DeWit’s Fundamental Concepts And Skills For
Nursing, 5th Edition By Patricia A. Williams -Test Bank
Chapter 03: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing Williams: deWit’s Fundamental Concepts and Skills for
Nursing, 5th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student nurse who is not yet licensed:
ANS: C
Student nurses are held to the same standards as a licensed nurse. This means that although a student
nurse may not perform a task as quickly or as smoothly as the licensed nurse would, the student is expected
to perform it as effectively. In other words, she must achieve the same outcome without harm to the patient.
The student is legally responsible for her own actions or inaction, and many schools require the student to
carry malpractice insurance.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 32 OBJ: Theory #1
TOP: Practice Regulations for the Student Nurse KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
, d. must apply for a temporary student nurse permit to practice as a student.
2. During an employment interview, the interviewer asks the nurse applicant about HIV status. The
nurse applicant can legally respond:
ANS: D
a. “No,” even though he or she has a positive HIV test.
b. “I don’t know, but I would be willing to be tested.”
c. “I don’t know, and I refuse to be tested.”
d. “You do not have a right to ask me that question.”
In employment practice, it is illegal to discriminate against people with certain diseases or conditions. Asking
a question about health status, especially HIV or AIDS infection, is illegal.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 34 OBJ: Clinical Practice #1 TOP:
Discrimination KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. An example of a violation of criminal law by a nurse is:
a taking a controlled substance from agency supply for personal
. use.
b accidentally administering a drug to the wrong patient, who then has a serious
. reaction.
c advising a patient to sue the doctor for a supposed mistake the doctor
. made.
d writing a letter to the newspaper outlining questionable or unsafe hospital
. practices.
,ANS: A
Theft of a controlled substance is a federal crime and consequently a crime against society.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 32 OBJ: Theory #2
TOP: Criminal Law KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. The LPN (LVN) assigns part of the care for her patients to a nursing assistant. The LPN is legally
required to perform which of the following for the residents assigned to the assistant?
Toilet the residents every 2 hours and as needed.
ANS: C
Toileting, feeding, and transporting residents or patients are tasks that can be legally assigned to a nurse’s
aide. Administering medications is a nursing act that can be performed only by a licensed nurse or by a
student nurse under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 33 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Delegation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. If a nurse is reported to a state board of nursing for repeatedly making medication errors, it is most
likely that:
a.
b. Feed breakfast to one of the residents who needs assistance.
c. Give medications to the residents at the prescribed times.
d. Transport the residents to the physical therapy department.
ANS: D
The nurse may have his or her license revoked or be required to take a refresher course, but this would be
based on the evidence presented at a hearing. The licensing examination is not usually required as a
correction of the situation as described.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 33 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Professional Discipline KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
6. A nurse co-worker arrives at work 30 minutes late, smelling strongly of alcohol. The fellow nurses’
a. the nurse will immediately have his or her license revoked.
b. the nurse will have to take the licensing examination again.
c. a course in legal aspects of nursing care will be required.
d. there will be a hearing to determine whether the charges are true.
legal course of action is to:
Nursing, 5th Edition By Patricia A. Williams -Test Bank
Chapter 03: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing Williams: deWit’s Fundamental Concepts and Skills for
Nursing, 5th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student nurse who is not yet licensed:
ANS: C
Student nurses are held to the same standards as a licensed nurse. This means that although a student
nurse may not perform a task as quickly or as smoothly as the licensed nurse would, the student is expected
to perform it as effectively. In other words, she must achieve the same outcome without harm to the patient.
The student is legally responsible for her own actions or inaction, and many schools require the student to
carry malpractice insurance.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 32 OBJ: Theory #1
TOP: Practice Regulations for the Student Nurse KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
, d. must apply for a temporary student nurse permit to practice as a student.
2. During an employment interview, the interviewer asks the nurse applicant about HIV status. The
nurse applicant can legally respond:
ANS: D
a. “No,” even though he or she has a positive HIV test.
b. “I don’t know, but I would be willing to be tested.”
c. “I don’t know, and I refuse to be tested.”
d. “You do not have a right to ask me that question.”
In employment practice, it is illegal to discriminate against people with certain diseases or conditions. Asking
a question about health status, especially HIV or AIDS infection, is illegal.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 34 OBJ: Clinical Practice #1 TOP:
Discrimination KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. An example of a violation of criminal law by a nurse is:
a taking a controlled substance from agency supply for personal
. use.
b accidentally administering a drug to the wrong patient, who then has a serious
. reaction.
c advising a patient to sue the doctor for a supposed mistake the doctor
. made.
d writing a letter to the newspaper outlining questionable or unsafe hospital
. practices.
,ANS: A
Theft of a controlled substance is a federal crime and consequently a crime against society.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 32 OBJ: Theory #2
TOP: Criminal Law KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. The LPN (LVN) assigns part of the care for her patients to a nursing assistant. The LPN is legally
required to perform which of the following for the residents assigned to the assistant?
Toilet the residents every 2 hours and as needed.
ANS: C
Toileting, feeding, and transporting residents or patients are tasks that can be legally assigned to a nurse’s
aide. Administering medications is a nursing act that can be performed only by a licensed nurse or by a
student nurse under the supervision of a licensed nurse.
, DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 33 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Delegation KEY: Nursing Process Step: Implementation
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment: Coordinated Care
5. If a nurse is reported to a state board of nursing for repeatedly making medication errors, it is most
likely that:
a.
b. Feed breakfast to one of the residents who needs assistance.
c. Give medications to the residents at the prescribed times.
d. Transport the residents to the physical therapy department.
ANS: D
The nurse may have his or her license revoked or be required to take a refresher course, but this would be
based on the evidence presented at a hearing. The licensing examination is not usually required as a
correction of the situation as described.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: p. 33 OBJ: Theory #3
TOP: Professional Discipline KEY: Nursing Process Step: N/A
MSC: NCLEX: N/A
6. A nurse co-worker arrives at work 30 minutes late, smelling strongly of alcohol. The fellow nurses’
a. the nurse will immediately have his or her license revoked.
b. the nurse will have to take the licensing examination again.
c. a course in legal aspects of nursing care will be required.
d. there will be a hearing to determine whether the charges are true.
legal course of action is to:
