NSG 5000 WEEK 3 KNOWLEDGE CHECK
1. A nurse practitioner (NP) knows that she is HIV positive. She is employed in a
private clinic and performs wellness exams on ambulatory adults. The NP:
a. Is obligated to inform her employer of her HIV status.
b. Is obligated to inform her patients of her HIV status.
c. Is under no obligation to inform anyone.
d. Is under obligation to inform the patient if she performs invasive procedures.
Rationale: mandatory disclosure was rejected in all states as it could cause health
care workers to avoid testing all together.
Regarding patient notification, many states left that decision to the review commit-
tee to make on a case-by-case basis, while others required the consent of the pa-
tient before the HCW could participate in an invasive procedure.
States may require retroactive notification if there is evidence of risk or exposure
beyond the mere status of the healthcare worker.
Some states require that HIV-positive health care workers cease performing inva-
sive procedures until they have sought the advice of the panel. Other states, how-
ever, made the decision to seek the advice of the panel more voluntary.
, 2. Anne and Laura work as NP partners in an NP practice. Anne learns that Laura
frequently changes patient’s narcotic prescriptions to a different dosage, and then
requests that the patient give her the remaining narcotic medications. Some
patients have called Anne aside to tell her of this. How can Laura’s actions best be
characterized?
a. Laura is committing theft.
b. Laura’s behavior is not illegal but is unethical.
c. Requesting the patient’s medication is within Laura’s scope of practice.
d. This appears to be diversion of medications by Laura.
Rationale: Drug diversion violates the core value that the needs of the patient come
first. It is essential that all health care institutions have a robust system in place to
identify and investigate suspected diversion as rapidly and efficiently as possible
and that they implement policies and procedures that enable a standardized and
effective response to confirmed diversion.
1. A nurse practitioner (NP) knows that she is HIV positive. She is employed in a
private clinic and performs wellness exams on ambulatory adults. The NP:
a. Is obligated to inform her employer of her HIV status.
b. Is obligated to inform her patients of her HIV status.
c. Is under no obligation to inform anyone.
d. Is under obligation to inform the patient if she performs invasive procedures.
Rationale: mandatory disclosure was rejected in all states as it could cause health
care workers to avoid testing all together.
Regarding patient notification, many states left that decision to the review commit-
tee to make on a case-by-case basis, while others required the consent of the pa-
tient before the HCW could participate in an invasive procedure.
States may require retroactive notification if there is evidence of risk or exposure
beyond the mere status of the healthcare worker.
Some states require that HIV-positive health care workers cease performing inva-
sive procedures until they have sought the advice of the panel. Other states, how-
ever, made the decision to seek the advice of the panel more voluntary.
, 2. Anne and Laura work as NP partners in an NP practice. Anne learns that Laura
frequently changes patient’s narcotic prescriptions to a different dosage, and then
requests that the patient give her the remaining narcotic medications. Some
patients have called Anne aside to tell her of this. How can Laura’s actions best be
characterized?
a. Laura is committing theft.
b. Laura’s behavior is not illegal but is unethical.
c. Requesting the patient’s medication is within Laura’s scope of practice.
d. This appears to be diversion of medications by Laura.
Rationale: Drug diversion violates the core value that the needs of the patient come
first. It is essential that all health care institutions have a robust system in place to
identify and investigate suspected diversion as rapidly and efficiently as possible
and that they implement policies and procedures that enable a standardized and
effective response to confirmed diversion.
