Practice, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which information indicates the nurse has an accurate understanding of
the State Nurse Practice Act?
a. It is a federal senate bill.
b. It is a law enacted by the federal government.
c. It is a statute enacted by state legislature.
d. It is a judicial decision.
ANS: C
Nurse Practice Acts are examples of statutes enacted by state legislatures to
regulate the practice of nursing. Common laws are based on judicial decisions
or case law precedent. An example of a judicial decision that guides health
care practice is Roe v. Wade, but not the nurse practice act. An example of a
federal statute that affects health care practice is the Americans with
Disabilities Act, but not the nurse practice act. The nurse practice act is a state
law, not a federal senate bill.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying
(Application) REF: 63
OBJ: Describe the legal obligations and role of nurses regarding federal and
state laws that affect health care. TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Management of Care
2. A student nurse must pass the NCLEX® before practicing as a registered
nurse. NCLEX® stands for Examination.
a. Nursing Council of Licensing
b. Nightingale Code of Licensure
c. Nursing Code of Licensure
d. National Council Licensure
ANS: D
To be licensed in a state, a nurse must have a passing score on the National
Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to obtain the initial license and
meet the educational requirements set by the state. Nursing Council of
Licensing, Nightingale Code, and Nursing Code examinations do not exist to
practice as a nurse.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Remembering
(Knowledge) REF: 63
OBJ: Describe the legal obligations and role of nurses regarding federal and
state laws that affect health care. TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC: NCLEX: Management of Care
,3. A registered nurse was accused of patient abandonment when the nurse
became angry, quit the job, and left the hospital before the end of the shift.
This is an example of violating legal standards/guidelines set by which
organization?
a. The State Department of Health
, b. The Joint Commission
c. The State Board of Nursing
d. The National League for Nursing
ANS: C
Nurse Practice Acts permit the State Board of Nursing to set rules, regulations,
and guidelines that specifically define the standard of care in nursing practice.
An example is the guidelines that define patient abandonment. The State
Department of Health, the Joint Commission, and the National League for
Nursing do not set the legal rules and regulations for patient abandonment.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying
(Application) REF: 63
OBJ: Explain the legal concepts of standard of care and informed consent.
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Management of Care
4. An RN suffers from chronic back pain that was the result of an injury suffered
when pulling a patient up in bed. The nurse is addicted to pain medication and
has recently been accused of stealing narcotics. This is an example of which
violation of the law?
a. Misdemeanor
b. Tort
c. Malpractice
d. Felony
ANS: D
A felony is a serious offense that results in significant harm to another person
or society in general. Felony crimes may carry penalties of monetary
restitution, imprisonment for greater than 1 year, or death. Examples of Nurse
Practice Act violations that may carry criminal penalties include practicing
nursing without a license and misuse of controlled substances. A misdemeanor
is a crime that, although injurious, does not inflict serious harm. Torts are civil
wrongful acts or omissions against a person or a person’s property that are
compensated by awarding monetary damages to the individual whose rights
were violated. Malpractice is an example of negligence, sometimes referred to
as professional negligence. The law defines nursing malpractice as the failure
to use the degree of care that a reasonable nurse would use under the same or
similar circumstances.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Applying
(Application) REF: 63-64
OBJ: Define the legal relationships of nurse-patient, nurse-health care
provider, nurse- nurse, and nurse-employer. TOP: Nursing Process:
Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Management of Care
5. The nurse is caring for a patient who refuses to cooperate for a dressing