NURSING FUNDAMENTALS FINAL EXAM BUCHANAN-S FINAL - FUNDS

NURSING FUNDAMENTALS FINAL
EXAM "BUCHANAN'S FINAL - FUNDS"
215 ORIGINAL MULTIPLE-CHOICE
QUESTIONS


UNIT 1: LEGAL & ETHICAL ISSUES IN NURSING




QUESTION 1
A nurse who failed to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the patient, could be
found guilty of:
A) Negligence
B) Malpractice
C) Assault
D) Abandonment


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Malpractice is professional negligence. The nurse can be held liable for acts of
omission (failure to perform a duty) that cause harm to the patient.




QUESTION 2
A patient refuses a blood transfusion due to religious beliefs, but family members pressure staff
to proceed. The nurse's appropriate action is to:
A) Administer the transfusion to prevent harm
B) Honor the patient's autonomous decision and document refusal


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,C) Follow family wishes if they are persistent
D) Suspend all care until a legal decision is obtained


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The ethical principle of autonomy respects the patient's right to make their own
healthcare decisions, even if those decisions conflict with provider recommendations.




QUESTION 3
The Nurse Practice Act in each state:
A) Is optional for nurses to follow
B) Defines the legal scope of nursing practice
C) Only applies to physicians
D) Is the same in all 50 states


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Each state's Nurse Practice Act is a law that defines the scope of nursing practice,
educational requirements, and grounds for discipline.




QUESTION 4
A nurse is named in a malpractice lawsuit. The standard of care to which the nurse will be held
is:
A) What a reasonable nurse with similar education and experience would do
B) The highest possible standard regardless of setting
C) The nurse's personal best practice
D) What the physician would have done



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,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The legal standard of care is what a reasonably prudent nurse with similar training
and experience would do in similar circumstances.




QUESTION 5
Which of the following is required for valid informed consent?
A) Patient's insurance information
B) Disclosure of risks, benefits, and alternatives
C) Family member approval
D) Notarized document


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Informed consent requires disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits,
alternatives, and the patient's voluntary decision.




QUESTION 6
A nurse administers a medication over a competent patient's objection. This could legally be
defined as:
A) Malpractice
B) Battery
C) Negligence
D) No legal issue


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Battery is intentional, unauthorized touching of another person. Administering
medication without consent or over objection constitutes battery.


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, QUESTION 7
The four elements required to prove malpractice against a nurse are:
A) Duty, breach of duty, injury, causation
B) Intent, harm, malice, motive
C) Contract, breach, damages, remedy
D) Standard, deviation, error, harm


Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The four elements are: duty owed to patient, breach of that duty, injury (damages),
and causation (breach directly caused injury).




QUESTION 8
A patient asks the nurse to explain a surgical procedure before signing a consent form. The nurse
should:
A) Explain the procedure in detail
B) Notify the physician to explain the procedure
C) Have the patient sign first, then explain
D) Refuse to answer any questions


Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The physician is responsible for explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and
alternatives. The nurse witnesses the signature but does not provide the informed consent
explanation.




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