Chapter 10 Patient Rights

Chapter 10  Patient Rights

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which of the following best describes a “right”?
a.
A legal claim or privilege
b.
A claim or privilege to which one is justly entitled, either legally or morally
c.
A claim or privilege that carries no corresponding obligations
d.
The rights of patients are a grey area open to interpretation

ANS: B
Correct B: A right is a claim or privilege to which one is justly entitled, either legally or morally.

Incorrect A: Rights are not required to be legally based.
Incorrect C: A right carries a corresponding obligation. Otherwise, the right loses its meaning.
Incorrect D: The rights of patients are explicit and clear through standards contained in professional codes of ethics.

DIF: Cognitive level: Comprehension REF: p. 320

2. The nurse is in the process of obtaining informed consent from a patient. Which of the following best describes this process?
a.
The nurse’s right
b.
The nurse’s autonomy
c.
The nurse’s obligation
d.
The patient’s obligation

ANS: C
Correct C: It is the nurse’s obligation to obtain the patient’s informed consent. The nurse must ensure that all relevant information has been provided so that the patient may exercise her right to make an informed consent.

Incorrect A: This process does not relate to the nurse’s rights.
Incorrect B: This process relates to the patient’s autonomy, not the nurse’s.
Incorrect D: Though the patient’s informed consent is needed, the patient is not obligated to give it.

DIF: Cognitive level: Comprehension REF: p. 322

3. A patient in the nurse’s care is being investigated for diarrhea. The nurse remembers this patient from another facility and recalls that he was diagnosed as HIV-positive, but the patient denies this to the nurse. How should the nurse proceed?
a.
The nurse should do nothing.
b.
The nurse should tell her colleagues to be extra careful when attending to this patient.
c.
The nurse should confront and challenge the patient over his dishonesty.
d.
The nurse should report this information to her manager in a private meeting.

ANS: D
Correct D: The nurse should report this situation to her manager in a private meeting. In many provinces, statute law requires certain patient information and conditions to be disclosed. For example, many public health laws require public health care professionals to disclose to their local medical officer of health the identity of anyone diagnosed with certain communicable or sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The nurse’s manager is the most appropriate person to deal with this situation; he or she will also need to take into consideration that the nurse’s recollection may be incorrect.

Incorrect A: This is not the correct action for the nurse to take.
Incorrect B: The nurse should not discuss this issue with her colleagues, as this would violate the patient’s right to confidentiality. Precautions are already taken in the care of every patient.
Incorrect C: Rechecking with the patient for clarification of the situation is acceptable, but challenging and confronting the patient is not, especially since the nurse may be mistaken in her memory.

DIF: Cognitive level: Synthesis REF: p. 327

4. A patient has requested that certain information remain confidential. Which of the following is an exception to maintaining patient confidentiality?
a.
The nurse must disclose the information to his manager.
b.
The nurse can disclose the information at a regulatory body review board hearing.
c.
The nurse can disclose the information during morning report if it is pertinent to a discussion about the patient.
d.
The nurse must disclose the information if someone is in danger.

ANS: D
Correct D: If a patient poses a threat to himself or others, the nurse has an ethical obligation to report the information to the authorities in the institution and to the police. Provincial law also requires disclosure in cases of suspected child abuse.

Incorrect A: In most cases, discussing the matter with anyone violates patient confidentiality.
Incorrect B: The nurse may be required to disclose confidential information in a court of law; however, a regulatory review board hearing is not a court of law.
Incorrect C: Confidential information must not be discussed in any report. If the nurse needs to discuss required information with a particular team member, then this discussion should take place one-on-one, not during a report where others can hear.

DIF: Cognitive level: Analysis REF: p. 330