Chapter 7 Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice

Chapter 7  Legal Dimensions of Nursing Practice

Complete Chapter Questions And Answers
 

Sample Questions

1.
Which of the following aspects of nursing would be most likely defined by legislation at a state level?
A)
The differences in the scope of practice between registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs).
B)
The criteria that a nurse must consider when delegating tasks to unlicensed care providers.
C)
The criteria that clients must meet in order to qualify for Medicare or Medicaid.
D)
The process that nurses must follow when handling and administering medications.
Ans:
A

Feedback:

The scope of practice defines the parameters within which nurses provide care, and is established by state legislation, most commonly in the form of a Nurse Practice Act. The criteria and due process for delegation in the clinical setting is addressed by a state board of nursing. Qualification criteria for programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are established by federal legislation, while the process for safe and appropriate medication administration is defined and monitored by a state board of nursing.

2.
During a clinical placement on a subacute, geriatric medicine unit, a student nurse fed a stroke client some beef broth, despite the fact that the client’s diet was restricted to thickened fluids. As a result, the client aspirated and developed pneumonia. Which of the following statements underlies the student’s potential liability in this situation?
A)
The same standards of care that apply to a registered nurse apply to the student.
B)
The student and the nursing instructor share liability for this lapse in care.
C)
The patient’s primary nurse is liable for failing to ensure that delegated care was appropriate.
D)
The student’s potential liability is likely negated by the insurance carried by the school of nursing.
Ans:
A

Feedback:

Despite the fact that their knowledge and skills are still under development, nursing students are held to the same standards of care as registered nurses. Consequently, primary liability does not lie with the student’s instructor or the patient’s primary nurse. Insurance may be carried by the school of nursing, but this does not negate the student’s legal responsibility to provide care at a high standard.

3.
A nurse is arrested for possession of illegal drugs. What kind of law is involved with this type of activity?
A)
Civil
B)
Private
C)
Public
D)
Criminal
Ans:
D

Feedback:

Criminal law concerns state and federal criminal statutes, which define criminal actions such as murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, theft, and illegal possession of drugs. Civil law, also called private law, includes laws relating to contracts, ownership of property, and the practice of nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry. Public law is law in which the government is involved directly.

4.
A lawyer quotes a precedent for punishment of a crime committed by the defendant in a trial. What is court-made law known as?
A)
Public law
B)
Statutory law
C)
Common law
D)
Administrative law
Ans:
C

Feedback:

The government provides for a judiciary system, which is responsible for reconciling controversies. It interprets legislation at the local, state, and national levels as it has been applied in specific instances and makes decisions concerning law enforcement. A body of law known as common law has evolved from these accumulated judiciary decisions. Common law is thus court-made law, and most law involving malpractice is common law.

5.
A client is suing a nurse for malpractice. What is the term for the person bringing suit?
A)
Plaintiff
B)
Defendant
C)
Litigator
D)
Witness
Ans:
A

Feedback:

A lawsuit is a legal action in a court. Litigation is the process of bringing and trying a lawsuit. The person or government bringing suit against another is called the plaintiff. The one being accused of a crime or tort (defined later) is called the defendant. The defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty of a crime or tort.