Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• Which ethical concern arises with compassionate use?
• Which action most clearly constitutes malpractice in nursing?
• Which ethical principle specifically emphasizes respecting a patient’s independence in decision-making?
• Malpractice is defined as which of the following?
• A lumbar puncture was performed on a patient without a signed informed consent form. This patient might sue for:
• A patient falls and sustains a fracture after a provider's order to assist with walking is given. What is the most likely legal conclusion?
• In response to workplace violence, nurses should first
• A nurse working on an acute care medical surgical unit is aware that his or her first duty is to the patient's health, safety, and well-being. Given this knowledge, which of the following is most necessary for the nurse to report?
• Performing an invasive procedure without the patient's informed consent could lead to which legal claim?
• Which of the following is not a strategy used to decrease a nurse's chance of being involved in a malpractice case?
• Nonmaleficence in nursing ethics means what?
• Which practice best protects patients when compassionate use is considered?
• What is Tarasoff duty and how does it apply to nursing practice?
• Standards of care define which of the following?
• Which organization is involved in developing standards of care for nursing practice?
• In which scenarios is implied consent presumed in nursing care, and what are its limits?
• The purpose of a code of ethics for LPN/LVNs is to:
• Which term refers specifically to written defamation?
• What standard ensures safety and rights when using restraints?
• How should consent be handled when the patient lacks decisional capacity and a surrogate decision-maker is involved?
• Which scenario best represents a boundary violation in the nurse-patient relationship?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a basis for a minor to make independent medical decisions?
• How are vaccine mandates or refusals handled under ethical and legal frameworks?
• Which federal regulation, effective April 14, 2003, affects privacy of health information?
• When assigned to assist with an abortion due to personal moral beliefs, what is the most appropriate action for the nurse?
• Breaches of standard of care occur when
• Which type of case involves one party seeking payment or resolution of damages caused by another party?
• Truth-telling in light of cultural considerations?
• Which policy has become law to protect patients’ expectations regarding healthcare services?
• Which ethical principle best describes the concept that all patients have the right to nursing interventions irrespective of race, religion, or gender?
• Which ethical principle refers to equal rights to nursing interventions for all patients?
• An alert adult patient has refused an intramuscular injection. The nurse waits until the patient is asleep and gives the injection anyway. The nurse could be charged with:
• Which ethical principle guides nursing when patients are unable to pay for care?
• Who bears primary responsibility for supervising unlicensed assistive personnel?
• A health care provider instructs the nurse to bladder train a patient. The nurse clamps the patient's indwelling urinary catheter but forgets to unclamped it. The patient develops a urinary tract infection. What do the nurse's actions exemplify?
• Is IRB approval required for nursing research involving human subjects?
• Compassionate use of experimental therapies requires what when possible?
• Battery is defined as which of the following?
• When asked to perform a procedure that the nurse has never done before, what should the nurse do to legally protect himself or herself?
• Which document outlines patients' fundamental rights within healthcare settings, including information and privacy rights?
• Good Samaritan laws generally protect a person giving aid to an injured motorist from liability. Which statement best describes these laws?
• What are the four elements required to prove nursing negligence or malpractice?
• Before advising a family member about whether a patient should have surgery, which issue must be considered first?
• Which element should be documented in consent discussions to protect patient autonomy and legal rights?
• How are do not resuscitate (DNR) orders and advance directives used in nursing practice?
• Libel is defined as which of the following?
• Which term best describes failing to perform a required nursing duty, resulting in harm to a patient?
• Liable means which of the following?
• Which statement best describes assent and consent in pediatric care?
• Who could be held responsible when a nursing student makes an error?
• What is the primary purpose of the Nurse Practice Act in a state?
• In litigation, the medical record can be used to demonstrate adherence to standards. Which option correctly reflects this?
• Which term describes someone who defends or pleads a cause on behalf of another, such as a patient?
• When starting work with terminally ill children, what should a nurse do first to help families cope with illness?
• When a nurse protects the information in a patient’s medical record, which ethical responsibility is being fulfilled?
• What role is the nurse who diligently works for the protection of patients' interests playing?
• Negligence is defined as the absence of due care and failing to act as a prudent person would.
• Which term describes a nurse's failure to meet the standard of care?
• Nursing practice is guided by which of the following?
• To determine the legality of an advance directive, which laws should the nurse know?
• How are nurses protected when reporting unsafe practices or violations?
• In surrogate decision-making, what demonstrates respect for patient autonomy?
• What term best describes universal guidelines defining appropriate measures for nursing interventions?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a positive outcome of professional social media use?
• Which term describes failure to meet a legal duty resulting in harm to another?
• Which scenario most clearly constitutes a HIPAA breach?
• If an older adult shows signs of potential elder abuse, what is the best initial nursing action?
• Which scenario is an example of nursing liability?
• What are the two primary categories of law that govern nursing practice?
• How does HIPAA protect patient confidentiality and what disclosures are permissible?
• Which approach is best for a nurse to avoid a lawsuit?
• If there is a breach in the nurse-patient relationship resulting in harm to the patient, which legal action could the nurse be charged with?
• Using ad hoc interpreters in consent processes may lead to which issue?
• Which resource defines the scope of nursing practice for an LPN/LVN within their licensing state?
• Which action best demonstrates patient autonomy in care decisions?
• What is the term for injury to a person or the person's property that gives rise to a basis for a legal action against the person who caused the damage?
• Which duty is considered a primary function of patient advocacy for a nurse?
• Which ethical concept refers to personal freedom of choice and the right to make decisions freely?
• What are the four essential elements of informed consent in nursing practice?
• Which patient right protects the privacy of a patient’s medical information?
• What are the four key elements of malpractice?
• Which of the following is listed as a basis for a minor's independent decision-making regarding medical treatment?
• Causation in malpractice refers to the relationship between what two elements?
• How does palliative sedation differ from euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide?
• During clinical rotations, nursing students are liable for their actions under supervision, and responsibility may be shared.
• A nurse fails to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the patient. This situation could be considered which of the following?
• Which document allows another person to make medical decisions if a patient loses capacity?
• Which act addresses patient autonomy and advance directives in health care settings?
• Which element of malpractice is decided by the court in determining damages?
• Which statement characterizes criminal law?
• What is the primary purpose of the Nurse Practice Act for licensed practical/vocational nurses?
• Standard of care in nursing practice is defined as what?
• Why are professional interpreters important, and what are the legal implications of language barriers in consent?
• What term refers to spoken defamation?
• Which statement accurately describes the mature minor doctrine?
• The presence of an advance directive in a patient’s record is intended to:
• Which organization developed a code of ethics for LPN/LVN?
• Documentation in nursing practice helps reduce malpractice risk by providing what?
• What ethical principles guide truth-telling with patients?
• Which source provides the best guidance on what should or should not be done for patients, according to the material?
• Which action best protects patient confidentiality?
• Which element is essential to determine decisional capacity for consent?
• What is required to use physical restraints legally and ethically in hospitalized patients?
• When a patient lacks decision-making capacity, who typically makes medical decisions?
• What should a nurse do regarding a patient's DNR status within the care team?
• Which term describes the willingness to take credit and blame for actions?
• Which of the following is a patient right?
• What is a key consideration when handling genetic test results with respect to relatives?
• Which statement describes the nurse's obligation under the nurse practice act?
• For a newly hired LPN/LVN, which resource is best for understanding what should or should not be done for patients?
• Which term means legally responsible?
• When may treatments be withheld or withdrawn in a deteriorating patient?
• What is the role of professional liability insurance for nurses?
• Informed consent is based on voluntary agreement; which scenario best preserves voluntariness in practice?
• What is the purpose of incident reports, and what are their legal implications?
• In legal terms, which word describes the legal responsibility for actions or omissions?
• Which statement best describes a common confidentiality exception for adolescent health care?
• Which of the following are examples of negligence?
• Informed consent for research, which statement best reflects withdrawal rights?
• Which is a nursing care error that violates the Health Insurance Probability and Accountability (HIPAA)?
• Which action best supports honoring a patient’s end-of-life wishes as expressed in an advance directive?
• In public health reporting, under what condition can patient confidentiality be breached?
• Which statement about supervisor liability is appropriate?
• Which practice helps ensure ethical payment practices for patients?
• A nurse leaves a patient assignment notebook containing highly specific information in a location accessible to others. The nurse is found to have violated HIPAA. Which statement best reflects this situation?
• What are key requirements for informed consent in nursing research involving human subjects?
• Who is generally responsible for obtaining informed consent for a medical procedure?
• Which elements must be present for a malpractice claim to be upheld?
• Before initiating the administration of an IV chemotherapeutic agent, which law should the nurse refer to?
• A nurse is considering purchasing malpractice insurance. What should the nurse be aware of regarding malpractice insurance provided by the hospital?
• Civil law primarily deals with which of the following?
• Which statement accurately describes protections for nurses who report unsafe practices?
• Which type of law involves cases resolved by guilt or innocence and may result in fines or incarceration?
• Which activity reflects an element of the standard of care in nursing practice?
• What practice helps avoid a lawsuit in nursing care?
• Before surgery, the patient signs to acknowledge an intelligent decision. What document is this?
• Assault is defined as which of the following?
• Which statement best reflects the purpose of advance directives?
• Which four elements must be established to prove a nursing malpractice claim?
• Which ethical principle requires avoiding harm to patients?
• Which of the following actions would breach patient confidentiality?
• Deposition is defined as which of the following?
• Which practice protects patient privacy in electronic health records?
• Patient autonomy is best described as what?
• Which are the core ethical principles in the ANA Code of Ethics for nurses?
• Nursing liability includes breaches of which elements?
• The ethical principle reflected when a nurse believes all patients should be treated as individuals is:
• Which law primarily governs the privacy and confidentiality of patient health information?
• Chemical restraints are less restrictive than physical restraints.
• Under what conditions may a patient be offered experimental treatment?
• 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?
• What types of situations require mandatory reporting by nurses and to whom must reports be made?
• Health information exchanges: what must be ensured?
• Which professional is primarily responsible for assessing a patient’s capacity to consent to treatment?
• Which principle best guides ethical decision-making when cultural beliefs vary between patients?
• Defamation refers to which concept?
• What considerations apply to involuntary commitment or treatment in mental health settings?
• What fundamental principle must the nurse first observe when confronted with an ethical decision?
• A nurse loves photography and takes a picture of a coworker walking a patient. What best describes the actions?
• Slander refers to which type of defamation?
• What standard must nursing students' actions meet during rotations?
• What is the primary purpose of the Nurse Practice Act?
• How should genetic test results and family access to genetic information be handled?
• What are the four elements required for a claim of malpractice?
• Nonmaleficence in nursing ethics is best described as which?
• How should confidentiality be maintained in interprofessional teams and within health information exchanges?
• Which statement best describes chemical restraints in psychiatric settings?
• What is a recommended first step when a nurse experiences harassment?
• In nursing ethics, which term is synonymous with 'do no harm'?
• The nurse-patient relationship is formed when the nurse assumes responsibility for care. This is a legally binding relationship called what?
• What is the ethical and legal distinction between withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment?
• The Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) guarantees which of the following?
• A patient refuses a medication prescribed for pain. The nurse recognizes this as a right established by which concept?
• What practice best supports accountability when accessing patient data in electronic health records?
• What are the potential consequences of violating the Nurse Practice Act?
• Which concept allows multistate practice of nursing through a legal agreement?
• Which of the following is NOT a risk factor for abuse of older adults?
• What is the legal term for false statements that harm a person’s reputation?
• In nursing ethics, which statement best describes patient autonomy?
• How should postmortem privacy and confidentiality be managed?
• What is the primary role of the code of ethics for nurses?
• What is a nurse's primary role in organ donation with regard to consent?
• What is the role of an institutional ethics committee in resolving ethical dilemmas?
• Abandonment of care refers to what?
• What must be completed before a patient undergoes a procedure requiring consent?
• Which ethical principle is most closely associated with respecting a patient’s right to make their own decisions?
• What is the first step in a legal action when a nurse is involved in litigation?
• Which principle is invoked when a patient’s right to refuse treatment is respected?
• A patient has a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. What is the nurse’s legal obligation, even if there is disagreement with the order?
• What is the appropriate action to take when a nurse experiences harassment?
• Which option most directly reduces a nurse’s liability risk through personal planning?
• What action after an error aligns with ethical reporting?
• What is the type of civil law that involves wrongs against a person or property?
• What are the ethical and legal implications of recording or sharing patient information without consent?
• Which term describes the obligation to protect patient information from unauthorized disclosure?
• Informed consent is required before most procedures to ensure what?
• Confidentiality in nursing practice means what?
• Under HIPAA, which disclosures may occur without patient authorization?
• Values are best described as which of the following?
• What is the appropriate approach to surrogate decisions when patient values are known?
• Which statement about privacy when sharing patient experiences is correct?
• One of the best defenses against a lawsuit for a nurse is to:
• Which statement about nurse practice acts is true?
• Who may serve as a patient’s surrogate decision-maker and what determines surrogate authority?
• Why is accurate, complete, and timely documentation essential in legal risk management?
• The newly licensed nurse is assigned a patient needing catheterization and has not performed the procedure before. What is the best action?
• How do capacity and competence differ in the context of consent?
• Which of the following could cause a nurse to be cited for malpractice?
• Which of the following is not a typical component of informed consent in nursing research?