time performing value clarification to aid in identifying her feelings about this new role
3. Evaluate her own personal mores and customs that may affect the practice of nursing in general
4. Review the state and federal laws that prescribe how a child may be treated when near death
3. Evaluate her own personal mores and customs that may affect the practice of nursing in general
The patient refused to take the medication his doctor ordered for relief of pain. The LPN/LVN knows this is a patient right established by:
1. the principle of beneficence.
2. the doctrine of negligence.
3. specific nurse practice acts.
4. the Patient Self-Determination Act.
4. the Patient Self-Determination Act.
A lumbar puncture was performed on a patient without a signed informed consent form. This patient might sue for:
punitive damages.
civil battery.
assault.
nothing; no violation has occurred.
2. civil battery.
The new LPN/LVN is concerned regarding what should or should not be done for patients. What resource will best provide this information?
Nurse practice act
Standards of care
Scope of nursing practice
Professional organizations
2. Standards of care
The nurse knows that all patients have the right to nursing interventions regardless of their race, religion, or gender. The ethical principle that best describes this concept is:
1. nonmaleficence.
2. justice.
3. autonomy.
4. beneficence.
2. justice.
The nurse is assisting a patient to clarify values by encouraging the expression of feelings and thoughts related to the situation. What is the most appropriate action for the nurse?
Compare values with those of the patient.
Make a judgment.
Withhold an opinion.
Give advice.
3.Withhold an opinion.
Patients have expectations regarding the health care services they receive. To protect these expectations, which of the following has become law?
American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights
Self-Determination Act
American Hospital Association’s Standards of Care
The Joint Commission’s rights and responsibilities of patients
1. American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights
A nurse working on an acuNte cRare mI edGicalBsu. rCgical unit is aware that his or her first duty is
to the patient’s health, safetyU, andSweNll-bTeing. GOiven this knowledge, which of the following is most necessary for the nurse to report?
Unethical behavior of other staff members
A worker who arrives late
Favoritism shown by nursing administration
Arguments among the staff
1. Unethical behavior of other staff members
The LPN/LVN knows that one of the best defenses against a lawsuit is for a nurse to:
1. work only in a large hospital or nursing home.
2. provide for every patient’s needs as quickly as possible.
3. promote a positive nurse-patient relationship.
4. carry individual professional liability insurance.
3. promote a positive nurse-patient relationship.
When a nurse protects the information in a patient’s record, what ethical responsibility is the nurse fulfilling?
Privacy
Disclosure
Confidentiality
Absolute secrecy
3. Confidentiality
What role is the nurse who diligently works for the protection of patients’ interests playing?
Caregiver
Health care administrator
Advocate
Health care evaluator
3.Advocate
The LPN/LVN is reviewing the patient’s medical record. The nurse notes the presence of an advance directive. The nurse recognizes that the purpose of this documentation is to:
1. help every person exercise the right to die with dignity.
2. encourage a person to determine how he or she will die.
3. allow a patient to exercise the right of autonomy.
4. provide a means to prevent medical maltreatment.
2. encourage a person to determine how he or she will die.
An older adult is admitted to the hospital with numerous bodily bruises, and the nurse suspects elder abuse. What is the best nursing action?
Cover the bruises with bandages.
Take photographs of the bruises.
Ask the patient if anyone has hit her.
Report the bruises to the charge nurse.
4. Report the bruises to the charge nurse.
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?
Standards of care
Regulation of practice
American Nurses’ Association Code
Nurse practice act
4. Nurse practice act
When asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has never done before, what should the nurse do to legally protect himself or herself?
Go ahead and do it.
Refuse to perform it, citing lack of knowledge.
Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.
Ask another nurse who has performed the procedure.
3. Discuss it with the charge nurse, asking for direction.
The nurse has strong moral convictions that abortions are wrong. When assigned to assist with an abortion, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take?
Ask for another assignment.
Leave work.
Transfer to another floor.
Protest to the supervisor.
1.Ask for another assignment.
Which is a nursing care error that violates the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)?
Administering a stronger dose of drug than was ordered
Refusing to give a patient’s daughter information over the phone
Informing the patient’s medical power of attorney of a medication change
Leaving a copy of the patient’s history and physical in the photocopier
4. Leaving a copy of the patient’s history and physical in the photocopier
The health care provider’s order read “assist the patient with walking.” The nurse allowed the patient to walk alone. The patient fell, fracturing the humerus. Which verdict is the most likely occurrence?
1. The nurse will be found guilty of malpractice.
2. The nurse will be guilty of negligence.
3. The nurse will be charged with technical battery.
4. The nurse will not be found liable for any harm.
2. The nurse will be guilty of negligence.