C HAPTER 03: L EGAL AND E THICAL A SPECTS
OF N URSING
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A postoperative patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) is so confused and
agitated that staff have not been able to safel y care for him. He has pulled
out his central line once, and he slides to the bottom of the bed, where he
attempts to climb out, pulling and disrupt ing the various tubes and
monitors. The nurse’s best course of action is to:
a. place him in a protective vest device.
b. use a sheet to tie him in a chair at the nurses’ station.
c. request that the doctor write an order for a protective device and/or
medication.
d. call a famil y member to stay with the patient.
ANS: C
A protective device may not be used (except in an emergency) without
a doctor’s order, and it is used onl y when other less restrictive means
do not provide safet y for the patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 41 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #3 TOP: False Imprisonment KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe,
Effective Care Environment: Safet y and Infection Control
,2. An elderl y, slightl y confused pati ent sustains an injury from a heating pad
that was wrongl y applied by the nurse. The nurse should:
a. pretend to be unaware of the injury to the patient.
b. report the incident to the risk management team via an incident
report.
c. document in the patient’s medical record that an incident report was
filled out.
d. not document anything about the injury in the patient’s medical
record.
ANS: B
When an incident occurs that has potential for a future lawsuit, the risk
management team should be aware of it as soon as poss ible. An
incident report should be filled out, and the patient medical record
should be documented to describe the injury. No mention of the
incident report is usuall y made in the patient medical record. Honest y
and a forthright explanation to the patient reduce the risk of lawsuits.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 43 OBJ:
Theory #5 TOP: Incident Reports KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. Nursing liabilit y insurance is a policy purchased and put into effect by the
nurse for the purpose of:
a. providing protection against being sued.
b. reducing the chance of litigation.
c. paying attorney fees and any award won by the plaintiff.
d. providing the hospital with added protection.
, ANS: C
Nursing liabilit y insurance pays attorney fees and any award won by
the plaintiff.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 43
OBJ: Theory #5 TOP: Nursing Ethics KEY: Nursing
Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. Ethics and law are different from each other in that ethics:
a. bear a penalt y if viol ated.
b. are voluntary.
c. rarel y change.
d. can always direct all decisions.
ANS: B
Ethics are voluntary and are based on values. Ethics may change as
parameters of health care change. There is no penalt y for violation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 43 OBJ:
Theory #6 TOP: Nursing Ethics KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. To best protect himself or herself from being sued, the nurse should:
a. continue to do procedures as taught in school.
b. purchase malpractice insurance.
OF N URSING
Williams: deWit's Fundamental Concepts and Skills for Nursing, 5th
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A postoperative patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) is so confused and
agitated that staff have not been able to safel y care for him. He has pulled
out his central line once, and he slides to the bottom of the bed, where he
attempts to climb out, pulling and disrupt ing the various tubes and
monitors. The nurse’s best course of action is to:
a. place him in a protective vest device.
b. use a sheet to tie him in a chair at the nurses’ station.
c. request that the doctor write an order for a protective device and/or
medication.
d. call a famil y member to stay with the patient.
ANS: C
A protective device may not be used (except in an emergency) without
a doctor’s order, and it is used onl y when other less restrictive means
do not provide safet y for the patient.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 41 OBJ:
Clinical Practice #3 TOP: False Imprisonment KEY:
Nursing Process Step: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe,
Effective Care Environment: Safet y and Infection Control
,2. An elderl y, slightl y confused pati ent sustains an injury from a heating pad
that was wrongl y applied by the nurse. The nurse should:
a. pretend to be unaware of the injury to the patient.
b. report the incident to the risk management team via an incident
report.
c. document in the patient’s medical record that an incident report was
filled out.
d. not document anything about the injury in the patient’s medical
record.
ANS: B
When an incident occurs that has potential for a future lawsuit, the risk
management team should be aware of it as soon as poss ible. An
incident report should be filled out, and the patient medical record
should be documented to describe the injury. No mention of the
incident report is usuall y made in the patient medical record. Honest y
and a forthright explanation to the patient reduce the risk of lawsuits.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: p. 43 OBJ:
Theory #5 TOP: Incident Reports KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
3. Nursing liabilit y insurance is a policy purchased and put into effect by the
nurse for the purpose of:
a. providing protection against being sued.
b. reducing the chance of litigation.
c. paying attorney fees and any award won by the plaintiff.
d. providing the hospital with added protection.
, ANS: C
Nursing liabilit y insurance pays attorney fees and any award won by
the plaintiff.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: p. 43
OBJ: Theory #5 TOP: Nursing Ethics KEY: Nursing
Process Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
4. Ethics and law are different from each other in that ethics:
a. bear a penalt y if viol ated.
b. are voluntary.
c. rarel y change.
d. can always direct all decisions.
ANS: B
Ethics are voluntary and are based on values. Ethics may change as
parameters of health care change. There is no penalt y for violation.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal ysis REF: p. 43 OBJ:
Theory #6 TOP: Nursing Ethics KEY: Nursing Process
Step: N/A MSC: NCLEX: N/A
5. To best protect himself or herself from being sued, the nurse should:
a. continue to do procedures as taught in school.
b. purchase malpractice insurance.
