NEWEST UPDATE ON NURSING JURISPRUDENCE AND ETHICS
FOR TEXAS NURSES
According to BON Position Statement 15.24 Engaging in Reinsertion of Permanently Placed
Feeding Tubes, it would be within the scope of practice for a nurse to replace a gastrostomy
tube provided that
A. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the nurse has a physician's order to replace the
tube, and the nurse has completed specific competency training to safely replace the tube.
B. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the facility policy allows replacement of a tube
with a specific physician's order, and the nurse has not completed the required skills check-
off.
C. the tube has been in place for 4-6 weeks and the nurse observed a supervisor completed
the procedure.
D. the tube has been in place 4-6 weeks and the nurse as been determined to be competent
in reinserting permanently placed tubes that have an established fistulous tract. -ANSWER-
A. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the nurse has a physicians to replace the tube,
and the nurse has completed specific competency training to safely replace the tube.
The BON differs from nursing and healthcare specialty associations since the BON
A. lobbies for legislation favorable to the practice of nursing.
B. sets criteria for evaluating nursing career ladders.
C. offers liability insurance at discounted rates for members
D. protects and promotes the welfare of the people of Texas -ANSWER-D. protects and
promotes the welfare of the people of Texas.
The Standards of Nursing Practice, Board Rule 217.11 state that the LVN scope of practice
includes including doing which of the following with regard to care plans?
A. Initiate the development of a comprehensive nursing care plan independently
,B. May not document on the nursing care plan
C. Participate in the modification and development of the nursing care plan.
D. Review the nursing care plan only if directed to do so by the physician. -ANSWER-C.
Participate in the modification and development of the nursing care plan.
A nurse who contacts a physician to clarify a medication order is
A. fulfilling a duty to keep the patient safe.
B. likely to detract from a collegial nurse-physician relationship.
C. engaging in action that is the duty of the pharmacist.
D. not fulfilling nursing tasks with other patients. -ANSWER-A. fulfilling a duty to keep the
patient safe.
Nurses often ask the Board about what it means to abandon their patients. Though the
Board does not use this term in the rules, what specific portion of Board Rule 217.12,
Unprofessional Conduct, provides directions for the nurse regarding job abandonment and
conduct that may also be Board-reportable?
A. Paragraph (5)
B. Paragraph (7)
C. Paragraph (12)
D. Paragraph (8) -ANSWER-C. Paragraph (12)
Which of the following situations is an example of a nurse MAINTAINING appropriate
professional boundaries between the nurse and the client? A nurse
A. rewards a patient with a small stuffed mascot of his favorite football team for progress
made in rehabilitation.
B. responds less frequently to a demanding patient's call light.
, C. shares personal information regarding her recent bankruptcy because the patient seems
genuinely interested.
D. is personally attracted to a patient and calls and visits him on her days off "to check on
how he is doing." -ANSWER-A. rewards a patient with a small stuffed mascot of his favorite
football team for progress made in rehabilitation.
Am advertisement for a "licensed nurse" states the following as routine job responsibilities.
"Must work independently without supervision, have expertise in developing nursing care
plans, including establishing appropriate nursing diagnoses for assigned patients, and, must
be able to complete comprehensive nursing assessments." Based on these responsibilities,
this advertisement would require, at a minimum, the nurse to hold a valid
A. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license.
B. Physician Assistant license.
C. Vocational Nurse license.
D. Registered Nurse license. -ANSWER-D. Registered Nurse license.
A nurse is caught stealing narcotics from the automated dispensing machine on the unit and
self-injecting these drugs while on duty. The nurse admits that she is chemically dependent.
In this situation, the NPA requires
A. the nurse be reported to the BON.
B. the Peer Review Committee to monitor the nurse's practice.
C. the nurse to enroll in the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN).
D. a report to law enforcement. -ANSWER-B. the Peer Review Committee to monitor the
nurse's practice.
A nurse was reported to the BON by two different employers multiple practice errors. The
BON may determine that the nurse's conduct demonstrates a pattern of practice that
A. complies with the standard to provide nursing services without discrimination of the
client served.
FOR TEXAS NURSES
According to BON Position Statement 15.24 Engaging in Reinsertion of Permanently Placed
Feeding Tubes, it would be within the scope of practice for a nurse to replace a gastrostomy
tube provided that
A. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the nurse has a physician's order to replace the
tube, and the nurse has completed specific competency training to safely replace the tube.
B. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the facility policy allows replacement of a tube
with a specific physician's order, and the nurse has not completed the required skills check-
off.
C. the tube has been in place for 4-6 weeks and the nurse observed a supervisor completed
the procedure.
D. the tube has been in place 4-6 weeks and the nurse as been determined to be competent
in reinserting permanently placed tubes that have an established fistulous tract. -ANSWER-
A. the tube has been in place for 8-12 weeks, the nurse has a physicians to replace the tube,
and the nurse has completed specific competency training to safely replace the tube.
The BON differs from nursing and healthcare specialty associations since the BON
A. lobbies for legislation favorable to the practice of nursing.
B. sets criteria for evaluating nursing career ladders.
C. offers liability insurance at discounted rates for members
D. protects and promotes the welfare of the people of Texas -ANSWER-D. protects and
promotes the welfare of the people of Texas.
The Standards of Nursing Practice, Board Rule 217.11 state that the LVN scope of practice
includes including doing which of the following with regard to care plans?
A. Initiate the development of a comprehensive nursing care plan independently
,B. May not document on the nursing care plan
C. Participate in the modification and development of the nursing care plan.
D. Review the nursing care plan only if directed to do so by the physician. -ANSWER-C.
Participate in the modification and development of the nursing care plan.
A nurse who contacts a physician to clarify a medication order is
A. fulfilling a duty to keep the patient safe.
B. likely to detract from a collegial nurse-physician relationship.
C. engaging in action that is the duty of the pharmacist.
D. not fulfilling nursing tasks with other patients. -ANSWER-A. fulfilling a duty to keep the
patient safe.
Nurses often ask the Board about what it means to abandon their patients. Though the
Board does not use this term in the rules, what specific portion of Board Rule 217.12,
Unprofessional Conduct, provides directions for the nurse regarding job abandonment and
conduct that may also be Board-reportable?
A. Paragraph (5)
B. Paragraph (7)
C. Paragraph (12)
D. Paragraph (8) -ANSWER-C. Paragraph (12)
Which of the following situations is an example of a nurse MAINTAINING appropriate
professional boundaries between the nurse and the client? A nurse
A. rewards a patient with a small stuffed mascot of his favorite football team for progress
made in rehabilitation.
B. responds less frequently to a demanding patient's call light.
, C. shares personal information regarding her recent bankruptcy because the patient seems
genuinely interested.
D. is personally attracted to a patient and calls and visits him on her days off "to check on
how he is doing." -ANSWER-A. rewards a patient with a small stuffed mascot of his favorite
football team for progress made in rehabilitation.
Am advertisement for a "licensed nurse" states the following as routine job responsibilities.
"Must work independently without supervision, have expertise in developing nursing care
plans, including establishing appropriate nursing diagnoses for assigned patients, and, must
be able to complete comprehensive nursing assessments." Based on these responsibilities,
this advertisement would require, at a minimum, the nurse to hold a valid
A. Advanced Practice Registered Nurse license.
B. Physician Assistant license.
C. Vocational Nurse license.
D. Registered Nurse license. -ANSWER-D. Registered Nurse license.
A nurse is caught stealing narcotics from the automated dispensing machine on the unit and
self-injecting these drugs while on duty. The nurse admits that she is chemically dependent.
In this situation, the NPA requires
A. the nurse be reported to the BON.
B. the Peer Review Committee to monitor the nurse's practice.
C. the nurse to enroll in the Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses (TPAPN).
D. a report to law enforcement. -ANSWER-B. the Peer Review Committee to monitor the
nurse's practice.
A nurse was reported to the BON by two different employers multiple practice errors. The
BON may determine that the nurse's conduct demonstrates a pattern of practice that
A. complies with the standard to provide nursing services without discrimination of the
client served.
