CH 2: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Nursing - TB
Questions and Verified Answers
1. When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a
document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?
a. Deposition
b. Appeal
c. Complaint
d. Summons Correct Answer: ANS: C
A document called a complaint is filed in an appropriate court as the first step in
litigation. A deposition is when witnesses are required to undergo questioning by
the attorneys. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision by a higher court. A
summons is a court order that notifies the defendant of the legal action.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 23 OBJ: 1 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
2. The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for
a patient's care. What is this legally binding situation?
a. Nurse-patient relationship
b. Accountability
c. Advocacy
,d. Standard of care Correct Answer: ANS: A
When the nurse assumes responsibility for a patient's care, the nurse-patient
relationship is formed. This is a legally binding "contract" for which the nurse must
take responsibility. Accountability is being responsible for one's own actions. An
advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another.
Standards of care define acts whose performance is required, permitted, or
prohibited.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 24 OBJ: 3 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
3. What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all
nursing interventions?
a. Scope of practice
b. Advocacy
c. Standard of care
d. Prudent practice Correct Answer: ANS: C
Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing
interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness
of performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing
practice are called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a
cause or issue on behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or
wise practice.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 25 OBJ: 4 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
, 4. An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to
a patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before
initiating this intervention?
a. Standards of care
b. Regulation of practice
c. American Nurses' Association Code
d. Nurse practice act Correct Answer: ANS: D
It is the nurse's responsibility to know the nurse practice act in his or her state.
Standards of care, regulation of practice, and the American Nurses' code are not
laws that the nurse should refer to before initiating this treatment.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 25 OBJ: 5 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
5. A nurse fails to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the
patient. This nurse could be found guilty of:
a. malpractice.
b. harm to the patient.
c. negligence.
d. failure to follow the nurse practice act. Correct Answer: ANS: A
Questions and Verified Answers
1. When a nurse becomes involved in a legal action, the first step to occur is that a
document is filed in an appropriate court. What is this document called?
a. Deposition
b. Appeal
c. Complaint
d. Summons Correct Answer: ANS: C
A document called a complaint is filed in an appropriate court as the first step in
litigation. A deposition is when witnesses are required to undergo questioning by
the attorneys. An appeal is a request for a review of a decision by a higher court. A
summons is a court order that notifies the defendant of the legal action.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 23 OBJ: 1 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
2. The nurse caring for a patient in the acute care setting assumes responsibility for
a patient's care. What is this legally binding situation?
a. Nurse-patient relationship
b. Accountability
c. Advocacy
,d. Standard of care Correct Answer: ANS: A
When the nurse assumes responsibility for a patient's care, the nurse-patient
relationship is formed. This is a legally binding "contract" for which the nurse must
take responsibility. Accountability is being responsible for one's own actions. An
advocate is one who defends or pleads a cause or issue on behalf of another.
Standards of care define acts whose performance is required, permitted, or
prohibited.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension REF: Page 24 OBJ: 3 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
3. What are the universal guidelines that define appropriate measures for all
nursing interventions?
a. Scope of practice
b. Advocacy
c. Standard of care
d. Prudent practice Correct Answer: ANS: C
Standards of care define actions that are permitted or prohibited in most nursing
interventions. These standards are accepted as legal guidelines for appropriateness
of performance. The laws that formally define and limit the scope of nursing
practice are called nurse practice acts. An advocate is one who defends or pleads a
cause or issue on behalf of another. Prudent is a term that refers to careful and/or
wise practice.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Knowledge REF: Page 25 OBJ: 4 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
, 4. An LPN/LVN is asked by the RN to administer an IV chemotherapeutic agent to
a patient in the acute care setting. What law should this nurse refer to before
initiating this intervention?
a. Standards of care
b. Regulation of practice
c. American Nurses' Association Code
d. Nurse practice act Correct Answer: ANS: D
It is the nurse's responsibility to know the nurse practice act in his or her state.
Standards of care, regulation of practice, and the American Nurses' code are not
laws that the nurse should refer to before initiating this treatment.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Application REF: Page 25 OBJ: 5 TOP: Legal KEY:
Nursing Process Step: N/A
5. A nurse fails to irrigate a feeding tube as ordered, resulting in harm to the
patient. This nurse could be found guilty of:
a. malpractice.
b. harm to the patient.
c. negligence.
d. failure to follow the nurse practice act. Correct Answer: ANS: A
